Jonah 3

Redemption

Lat week we ended off our study with the wonderful verse:

1 John 1:9 AV

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The bible is full of redemption stories.

Peters Redemption after he denied Jesus 3 times.

David’s redemption after he commited adultry.

Sampsons Redemption after he disobeyed God.

We even have wonderful parables of redemption, the mot famous is that of the prodical son.

Luke 15:11–24 AV

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

We truely do serve a wonderful God. rich in mercy.

Jonah is another redemption story.

A disobedient man of God rebelled against his Lord. In ding so he brought chastisment upon himself and repented of his sins. God graciously forgives the prophet and he is restored.

But Jonah’s story of redemption is not quite like the rest. As the prophet sank benieth the waves and spent 3 horrendous days in the belly of the fish, he would have no idea just how special his ordeal would become.

Before we continue, lets just take a quick moment to deal with the lelphant in the room.

How did the prophet survive 3 days in the belly of a fish? What kind of fish was this? Has this ever happened before or since? Is it even remotly possible?

Well first of all with regards to is this possible? The bible plainly says:

Matthew 19:26 AV

26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

But even besides this, the scripture tells us all we need to know about this creature:

Jonah 1:17 AV

17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

God did not send a fish, he prepared a fish - that is to say it is entilerly possible that this was a one of a kind creature, specially prepared by God to allow Jonah to survive the whole ordeal.

If God can create the earth and all its creaturs, not to menion all the stars and planets, then preparing a special fish for Jonah is nothing for God.

And make no mistake: Beliving what happens to the Prophet is VITAL, as you will soon see.

Ok, so as i was saying: Jonah had no idea just how special his ordeal was.

Why was is special?

Because some 500 years later the same God who Jonah ran from would do another miracle. the miracle of all miracles!

That same God would incarnate himself in human form and come to us as Jesus of Nazareth.

The religious leards would, like Jonah, run from Gods commands to recieve him. In defienace they would challange his authority, just like Jonah.

And one day, during such a rebellion Jesus would say:

Matthew 12:38–41 AV

38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

Absolutly wonderful how all roads lead to Jesus.

The jews, like many today, demand a sign - proof that Jesus is God.

Jesus respinds by saying there will only be one sign given: The sign of Jonah: That like he was swalled up by the fish, spend 3 days in its belly, and then came forth - Jesus would be swallowed up in death, spend 3 days in the belly of the earth, and then come forth in his ressurection.

If this is not enough of a sign, no other sign can and will be given.

And according to scripture: If a person cannot believe the sign of Jonah, they will not believe in the ressurection of Jesus either!

Ex 4:9 says that if they will not believe the former sign of Jonah, they will not believe the latter sign of Jesus.

How do we know that Jesus indeed rose from the dead? For it is a vital doctrine.

1 Corinthians 15:14 AV

14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

We have a few very good reasons:

1: The Word of God says so.

You will recall in our first session that a sure path to rebellion is to doubt the Word of God. To believe that is full of mistakes and contrdiction and myth.

2: If you are a born again Christian then you have a personal relationship with Jesus and you cannot have a relationship with someone who is dead.

3: There are over 500 eye wittness account of people seeing Jesus post mortam.

1 Corinthians 15:6 AV

6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

Conclusion:

Jonah’s story hits on so many levels.

It is a reminder of the dangers of neglecting our faith and allowing rebellion to grow in our hearts.

It is a warning of just how far God will go to correct disobedient children.

It is a story of God’s wonderful grace in forgiving and restoring us whenever we sin.

And it stands a powerful sign of Jesus Christ - His death, beriul amd ressurection.