The Sign of Jonah is the Only Sign

THE RESURRECTION OF JONAH (4 min. read)

Had some fun studying and unpacking the "Sign of Jonah". This sign not only informs us that the Kingdom of God has broken forth, it provides the new creation blueprint for all humanity. When Jesus stated to Nicodemus that we must be born again, he literally meant it.

“Teacher, we want to see a sign from you?” the religious experts demanded of Jesus. Implying, if Jesus caused a cosmic event, they just might follow him. Jesus’ reply is deeply layered and prophetic. “No sign will be given, except the sign of Jonah. Jonah was in the belly of the sea monster three days and three nights - and in the same way the son of man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.” [Matt. 12:38-40]

In a short statement, Jesus serves up the expectation of his physical death, burial, and resurrection. This is the SIGN OF SIGNS for the Jewish people that the time of refreshing has finally arrived when the sin and death problem will be dealt with. It signals the Kingdom of Heaven is breaking forth like a fountain of living water to make all people new. This SIGN OF SIGNS doesn’t land with Jesus’ audience because seeing resurrection from the dead is believing resurrection from the dead.

Jesus is prepared for this and that is why he invoked a beloved story that powerfully signals refreshing and a promised resurrection. It’s a story that is traditionally read on the Jewish Day of Atonement to this day. Jesus calls back to the story of Jonah’s death, burial, resurrection and God’s grace shown to the cruel city of Nineveh. He uses the microcosm of Jonah and the suspension of Nineveh’s Judgment to explain what his macro aspirations are at the cross for all humanity. But first it will take three days and three nights in the grave, just like Jonah.

Let’s explore the death, burial and resurrection of Jonah to understand the reference better. Sailing away from his vocational mission (a metaphor for all humanity) Jonah encounters a perilous storm. Asleep in the ship’s hold, the sailors discover that a prophet is onboard who is at odds with the One True Creator God. Jonah apologizes and instructs them to toss him overboard. “So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea and the sea stopped raging.”

A short pause to point something out. Jonah is the first prophet we encounter in the Bible sleeping in a ship while a storm rages and is subsequently calmed by God. Jesus enacts this story 800 years later with his disciples and calms the storm himself causing his disciples to ask, “Who then is this? Even the wind and sea obey him!” [‭‭Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭38‬-‭41‬] It’s clear that the Almighty hasn’t lost His touch. Ok, back to Jonah.

“I was thrown into the deep waters and mighty waves swept over me” and “I went down to the very bottoms” and “I called out to the Lord from the grave” and “the gates of the netherworld barred me in forever”. This is pretty clear language that Jonah drowned and died when he was thrown overboard. We read further that God sent a huge fish to swallow and preserve Jonah’s body in the depths from scavenging sea creatures. For three days and three nights Jonah’s corpse was inside the huge fish until “the Lord commanded the fish and it disgorged Jonah on dry land.” We don’t know when Jonah was brought back to life by God, but we might assume it occurred as the tide rose and his body washed ashore. Jonah writes about his physical resurrection, “You brought me up from the pit.”

On the shore while intaking the breath of life for the second time, Jonah hears the voice of God a second time, “Go immediately to Nineveh” because “shouldn’t I be concerned about this enormous city of 120,000 people who do not know right from wrong, as well as the many animals there?” Jonah goes to the metropolis of Nineveh which takes three days to walk across and preaches that “God is going to destroy this city in 40 days.” What happens next is remarkable. The entire populace turns to God in remorse, sits in ashes, puts on sackcloth, and fasts. Even the Assyrian King humbles himself causing the One True Creator God to extend grace to the cruel Ninevites and relent from judgment. God is very quick to forgive. [Jonah Chapt. 1-4]

Although Jesus and Jonah’s motives were very different, Jonah’s story provides the framework for what became the greatest sign in human history and the only gate into the Kingdom of God. Namely, Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus taps into this powerful story to help his Jewish audience wrap their minds around the high plans and high thoughts of God. Like Jonah’s good news saved Nineveh from destruction, Jesus’ good news turned the world upside down by transforming individual hearts and continues to do so today. It also provides the new creation blueprint to become born again and live a purpose-filled life that will span eternity. "Behold, I make all people new!"

How to participate in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus to walk in newness of life with the promised hope of physical transformation at the King’s return:

-Death: we all must approach Jesus on his terms and confess our sins and turn to him with our whole heart. Paul writes that all have fallen short of their intended purpose to reflect the faithful love of God into the world.

-Burial: we all must bury our old self in the waters of baptism while calling on Jesus in faith. This act washes away our past to give us a clean conscience towards the Almighty and gives Him a clean conscience towards us. The name of Jesus is the only detergent that calls forth his atoning blood to get out the stain of our selfish acts.

-Resurrection: we all must rise out of the baptismal waters a newly forgiven person calling on Jesus to receive his promised spirit (living waters) in our hearts. Upon receiving God’s spirit we will speak in an unknown language and will be a new creature in Christ, adopted into his family and joined together as his body here on earth. His spirit is the down payment of our eternal inheritance, seal to be physically resurrected at King Jesus’ return, and imparted holiness (Jesus’ character manifested in our actions).

Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead. And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions. He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross. [Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬-‭15‬]

I hope you enjoyed the unpacking of Jesus’ only sign given that the Kingdom of God has broken forth and how it informs our path to be reconciled to Him. In love, God bless.

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