Jesus in the Old Testament, Jonah

Jesus in Jonah

Jesus made this Statment.

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness about me,"

Today we come to the Book of Jonah, The book of Jonah is the personal experience of the Jonah himself. The book contains no direct Prophecy, however, the experience of Jonah is itself a reflection of the message of God. The name Jonah means ''Dove.'' The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, {Of whom you know a Dove landed on when John Baptised Him} put His seal of authentication upon the story of Jonah here.

"But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Matthew 12:39-40

So right there we see that the life of Jonah is a shadow of the greatest event to ever happen in History. The Crucifixion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus, our Christ.

It is important to remember that Jonah was a man, not a myth. The book is fact, not fiction. It is history, not a Fairytale. We begin seeing that Jonah did not want to be obedient to God.

"Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord." Jonah 1:1-3

As you can imagine, this did not sit well with God. How many of you can tell me that you understand God does get angry? He is Love. He created all things, including emotions. Remember the First Commandment and most important Commandment?

"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments." Exodus 20:2-6

I know, I know, this is actually Commandments1-2. However, Jesus summed both of these, as well as number three, "Do not take the name of the Lord your God in Vain." With this.

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

Why? "I the Lord your God am a jealous God." He created emotions. He gets Happy, Sad, Angry, Jealous, so on and so forth. So when Jonah did not do as God asked him to, God became angry.

"But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea so that the ship threatened to break up. Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep." Jonah 1:4-5

Stop for a second. Did you catch this? Jonah was in the belly of the ship, sleeping in the Storm, right before he was about to be cast away into the /sea itself? Remember this?

"And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark4:37-40

Doesn't work out so well for Jonah though. The men were afraid and cast lots and this landed on Jonah and they asked him why God was angry, and why was he fleeing from God? Jonah even told them to throw him overboard to spare their own lives but they didn't listen at first. The Storm grew stronger and stronger.

"Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.” So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows." Jonah 1:14-16

God calmed the water. Sound familiar? Then Jonah ended up in the belly of a big fish.

"And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights."

I want you to read Jonah's Prayer with me. While we read this, think about Jesus and Him being in Hell for the Three days. Think of how He must have felt to leave Heaven and come down here to this Sin filled world to only suffer all Sin and be put to death innocent of any wrongdoing at all.

"I called out to the Lord, out of my distress,"

Stop. Sound familiar?

"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”" Matthew 27:46

Back to Jonah. well, let's start over.

"I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’ The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God.

When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!” Jonah 2:2-9

We then read how God set's him free or raises him from the deep. Can you say resurrection?

Then we see Jonah go and do as God asked him, and the people of Nineveh repent.

We see a shadow, imperfect in every way, but a shadow of Jesus in the life of Jonah. God called him out to go to Sinful people. Jesus came out of Heaven into a Sin filled world.

God calmed the waters with His "Chosen one" was asleep on a boat, after the fearful men cried out for Him.

God rejected and allowed both Jonah, due to his Sin, Jesus due to our Sin, to be put "to death." Jonah cast into the Sea and ending up in the Belly of a Fish for three days, and Jesus crucified and cast into Hell for three days. Both to be "Resurrected" resulting in the Repentance and Salvation of Sinful people. With Jonah, it was the people of Nineveh and Jesus for us all.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will heal you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a Sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus and His Sacrifice for me. I believe that He raised from the Dead. I repent my Sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is just that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.{2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus is Lord!