Matthew’s Gospel ch12 vs38 -42
Jonah ch1 vs1- 3, 15 – 17, ch2 vs1 – 10, ch3 vs1 -5, ch4 vs1
– 11
Jonah was a unique prophet, having a very short message to
preach (ch3 vs4).
In the original Hebrew it has only five words.
Isaiah, as a typical example, has numerous instances of The Lord
speaking to him with many messages for various people.
The speaker broke tonight’s message into three headings:
a) The Sign of Jonah
Ninevah was a large and most sinful city, known for its
idolatry and atrocities.
Jonah absolutely did not want to go and preach there - not
due to fear, but because he did not want them to repent and rather face God’s
judgement.
Jonah disobeyed God and travelled in the opposite direction.
He was doing his best to run away from God and his heart was hardened.
He had been given an opportunity to preach the Word of God,
and now desiring to be thrown off the ship into the sea!
The Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah – and
this finally got Jonah to speak to God! (ch2).
This was the only sign that Jesus Christ would give to the
demanding scribes and Pharisees – Jonah spent three days and nights captive in
the depths of the sea, before being released out onto dry land … Jesus Christ
would be dead and buried for three days and three nights before being resurrected
from his tomb – foretelling His death and resurrection.
“… Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and
that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day, according to the
scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 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. After that, he was seen
of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also …”
- 1st Corinthians ch15 vs3 – 8.
b) The Preaching of Jonah
It was the most simple message!
The people of Ninevah had forty days to repent of their
sinful way of life, or face God’s judgement upon them.
They did repent, from the common person right up to the
king, who decreed a fast!
God relented upon them.
Dear Reader, this is the same message that God has given
mankind – including you and I - for thousands of years …
“… repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus
Christ”.
- The Acts ch20 vs21
It is the same simple message – The Saviour has come!
He is completely able and willing to save you from the eternal judgement of your sins!
God delights in mercy …
“But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in
mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it
is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us
with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming
ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his
kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through
faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works,
so that no one can boast”.
- Ephesians ch2 vs4 -9.
Yet Jonah was still angry (ch4) and through the hardness of
his heart wanted God to pour judgement out on these people.
His heart was without compassion – unlike God’s, and Jonah admits
such, here in ch4 vs1 – 2.
c) A Greater than Jonah
The Lord Jesus Christ told the scribes and Pharisees that
through the preaching of Jonah the people of Ninevah repented of their sins,
but that He Himself was greater than Jonah – or Soloman.
Jesus Christ IS God!
The Father in His great compassion towards us gave us His
Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins that we might be forgiven.
Dear Reader, will you repent of your sins tonight?
Will you accept in faith The Lord Jesus Christ as your own
Saviour?
He laid down His sinless life, shedding His precious blood
on The Cross for you,
having the power to take up His life again, three days
later, His sacrifice fully accepted and justified.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared
to all men”.
- Titus ch2 vs11.
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