Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Scripture: Jonah 3 and Matthew 12:38-42

The story of Jonah is probably very familiar to you: God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, but instead of going to Nineveh, he fled to Tarshish. While on his way there, a bad storm arose, and the crew threw Jonah overboard because Jonah said this was his fault. Jonah was swallowed up by a huge fish, and he stayed in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. Then God told Jonah again to go to Nineveh, and finally Jonah obeyed and preached about God and repentance to the Ninevites. Amazingly, the Ninevites repented of their sins, stopping the destruction God had threatened.

Our small group has been watching The Chosen on Thursday nights. Just the other night we watched a scene of Jesus preaching to a crowd when one of the Pharisees asks him to perform a miracle (Matthew 12:38-42). In response, Jesus points back to the sign of Jonah.

Jesus draws a parallel between the three days and three nights Jonah spent in the belly of the fish to the three days and three nights the Son of Man will spend in the grave. Jonah preached repentance and the Ninevites repented. Now, someone greater than Jonah—Jesus—is preaching repentance, but the Pharisees are still struggling to see the truth. I encourage you to watch this clip to get a visual of this scene. While you watch, reflect on God’s amazing grace for us as we repent of our own sins.

Elaine is married to Mark and they have a cat, Piper, and a corgi, Dean