Jonah points to Christ

Eschatology Types & Shadows Series - Jonah points to Christ.

Christ spoke of Jonah on two occasions.

 

In Matthew 16:4, and in Matthew 12:39-44, which is repeated in Luke 11:29-32

 

Notice Luke 11:30, specifically.

 

"For as Jonah was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation"

 

For as Jonah was a sign unto the Ninevites?

 

What kind of sign was Jonah?

 

This is actually two-fold:

 

Many are familiar with the story of Jonah spending 3 days/nights in the belly of a whale (Matthew 12:40) and how Christ likens this to his eventual 3-days/nights in the "heart of the earth".

 

But consider Matthew 12:40

 

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.

 

in comparison to Luke 11:30

 

For as Jonah was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation

 

Though not an identical word-for-word (Quote) rendering, this is the same statement being referred to by the two different writers between Matthew and Luke.

 

But a long-ignored and "hidden" mystery is better-revealed in Luke's wording, but a little background on Jonah, and why Christ is using Jonah for his illustrations.

 

Jonah (Jonah chapter 1) is called by God to go prophesy God's imminent judgment and wrath against the people and city of Nineveh, but Jonah runs away.

 

He gains passage on a boat in Joppa, God sends a storm to harass the boat, crew, and passengers, and Jonah convinces those on the boat to throw him overboard, where a whale swallows him.

 

As the story continues, we find Jonah resurfacing and making his way to Nineveh, and spending 3 days/nights spreading and speaking about Nineveh’s impending judgment and doom, due in 40 days time (Jonah 3:4), but the Ninevites repent and God spares them. 

 

Again, Luke 11:30

 

"For as Jonah was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation"

 

This was actually a response to those seeking a "sign" from heaven, and he said (verse 29) the only sign they would see was the sign of Jonah.

 

And in the Matthew 12:40 rendition, he goes on to explain what that sign was/is

 

"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"

 

As mentioned earlier, this is two-fold: on the one hand, you have a picture of resurrection with Jonah being 3 days/nights in the whale's belly (And then rising out of the whale), compared with Christ's 3 days/nights in the heart of the earth, and subsequent resurrection.

 

The 2nd part is the message Jonah delivered, and how Ninevah repented, being presented in contrast with Christ preaching to Israel, and that they did not repent, and judgment was pronounced upon them.

 

For as Jonah was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.

 

As Jonah delivered his message that was intended for his very own generation, so too was Christ's proclamation being made upon that 1st-century contemporary generation.

 

Matthew 12:41

 

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.

 

Remember Christ saying "For as Jonah was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man is to this generation"

 

Jonah's imminent message of judgment was for his contemporary audience and generation, and one greater than Jonah told that 1st-century generation that they were hearing a similar message, and similarly points to their very own generation.

 

From Genesis 1 to Revelation 22, scripture is laden with many types/shadows that all point to their respective substances.

 

Christ did not bring mankind one-more type or shadow, and Christ was/is neither type nor shadow, but is the substance that the scriptures point to, and he even said this very thing:

 

John 5:39 "Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me"

 

The 1st-century generation was the ultimate termination of types and shadows, with Christ shown as the substance. He plainly declared judgment upon his contemporary audience and generation.

 

 

© 2019 Jerry Wm Bowers Jr.