Fish, Part 10: Something Greater Than Jonah

Brian Steele, Adult Ministries Pastor

The book of Jonah is a “great” fish story. But…

is the Jonah.

Matthew 12:40-41
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. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Jonah 3:1–3
Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.”
        So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth.

God called Jonah a to go to Nineveh

Nineveh was an audience for God’s message

Assyria had a nightmare history of violence and wickedness.

Jesus, the greater Jonah, also offered the least likely people to receive God’s mercy:

•  The Gerasene man (Mark 5:1-20)
•  The Samaritan woman (John 4:1-42)
•  The Leper (Matthew 8:1-4)

Note: our disgust is rarely shared by God.

Jonah delivered a very message

“Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” –Jonah 3:4

“​​If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.” –Jeremiah 18:7-8

Jonah 3:5–9
The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. ⁷ And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, ⁸ but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. ⁹ Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”

The Ninevites in three great ways:

• • They believed in God
  • They called out to God
  • They took action seen by God

God responded with great When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. –Jonah 3:10

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. –James 4:8

Next Steps This Week

• Write one area of your life where need to change course:
• Write a time this week when you will call out to God for compassion:
• Write one action step you can and will take to change:

Small Group Questions

1. Have you ever seen “the big one” get away? Share with the group your best fish story.
2. Read Jonah Chapter 3. What is surprising or challenging to you about this passage?
3. Share some highlights of your journey to believe God. Also share some struggles you’ve had along the way.
4. What is an experience you’ve had changing course and encountering God’s compassion?
5. What group of people are modern Ninevites to you? Who do you least want to receive God’s great mercy? How might God be leading you to love this group of people or bring Jesus’ message of good news?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?