JESUS AND JONAH

1. One of the interesting things about Jesus’ ministry and teaching was His use of history.

2. By the time Jesus arrived on the earth there had been about 4,000 years of human history.

3. All kinds of events had occurred and all kinds of people had lived.

4. Because of who Jesus was, He had access to illustrations that spanned a 4,000 year period.

IN SPITE OF THE NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS THE LORD COULD HAVE USED, THE GOSPELS SUGGEST HE APPEALED TO A FEW PEOPLE AND EVENTS IN HIS TEACHING. THUS,

a) When we find Jesus talking about a historical matter, it is probably pretty important.

b) It might be an interesting study to do an exclusive study on Jesus’ historical references.

2) If such a study were conducted attention would need to be given to Mt. 12.

3) Jesus knew about Jonah and He used him for an illustration.

4) From the scripture reading we heard what the Lord said about Jonah.

a) Jonah was a “sign”, Mt. 12:39,

b) It has often been noted that Jesus believed Jonah was a real person.

c) What is said in the book of Jonah is not a myth.

d) Jonah really did live and was really inside the belly of a great fish (verse 40).

e) Jonah’s experience looked forward to Jesus’ death and resurrection.

5) Verse 41 provides us with additional information about God’s ancient prophet.

6) Jonah was “great” but Jesus was “greater.”

7) Jonah was a “preacher,” and he was allowed to speak to a very receptive audience.

8) When the people of Nineveh heard his message they “repented.”

9) All of this information is fairly straightforward, and it brings us to the final 2 thoughts from the reading.

10) Verses 41-42 refer to a future time of “judgment.”

a) Jesus believed in a future judgment day.

b) A time is coming when each person’s life will be examined.

c) Other New Testament verses like 2 Cor. 5:10 make this same point.

11) Part of the examination process on the day of judgment will be a comparison to others.

12) We live in a culture of comparisons.

a) Neighbors and co-workers compare gas mileage on automobiles.

b) Home owners compare interest rates, insurance rates, and house problems.

c) There may be comparisons in the areas of health, education, jobs, children, and many other items.

13) Jesus said the people from Nineveh—those who have been dead a long time—will one day reappear.

14) They will be at the end of time judgment and they will “stand up in the judgment.”

15) Ninevites will appear at the final reckoning and “condemn” others.

16) How can people who lived long before the first century condemn those who lived years later?

17) Before we explore this question notice verse 42.

18) Jesus made His point again but used a different historical character.

a) Long ago there was “the queen of the south.”

b) A queen came “from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon.”

c) Somehow she too will condemn others at the final hour.

WHAT DID JESUS MEAN WHEN HE APPEALED TO A QUEEN AND THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH?

1) From last week’s lesson (and surely our previous knowledge) we know what Jonah did.

2) He went to a city of sinful people and said, “God is going to destroy you in 40 days.”

3) “If you do not repent in 40 days you will be dead.”

4) Both Jonah 3 and Mt. 12 say the people of Ninevah repented.

a) Jesus said this repentance (change) will haunt and condemn some folks on the Day of Judgment.

b) He was exactly right.

c) Consider the generation that Jesus addressed when the words of Mt. 12 were spoken.

d) Jesus was “greater” than Jonah, and He preached a similar message.

e) According to Mt. 4:17 Jesus preached a message of repentance.

f) Many who heard Jesus preach repentance didn’t respond.

g) Those in Ninevah acted but the Jews refused to change.

5) In fact, many of the Jews didn’t respond after 40 days of hearing Jesus prach.

6) They didn’t respond after He had preached a year or even 2 years.

7) Instead of heeding what the Lord said, the Jews decided to destroy the one greater than Jonah.

8) God waited about 40 years for the Jews to accept the gospel.

9) Because many hearts stayed stubborn and hard, Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 a.d.

a) Jesus could say the Ninenvites will condemn the people of Israel because of how the Jews acted.

b) They had 40 years to alter their course but they would not change.

c) Pagans, however, righted their ways in less than 40 days.

d) Perhaps some Jews will argue on the Day of Judgment they “didn’t understand” God’s message.

e) God will point back to the people of Ninevha and say, “look at them.”

f) They had a preacher, and he was not as good as the preacher sent to the Jews.

g) Those of Nineveh responded immediately; the Jews didn’t respond after 4 decades.

10) On the Day of Judgment the Ninevites will destroy any excuse made by the unsaved.

11) Furthermore, we may make this observation:

12) Jonah was like someone who is dragged to a pulpit; he didn’t want to teach.

13) Jesus, however, did want to teach. He sought opportunities to instruct people.

14) Lk. 19:10 says the Lord came to seek and save those who were lost.

15) If people were saved with an unwilling teacher, what about the one ready to knock down the door?

16) There will be no excuse for the unsaved when the final time comes.

17) A second demonstration of Jesus’ point is found in the Queen of Sheba.

18) Jesus said the ruler came a great distance to see King Solomon.

19) As she came, though this detail is not in Mt. 12, she brought some very nice gifts.

20) Her presents are described in 1 Kgs. 10:2, and the word “much” is used.

21) Instead of coming empty handed, she brought a lot of gold and precious stones to Solomon.

a) Jesus’ mention of this woman put the Hebrews on the spot.

b) Solomon was great, but of certainly much less significance than Jesus.

c) If an important ruler traveled a vast distance to see Solomon, what about the Lord?

22) There were Hebrews, as the expression goes, who would not walk across the street to see Jesus.

23) Yet, an important ruler traveled a great distance to listen to Solomon’s wisdom—a mere man!

24) Some in Jesus day would not go 20 feet to hear what the Son of God had to say.

25) Jesus was correct when He said people and events from the past will condemn the unsaved.

WHAT HAS BEEN SAID UP TO THIS POINT IS CERTAINLY INTERESTING BUT IT IS ALL HISTORICAL. IS THERE ANY TO MAKE THE INFORMATION IN MATTHEW 12 RELEVANT TO OUR DAY AND TIME?

a) Yes.

b) How long did Jonah need to preach before the Ninevites responded?

c) Did he need to preach a dozen sermons or just one?

d) Based upon how the third chapter of Jonah reads, it appears people had to hear the message just once.

e) His preaching and the response might be compared to an air raid siren.

f) When wars have been fought and these sirens were sounded, people responded.

g) Once the sound was identified, those who heard the warning immediately sought safety.

2) There was an immediate response from the people of Nineveh, but what about today?

3) Is it not possible for someone to have chance upon chance to obey the gospel but never do it?

4) The Ninevites had less than 40 days, but many non-Christians may have and use up an entire lifetime.

5) What will such a person say on the Day of Judgment, especially when looking at the Ninevites?

6) How can a lifetime of neglected opportunities be justified on the day of judgment?

7) Those in Nineveh had the basic facts but not much beyond that.

8) We have the basic facts plus all the rest of God’s revealed will.

9) God’s will has been so fully revealed it is called “the perfect” in 1 Cor. 13.

10) If people complied with the partial, what about those who fail to follow what is perfect and complete?

11) These are all ways the Ninevite illustration can be applied to our day and time.

12) What about the queen of the south? What can be learned from her?

13) She was willing to come a far distance to hear words of wisdom from a man.

a) How far are we willing to come to study words from not a wise man, but the Living God?

b) How far will we go for entertainment and fun but not for God?

c) How much will we spend on self but say it is too much for God?

d) The queen’s travel would have probably been by camel and lasted for months.

e) It would have been hot, and probably very dangerous.

f) What about the person who has a comfortable car and a nice day but says, “no thanks”?

14) On the Day of Judgment such a person can expect to be compared with someone like the queen of Sheba.

15) Solomon was so highly esteemed a queen brought him lavish gifts including gold.

16) Each Sunday we take up a free-will to express our love for God.

17) What do we offer? What do we offer to God throughout the week?

18) When it comes to our giving, the queen of Sheba can serve as a guide.

19) People from the ancient past will help condemn the unsaved.

20) Others from the more recent past also have that same ability.

a) Instead of going back to Jesus’ day, let’s go back a hundred years in American history.

b) There were Christians who rode on horseback or in wagons for hours to hear God’s word.

c) Many of these trip were in the winter months.

d) In spite of this have we ever heard someone complain about a 20 minute trip in a nice car?

e) The examples of application for the Lord’s point do not stop here.

21) Imagine a person who has no real barrier to serving God as the Bible describes.

22) In spite of almost no difficulty, our imaginary person chooses not to actively pursue a spiritual life.

23) Across the way is a young man or woman who wants to be a faithful Christian.

24) Because of this choice, the young person is thrown out of the house and disowned by the parents.

25) What will God say to that unfaithful person who had no barriers in his or her life?

26) When compared to the one who was faithful in spite of great obstacles, there will be no excuse.

27) By using Jonah and an ancient queen Jesus made a very plain point.

28) First, become one of God’s children because there is not excuse not to.

29) Second, live a faithful Christian life because we there is no excuse not to.

30) Any other choices will result in condemnation.

31)

32) Today, as we look at people from the past, where are we?

33) Are we one who is on the path to serving God and will avoid condemnation?