Jonah is one of the most interesting Old Testament prophecy books. What makes Jonah so interesting is the depths of effort God goes to move Jonah to a non-Jewish nation. Jonah does not want to preach repentance to his enemies. Everyone knows the story of him being in the belly of a fish and then spit up on land after running from God. Jesus himself references the historical event multiple times with what he refers to as the sign of Jonah.
A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away. Matthew 16:4 ESV
Sign of Jonah
Jesus is recorded using the term “sign of Jonah” twice in the Gospel of Matthew. He is also recorded once in the Gospel of Luke. It makes sense that Matthew would record this since his gospel is directed to the religious Jewish community of that time. This audience would have understood the reference and would have wanted to ponder the meaning. Thankfully both Matthew and Luke give details into exactly what Jesus is communicating.
| Jonah in the Gospel | Text | Notes |
| Matthew 12:39 Matthew 16:4 Luke 11:29 | An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign | Religious men asked Jesus for a sign or a miracle. |
| Matthew 12:39 Matthew 16:4 Luke 11:29 | but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. | What is the sign of Jonah? |
| Luke 11:30 | Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation | Jesus like Jonah will be a sign to a call to repent |
| Matthew 12:40 | 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. | Jesus is say that like Jonah was dead for 3 days so he would be dead for 3 days. |
| Matthew 12:41 Luke 11:32 | Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it | Jonah preached repentance when he came to life and the City repented |
Keys to the Sign of Jonah
What then is the sign of Jonah that Jesus references? He is speaking of his death, burial, and resurrection. Like Jonah who was in the belly of the fish for three days; Jesus will be in the “heart of the earth” for three days. Just as Jonah preached repentance to the people in Nineveh; Jesus is preaching repentance to the people of then and now. The resurrection of Jesus and the gospel message is the sign of Jonah.
Death and Resurrection
So let us look at the two parts of this sign. First is the death, burial, and resurrection. Jonah is running from his divinely appointed job. Has jumped on a boat to leave the country. God brings a storm that forces the crew to throw everything overboard and eventually Jonah tells them to toss him as well.
And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Jonah 1:17 ESV
Jesus praying in Gethsemane right before he is turned over for death embraces what is before him. Jonah a man and sinner employed by God needed time in the fish to come to terms. He needed to embrace the job God has asked of him. We can see this by his prayer “yet I shall again look upon your holy temple” (Jonah 2:4). Jesus on the other hand prays that the death and pain before him could be removed yet knowing that this is what is needed embraces it anyway.
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39 ESV
Repentance
Second let us look at the message that Jesus and Jonah preach not only to the men of their day but also to you an me dear reader. The gospel message then and the gospel message now is repentance. This is the good news. Disaster is coming. Death stands over us at every moment, but God in his grace and mercy provides a way forward. An escape from death.
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2 ESV
Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. Jonah 3:4 ESV
Embrace the Sign of Jonah
The evil Pharisees wanted Jesus to perform magic tricks for them. And Jesus tells them he is not a court jester for their amusement. The only sign they would get is the sign of Jonah which is the gospel truth backed by the power of the resurrection. Accept God to escape death. Dear reader, will you accept the sign of Jonah and repent before your Maker? Jesus died to give us that opportunity.
