HOW JONAH PARALLELS JESUS

The story of Jonah gives an example of God’s grace and mercy to a sinful people. Matthew 12:40 (NIV)* gives a clear parallel between Jonah and Christ and shows the reader how Jonah is a type of Christ; with Christ being the greater Jonah (Matt 12:41).

Jonah’s life and mission are a parallel to Jesus and His redemptive mission. There exists an undeniable commonality between them which mirrors the overarching plan of God for man’s salvation. It also testifies to the depth of God’s love for man and how man’s redemption is based on the selfless love of God as manifested through His son, Jesus Christ. In addition, it testifies to the fact that God does not treat man according to his (man’s) merit.

The Parallels

Jonah accepted his call to mission under duress (Jnh 1:3)

Jesus accepted His call to mission willingly (Jnh 3:18)

 

Jonah was cast into the sea to save the lives of the men in the boat (Jnh 1:3)

Jesus was cast into this world to save the lives of the men in the world

 

Jonah arrived in the city of Nineveh in the belly of a fish (Jnh 2:10)

Jesus arrived in the city (the World) in the belly of a virgin (Luke 1:31,34)

 

Jonah spent three (3) days in the belly of a fish, a symbol of death (Jnh 1:17)

Jesus died and spent three (3) days in the earth (Matt 12:40)

 

Jonah was regurgitated alive on the shores of Nineveh, symbol of resurrection (Jnh 2:10)

Jesus was resurrected and returned alive (1Cor 15:4)

 

Jonah’s city was full of sinners (Ninevites) who are under the judgement of death (Jnh 1:1)

Jesus’ city is full of sinners (the World) who are under the judgement of death (Rom 3:23)

 

Jonah completed his mission but hated the inhabitants of the city (the Ninevites) Jnh 4:1,4)

Jesus completed His mission and loves the inhabitants of the city (Mankind) Jn 15:13

 

Jonah went out of the city to wait for its destruction (Jnh 3:4-5)

Jesus went out of the city to die for its redemption (John 19:170

 

Jonah went outside the city, left the inhabitants and sat to the ‘East’ of the city (direction of separation)

Jesus arrived to the ‘East’ (Matt 2:2) of the city but went inside the city (the World) and tabernacled with the inhabitants of the city (Jn1:14, Matt 1:23)

 

Jonah’s tree is called ‘Ricin or castor’ (modern name: Palma Christi) Jnh 4:6

Jesus’ tree is called the ‘Cross’ on Calvary (Gal 3:13)

 

Jonah sat under his tree for his own protection (Jnh 3:6b)

Jesus was nailed to his tree for man’s protection (Isa 53:5)

 

Jonah’s tree grew from the ground, was cut down and he rebelled and asked for death (Jnh 4:1,3)

Jesus’ tree grew from the ground, was cut down and He obeyed and accepted death (Mt 26: 39)

 

Jonah went outside the city and waited for God to punish and kill the inhabitants of the city (the Ninevites) Jnh 4:5)

Jesus went outside the city and asked God to forgive and give life to the inhabitants of the city (Mankind/The World) Luke 23:34

 

                                                                          God’s Resolve

Praise be to God who was resolute in His plan to redeem man from the fall. The Christo centricity of the Bible shows God’s love and resolve to change man’s destiny from eternal damnation in hell to eternal salvation in the presence of God for all eternity.

Do not let this scourge called Covid-19 prevent you for losing sight of God’s love, care and faithfulness. We may not know the why’s and how’s of this situation but we hold to our faith that though we do not have the answers, God still sits on His throne as Sovereign. We are filled with uncertainties…but our eyes are fixed upon Him.