August 13, 2025 • 16 mins
Three days Jonah spent in the depths of the sea, stuck in the tomb of a fish’s belly. His journey in and out of the fish is an image of Jesus' journey out of the tomb.
Sign up for special devotionals at StoriesoftheMessiah.com.
As we dive deeply into iconic Bible heroes' enthralling narratives, we find more than just stories of faith and miracles. We discover a recurrent theme, a spiritual undertone that connects each tale to the grandeur of the Gospel.
They're not just standalone legends; they're threads in a divine tapestry, weaving a story that foreshadows Jesus Christ, the ultimate hero, the promised Messiah who brings light to the darkest corners of history.
For more Bible stories download the Pray.com app.
To learn more about Rabbi Schneider visit https://discoveringthejewishjesus.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let us pray Nineveh will stand up in the judgment
with this generation and will condemn it, for they repented
at the preaching of Jonah. And behold, someone greater than
Jonah is here. Matthew twelve forty one, Dear Heavenly Father,
we stand humbly before you today, acknowledging that something greater
(00:23):
than Jonah is here, your son, Jesus Christ Lord. We
ask for the grace to heed your call for repentance
and to respond with humble hearts. Just as the Ninavites
turn from their wicked ways upon hearing Jonah's message, may
we also turn from our sins and seek your forgiveness
(00:44):
when we hear the teachings of Jesus. Father, help us
fully grasp the magnitude of your mercy and recognize that
in Jesus we have a savior far greater than any prophet,
one who took our sins upon himself to reconcile us
to you. Let this truth transform our hearts and renew
(01:05):
our spirits. In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, Amen,
Thank you for praying with me today. Stay tuned now
for another episode of Stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Jonah sat on a grassy hill and stared at the
open sea. He closed his eyes, felt the gentle kiss
of the mild morning sun, and listened to the sound
of gulls intermixed with crashing waves. Then, all of a sudden,
a voice interrupted Jonah's moment of bliss Arise.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
The voice said.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Jonah perked up, immediately, recognizing it was the Lord.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Go inland to the great city of Nineveh. They have
fallen into a cycle of wickedness and a corruption. Go
there and show them their evil so they can repent.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Jonah tensed up and shook his head. No, he whispered, No,
I can't, he declared. Jonah's hatred for the people of
Ninevh ran deep. Their cruelty was famous, and Jonah had
experienced firsthand the ripple effects of their wickedness.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
He refused to heed the call of God.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
He wouldn't give the people of Ninevh a chance to repent.
He wanted them to experience judgment. He wanted them to suffer.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
They deserved it.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Jonah immediately gathered his belongings for a journey, but instead
of going inland, he boarded a cargo ship to Tasha ship.
His mind raced with rage against Nineveh and contempt for God.
He refused to be a conduit for God's mercy. Jonah
went down into the ship's cabin and laid his head
to sleep. As he slumbered, clouds rolled in from the
(02:52):
middle of the sea. The waves begin to stir, matching
the violent pattern of the skies.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
A storm was brewing.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Could not outrun God.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Hello and welcome to another episode of the Stories of
the Messiah podcast. I'm Rabbi Schneider from Discovering the Jewish Jesus,
here to guide you through some of the most iconic
stories ever told. If this podcast is blessed you thus far,
please take a moment to leave a comment and review.
Doing so will make sure others discover these life changing stories.
(03:24):
And be sure to download the Prey dot com app
to hear the Bible come to life. This season of
Stories of the Messiah is called Jesus the Greater. We
have been traversing the peaks and valleys of the Bible's
most famous characters. These people's lives remarked with tragedy, triumph, faith,
and failure. These heroes ultimately point us toward the greatest
(03:45):
hero of all Jesus. Today we recount the story of
Jonah and the Giant Fish. Jonah, prophet of God, was
chosen to carry a message of repentance to the wicked
city of Nineveh. We are not sure whether pride, prejudice,
or his story with Nineveh made Jonah so bitter. Knowing
what we know now about the city of Nineveh, Jonah
(04:06):
most likely had several bad experience with their people. It
is very likely that Nineveh had invaded Israelite cities or
cheated at Israelite traders. Jonah didn't want them to experience mercy,
so he fled from God and sought to sail far
away to Tarshish, the opposite direction of Nineveh. Jonah's story
is packed with lessons, lessons we will unpack together. Yet,
(04:30):
the greatest truth hidden within this story is a metaphor
see if you can spot it in the cinematic retelling
of Jonah. Chapter one, the bail the.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
Water captain shouting through the cargo overboard, we have to
lighten the ship.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
The ship's crew desperately tried to lighten the nod to
endure the wind and waves. The storm had come like
a predator. In the forest unexpected and land. The crew
helplessly prayed to each of their gods. They bowed their
idols and begged for some sort of deliverance. The captain
burst through the cabin doors and the work Journah.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Wake up, Hebrew, pray, dear God, I fear it, we
may perish on these seas.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Jonah climbed to the deck and saw the heavens thrashing
and lightning crashing. Jonah gooped as his hands began to shake.
He had a feeling this storm was because of him.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Come a choice of the castle blocks.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
So we know who among us is to blame for
such a star.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
The captain was a master of the seas. We knew
that an abrupt storm of this magnitude was not ordinary.
Someone must have evoked the wrath of a god. Crew
members to the bag of knuckle bones and cast them
on to the deck. The lord rolled and fell at
German's feature. The crew looked in him and demanded an explanation.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Imheben Jurnah explained, they do not.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Worship gods of war. There in Agriculturizudu, I worshiped the
lords of creation who made heaven and earth and am
running away from him, But I fear it was a braveness.
The lightning struck beside them and set the group jumping
at all sides. They stayed away from Jonah and yelled,
what must we do to avoid catastrophe?
Speaker 1 (06:10):
How do we please your God?
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Jonah looked out at the black, chaotic ocean. He leaned
over the side and closed his eyes. Regret overcame him.
He turned back to the crew and said, pull me
into the sea. God's judgment is.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
Directed towards me, not you Throw me overboard and the
storm will calm.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
No, we do not abandon people to the sea.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
He is not our way. The captain yelled, forsake the
sails and roll.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
He ordered his crude.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
The men rode with all their strength.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
That the storm was working against them. It was as
if the hand of God was pulling them into the sea.
The captain cursed and prayed to Jonah's God. He begged
for mercy, Lord of the Hebrews, do not put this
man's blood on our hands. He turned to his crew
and pointed at Jonah. Throw him overboard, so they picture
(07:00):
and about. Jonah crashed into the dark sea, and the
breakers crashed over him. Pushing him up the ark. The
weight of God's judgment was over Jonah, pulling him deeper
into the abyss. Jonah accepted that this would be the
end of him. As the blackness of the deep ocean
enveloped him, Jonah saw a large figure swent by. His
(07:20):
eyes widened, and the final thing he saw was the
shape of a giant fish swallowing him up. Jonah opened
his eyes but saw nothing. The smell of rotting fish
and kelp was nearly unbearable. Jonah tried to stretch his
arms and legs, but barely had enough room. He was
inside the belly of a fish, only given enough space
(07:41):
to breathe. It was like being locked in a dark tomb.
He was alone with his thoughts for three days and
three nights, contemplating God's judgment, mercy, and goodness. Ironically, Jonah
felt closer to the Lord in the bottomless pit of despair.
The white noise of the fissure's heartbeat intermixed with the
south of the ocean. Jonah spoke a prayer to the Lord.
(08:03):
I called to you God in my distress.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
You answer me.
Speaker 5 (08:08):
I cry from the belly of the grave, and you
hear me You cast me into the deep heart of
the seas, and the water surround me.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Your waves and billows crash over me.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
And then I cannot see you.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
I will point my eyes towards your holy temper. Water
sought to take my life.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
The deep surrounded me, and the seaweed wrapped around my neck.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Yet you brought my life from the pit, and my
life was faintfully and oblivion. I remembered you with a
voice of thanksgiving. I was sacrificed to salvation belongs to
the law. And just as he had finished his prayer
of repentant praise, the Lord commanded the fish to release
Jonah onto the shore. The sun's warmth was a bomb
(08:59):
to his aching bar, and Jonah laughed with relief and worship.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
If you have fouled along thus far, you remember what
shopping and chaotic storms represent in the Bible, sin, darkness,
and judgment. In Jonah's case, the righteous judgment of God
was seeking him out through the storm. There was nowhere
Jonah could run where God couldnot find him. This truth
ought to inspire and comfort all of us. Jonah was
(09:27):
given a mission by God, a purpose. God was not
about to let Jonah escape that purpose. No matter how
hard he tried, God was determined to draw Jonah's calling
out of him, even if it meant sending a storm.
You know, this happens in our lives as well. God
is a plan and purpose for you. He has adorned
you with gifts and desires to use for His kingdom.
(09:49):
When we stray and run from that calling, sometimes God
will do what it takes to draw us back. He
will use circumstances, trials, and difficulties to return us to him.
And knew that he had messed up and that he
had put other people's lives in jeopardy. You know, that's
what happens with sin. It doesn't just affect us as individuals,
but it affects everyone around us. Many people suffer in
(10:11):
the wake of our disobedience. To Jonah's credit, he came
clean eventually and did the self sacrificing thing. He allowed
the crew to throw them into the sea, and just
as Jonah thought that the dark abyss was going to
consume him, he was swallowed by a fish and survived
there for three days and three nights. Jonah was transformed
(10:32):
in those three days. His heart was softened toward God,
and he was able to see his mercy. Sometimes, in
our most profound moments of suffering, we discovered the greatness
of God's love. Hearing profound lessons of faith is why
we go to pray dot com and discovering the Jewish Jesus.
These lessons strengthen us and leave us sharpened for the
(10:52):
battles ahead. However, there's something more happening here than a
moral lesson. Above all, there's a greater thing happening in
this story. Jonah's time in the belly of the Beast
foreshadows another event. When the religious leaders pressed Jesus to
show them a sign of his deity, he pointed them
to Jonah.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Give us a sign. The Pharisees shouted. Jesus turned around
to see a group of religious leaders approaching. They reeked
of self righteousness. They had followed Jesus for months, watching
every miracle and listening to every teaching. Their pompous legalism
made them blind to their own hypocrisy. They circled Jesus
(11:33):
with accusations and challenges, hoping he would take the bait.
Speaker 5 (11:36):
You say you're amount of God like Elijah, But every
time we ask you to prove yourself, you refuse.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Don't you care what the public thinks.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
Send fire down like Elijah and prove you are who.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
You say you are. Jesus looked at them and shook
his head. He could never run out of patience, but
these men tried. Nonetheless, their vain religiosity was annoying and ineffectual.
They claimed to be of the same stalk as Elijah,
but they were much more similar to the prophets of Baale.
Jesus stretched out his arms and replied.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
When you look at the sky and you see that
there aren't any clouds, you can perceive that it's fair weather.
When you look up and see dark storm clouds, you
rightly know to seek cover.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Jesus stepped closer to the Pharisees. They could not help
but step back, for he exuded authority.
Speaker 5 (12:24):
How can you look to the sky and interpret the weather,
but you are unable to see the signs right in
front of you.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
Everyone stirred.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Jesus pointed a.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Finger at them and made sure he was clear.
Speaker 5 (12:34):
I will not give you a sign. I will not
dance for you, nor will I play these games. You
will have only one sign, the sign of Jonah. For
the son of Man will be in the grape for
three days and nights in the heart of the earth.
I tell you that the people of Neneveh would stand
up to you and condemn you. They repented when they
heard the preaching of Jonah. And behold, someone greater than
(12:57):
Jonah is here.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
The crowd stirred, and Jesus left their presence. He had
performed many miracles. He had restored sight to the blind,
healed levers, cast out demons, and walked on water. Yet
only one miracle truly mattered, the sign of Jonah rising
from the grave.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
We have all had times when we wish God would
reveal himself to us in a specific way. Sometimes we
ask for miracles because we're doubting, suffering, or struggling with
our faith. Other times were angry at God and wanted
to prove himself to us. These pharisees asked Jeas to
prove himself through miracles, as if he needed to prove
himself to them. But that's not how Jesus operated. He
(13:40):
wasn't a street performer asking for tips. He wasn't an
actor or artist trying to prove his worth. He didn't
need their approval. When Jesus performed signs and wonders. He
did it to aid the suffering and teach people about
the character of God. He wasn't submitting miracles to people
as a resume of as God good. Besides, the Pharisees
(14:02):
had already seen Jus perform miracles and signs. It wasn't
that they wanted Jus to show them a sign they
wanted to sign on their own terms. We must all
beware of this mentality. God is working all around us.
He performs miracles every day and is constantly on the
move doing wonderful things. But sometimes we are too self
consumed to see it. We want God to move in
(14:24):
specific ways on our own terms, so we end up
missing the beauty of everyday miracles. However, Jesus did say
he would give them one sign, the sign of Jonah.
Let's break that down. The chaotic seas represent God's judgment.
The fish represents the grave under God's judgment. Jonah was
(14:45):
trapped in that grave, considered dead, but then came out
three days later. Can you piece that together and connect
it to Jesus. Jesus took on the judgment of God,
sin and shame, and died. He was spared a grave
for three days, but then rose again. Jonah's time in
the belly of the fish was a sign that pointed
(15:06):
toward the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. That is
why we can confidently say that Jesus is the greater Jonah,
because Jonah's life was a foreshadowing of Jesus's great journey
to the Cross, into the grave, and out again. Next
time we're together, we'll dive into our final hero of
the series. This man had unwavering faith and conviction amid
(15:30):
a hostile culture. He was wise devoted and rose out
of the lion's den. Join us for our next episode
as we explore why Jesus is the Greater Daniel. Explore
more about Jesus in the Old Testament at discovering the
Jewish Jesus dot com, and also consider checking out my
most recent book, Messianic Prophecy Revealed Seeing Messiah in the
(15:53):
pages of the Hebrew Bible. You can get it via
my website. If this podcast impacted you, please take a
moment to leave a comment and review. Doing so, make
sure others discover these life changing stories, and be sure
to download the Prey dot com app to make prayer
priority and experience the Bible in new ways.
Let us pray Nineveh will stand up in the judgment
with this generation and will condemn it, for they repented
at the preaching of Jonah. And behold, someone greater than
Jonah is here. Matthew twelve forty one, Dear Heavenly Father,
we stand humbly before you today, acknowledging that something greater
(00:23):
than Jonah is here, your son, Jesus Christ Lord. We
ask for the grace to heed your call for repentance
and to respond with humble hearts. Just as the Ninavites
turn from their wicked ways upon hearing Jonah's message, may
we also turn from our sins and seek your forgiveness
(00:44):
when we hear the teachings of Jesus. Father, help us
fully grasp the magnitude of your mercy and recognize that
in Jesus we have a savior far greater than any prophet,
one who took our sins upon himself to reconcile us
to you. Let this truth transform our hearts and renew
(01:05):
our spirits. In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, Amen,
Thank you for praying with me today. Stay tuned now
for another episode of Stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Jonah sat on a grassy hill and stared at the
open sea. He closed his eyes, felt the gentle kiss
of the mild morning sun, and listened to the sound
of gulls intermixed with crashing waves. Then, all of a sudden,
a voice interrupted Jonah's moment of bliss Arise.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
The voice said.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Jonah perked up, immediately, recognizing it was the Lord.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Go inland to the great city of Nineveh. They have
fallen into a cycle of wickedness and a corruption. Go
there and show them their evil so they can repent.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Jonah tensed up and shook his head. No, he whispered, No,
I can't, he declared. Jonah's hatred for the people of
Ninevh ran deep. Their cruelty was famous, and Jonah had
experienced firsthand the ripple effects of their wickedness.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
He refused to heed the call of God.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
He wouldn't give the people of Ninevh a chance to repent.
He wanted them to experience judgment. He wanted them to suffer.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
They deserved it.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Jonah immediately gathered his belongings for a journey, but instead
of going inland, he boarded a cargo ship to Tasha ship.
His mind raced with rage against Nineveh and contempt for God.
He refused to be a conduit for God's mercy. Jonah
went down into the ship's cabin and laid his head
to sleep. As he slumbered, clouds rolled in from the
(02:52):
middle of the sea. The waves begin to stir, matching
the violent pattern of the skies.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
A storm was brewing.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Could not outrun God.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Hello and welcome to another episode of the Stories of
the Messiah podcast. I'm Rabbi Schneider from Discovering the Jewish Jesus,
here to guide you through some of the most iconic
stories ever told. If this podcast is blessed you thus far,
please take a moment to leave a comment and review.
Doing so will make sure others discover these life changing stories.
(03:24):
And be sure to download the Prey dot com app
to hear the Bible come to life. This season of
Stories of the Messiah is called Jesus the Greater. We
have been traversing the peaks and valleys of the Bible's
most famous characters. These people's lives remarked with tragedy, triumph, faith,
and failure. These heroes ultimately point us toward the greatest
(03:45):
hero of all Jesus. Today we recount the story of
Jonah and the Giant Fish. Jonah, prophet of God, was
chosen to carry a message of repentance to the wicked
city of Nineveh. We are not sure whether pride, prejudice,
or his story with Nineveh made Jonah so bitter. Knowing
what we know now about the city of Nineveh, Jonah
(04:06):
most likely had several bad experience with their people. It
is very likely that Nineveh had invaded Israelite cities or
cheated at Israelite traders. Jonah didn't want them to experience mercy,
so he fled from God and sought to sail far
away to Tarshish, the opposite direction of Nineveh. Jonah's story
is packed with lessons, lessons we will unpack together. Yet,
(04:30):
the greatest truth hidden within this story is a metaphor
see if you can spot it in the cinematic retelling
of Jonah. Chapter one, the bail the.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
Water captain shouting through the cargo overboard, we have to
lighten the ship.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
The ship's crew desperately tried to lighten the nod to
endure the wind and waves. The storm had come like
a predator. In the forest unexpected and land. The crew
helplessly prayed to each of their gods. They bowed their
idols and begged for some sort of deliverance. The captain
burst through the cabin doors and the work Journah.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Wake up, Hebrew, pray, dear God, I fear it, we
may perish on these seas.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Jonah climbed to the deck and saw the heavens thrashing
and lightning crashing. Jonah gooped as his hands began to shake.
He had a feeling this storm was because of him.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Come a choice of the castle blocks.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
So we know who among us is to blame for
such a star.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
The captain was a master of the seas. We knew
that an abrupt storm of this magnitude was not ordinary.
Someone must have evoked the wrath of a god. Crew
members to the bag of knuckle bones and cast them
on to the deck. The lord rolled and fell at
German's feature. The crew looked in him and demanded an explanation.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Imheben Jurnah explained, they do not.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Worship gods of war. There in Agriculturizudu, I worshiped the
lords of creation who made heaven and earth and am
running away from him, But I fear it was a braveness.
The lightning struck beside them and set the group jumping
at all sides. They stayed away from Jonah and yelled,
what must we do to avoid catastrophe?
Speaker 1 (06:10):
How do we please your God?
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Jonah looked out at the black, chaotic ocean. He leaned
over the side and closed his eyes. Regret overcame him.
He turned back to the crew and said, pull me
into the sea. God's judgment is.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
Directed towards me, not you Throw me overboard and the
storm will calm.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
No, we do not abandon people to the sea.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
He is not our way. The captain yelled, forsake the
sails and roll.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
He ordered his crude.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
The men rode with all their strength.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
That the storm was working against them. It was as
if the hand of God was pulling them into the sea.
The captain cursed and prayed to Jonah's God. He begged
for mercy, Lord of the Hebrews, do not put this
man's blood on our hands. He turned to his crew
and pointed at Jonah. Throw him overboard, so they picture
(07:00):
and about. Jonah crashed into the dark sea, and the
breakers crashed over him. Pushing him up the ark. The
weight of God's judgment was over Jonah, pulling him deeper
into the abyss. Jonah accepted that this would be the
end of him. As the blackness of the deep ocean
enveloped him, Jonah saw a large figure swent by. His
(07:20):
eyes widened, and the final thing he saw was the
shape of a giant fish swallowing him up. Jonah opened
his eyes but saw nothing. The smell of rotting fish
and kelp was nearly unbearable. Jonah tried to stretch his
arms and legs, but barely had enough room. He was
inside the belly of a fish, only given enough space
(07:41):
to breathe. It was like being locked in a dark tomb.
He was alone with his thoughts for three days and
three nights, contemplating God's judgment, mercy, and goodness. Ironically, Jonah
felt closer to the Lord in the bottomless pit of despair.
The white noise of the fissure's heartbeat intermixed with the
south of the ocean. Jonah spoke a prayer to the Lord.
(08:03):
I called to you God in my distress.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
You answer me.
Speaker 5 (08:08):
I cry from the belly of the grave, and you
hear me You cast me into the deep heart of
the seas, and the water surround me.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Your waves and billows crash over me.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
And then I cannot see you.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
I will point my eyes towards your holy temper. Water
sought to take my life.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
The deep surrounded me, and the seaweed wrapped around my neck.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Yet you brought my life from the pit, and my
life was faintfully and oblivion. I remembered you with a
voice of thanksgiving. I was sacrificed to salvation belongs to
the law. And just as he had finished his prayer
of repentant praise, the Lord commanded the fish to release
Jonah onto the shore. The sun's warmth was a bomb
(08:59):
to his aching bar, and Jonah laughed with relief and worship.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
If you have fouled along thus far, you remember what
shopping and chaotic storms represent in the Bible, sin, darkness,
and judgment. In Jonah's case, the righteous judgment of God
was seeking him out through the storm. There was nowhere
Jonah could run where God couldnot find him. This truth
ought to inspire and comfort all of us. Jonah was
(09:27):
given a mission by God, a purpose. God was not
about to let Jonah escape that purpose. No matter how
hard he tried, God was determined to draw Jonah's calling
out of him, even if it meant sending a storm.
You know, this happens in our lives as well. God
is a plan and purpose for you. He has adorned
you with gifts and desires to use for His kingdom.
(09:49):
When we stray and run from that calling, sometimes God
will do what it takes to draw us back. He
will use circumstances, trials, and difficulties to return us to him.
And knew that he had messed up and that he
had put other people's lives in jeopardy. You know, that's
what happens with sin. It doesn't just affect us as individuals,
but it affects everyone around us. Many people suffer in
(10:11):
the wake of our disobedience. To Jonah's credit, he came
clean eventually and did the self sacrificing thing. He allowed
the crew to throw them into the sea, and just
as Jonah thought that the dark abyss was going to
consume him, he was swallowed by a fish and survived
there for three days and three nights. Jonah was transformed
(10:32):
in those three days. His heart was softened toward God,
and he was able to see his mercy. Sometimes, in
our most profound moments of suffering, we discovered the greatness
of God's love. Hearing profound lessons of faith is why
we go to pray dot com and discovering the Jewish Jesus.
These lessons strengthen us and leave us sharpened for the
(10:52):
battles ahead. However, there's something more happening here than a
moral lesson. Above all, there's a greater thing happening in
this story. Jonah's time in the belly of the Beast
foreshadows another event. When the religious leaders pressed Jesus to
show them a sign of his deity, he pointed them
to Jonah.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Give us a sign. The Pharisees shouted. Jesus turned around
to see a group of religious leaders approaching. They reeked
of self righteousness. They had followed Jesus for months, watching
every miracle and listening to every teaching. Their pompous legalism
made them blind to their own hypocrisy. They circled Jesus
(11:33):
with accusations and challenges, hoping he would take the bait.
Speaker 5 (11:36):
You say you're amount of God like Elijah, But every
time we ask you to prove yourself, you refuse.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Don't you care what the public thinks.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
Send fire down like Elijah and prove you are who.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
You say you are. Jesus looked at them and shook
his head. He could never run out of patience, but
these men tried. Nonetheless, their vain religiosity was annoying and ineffectual.
They claimed to be of the same stalk as Elijah,
but they were much more similar to the prophets of Baale.
Jesus stretched out his arms and replied.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
When you look at the sky and you see that
there aren't any clouds, you can perceive that it's fair weather.
When you look up and see dark storm clouds, you
rightly know to seek cover.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Jesus stepped closer to the Pharisees. They could not help
but step back, for he exuded authority.
Speaker 5 (12:24):
How can you look to the sky and interpret the weather,
but you are unable to see the signs right in
front of you.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
Everyone stirred.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Jesus pointed a.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Finger at them and made sure he was clear.
Speaker 5 (12:34):
I will not give you a sign. I will not
dance for you, nor will I play these games. You
will have only one sign, the sign of Jonah. For
the son of Man will be in the grape for
three days and nights in the heart of the earth.
I tell you that the people of Neneveh would stand
up to you and condemn you. They repented when they
heard the preaching of Jonah. And behold, someone greater than
(12:57):
Jonah is here.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
The crowd stirred, and Jesus left their presence. He had
performed many miracles. He had restored sight to the blind,
healed levers, cast out demons, and walked on water. Yet
only one miracle truly mattered, the sign of Jonah rising
from the grave.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
We have all had times when we wish God would
reveal himself to us in a specific way. Sometimes we
ask for miracles because we're doubting, suffering, or struggling with
our faith. Other times were angry at God and wanted
to prove himself to us. These pharisees asked Jeas to
prove himself through miracles, as if he needed to prove
himself to them. But that's not how Jesus operated. He
(13:40):
wasn't a street performer asking for tips. He wasn't an
actor or artist trying to prove his worth. He didn't
need their approval. When Jesus performed signs and wonders. He
did it to aid the suffering and teach people about
the character of God. He wasn't submitting miracles to people
as a resume of as God good. Besides, the Pharisees
(14:02):
had already seen Jus perform miracles and signs. It wasn't
that they wanted Jus to show them a sign they
wanted to sign on their own terms. We must all
beware of this mentality. God is working all around us.
He performs miracles every day and is constantly on the
move doing wonderful things. But sometimes we are too self
consumed to see it. We want God to move in
(14:24):
specific ways on our own terms, so we end up
missing the beauty of everyday miracles. However, Jesus did say
he would give them one sign, the sign of Jonah.
Let's break that down. The chaotic seas represent God's judgment.
The fish represents the grave under God's judgment. Jonah was
(14:45):
trapped in that grave, considered dead, but then came out
three days later. Can you piece that together and connect
it to Jesus. Jesus took on the judgment of God,
sin and shame, and died. He was spared a grave
for three days, but then rose again. Jonah's time in
the belly of the fish was a sign that pointed
(15:06):
toward the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. That is
why we can confidently say that Jesus is the greater Jonah,
because Jonah's life was a foreshadowing of Jesus's great journey
to the Cross, into the grave, and out again. Next
time we're together, we'll dive into our final hero of
the series. This man had unwavering faith and conviction amid
(15:30):
a hostile culture. He was wise devoted and rose out
of the lion's den. Join us for our next episode
as we explore why Jesus is the Greater Daniel. Explore
more about Jesus in the Old Testament at discovering the
Jewish Jesus dot com, and also consider checking out my
most recent book, Messianic Prophecy Revealed Seeing Messiah in the
(15:53):
pages of the Hebrew Bible. You can get it via
my website. If this podcast impacted you, please take a
moment to leave a comment and review. Doing so, make
sure others discover these life changing stories, and be sure
to download the Prey dot com app to make prayer
priority and experience the Bible in new ways.
Popular Podcasts
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!