Is the Story of Jonah fact or fiction?

Jonah was a powerful prophet of God. One day God commissioned him to preach to the great and wicked city of Nineveh. God saw their violence and perversion and was determined to send terrible judgment upon them.

God’s prophet despised and abhorred the heathen Ninevites. So much so that he booked passage on a ship that would take him as far away from them as possible. He knew if he told them what God had said they might repent and be spared. He wanted God to punish the ruthless Ninevites – not pardon them. So Jonah ran away.

God uses imperfect people despite their foibles and fears. But He loves us too much to overlook our flaws and sins. He loves the lost too much not to deal with his servants. God sent a great storm at sea against Jonah’s ship. The ship was hurled to and fro. The seamen soon realized that it was Jonah’s rebellion against his God that imperiled their lives. So, they threw him into the raging sea. The sailors were amazed that the storm stopped at once. They were so awestruck at God’s great power that they offered a sacrifice to God and vowed to serve Him.

God wasn’t done with Jonah. God had prepared a great fish (possibly a whale) to swallow Jonah. Jonah had a prayer meeting on the bottom of the ocean. We find a very significant scripture. “Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights” (Jonah 1:17 NLT). God directed the fish to swim toward Nineveh and spit Jonah out on the beach. Jonah went to Nineveh and preached God’s message to the Ninevites. The whole city repented in sackcloth and ashes. God spared their lives.

Is the Story of Jonah fact or fiction? Jesus verified it by referencing the scripture concerning Jonah. As in Jonah’s day, many people scorned Jesus’ ministry on earth. The leaders of the Jews demanded a sign from Jesus proving he was the Messiah, the Son of God that he claimed to be. Jesus said, “The only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so I, the Son of man, will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights” (Matthew 12:38-41 NLT). When Jesus rose from the grave on the third day, He provided the greatest proof that He is the Christ, the Son of God. Believe the sign of Jonah.

All through history, certain individuals have spewed forth heresy and fanciful fables and falsehoods to endeavor to lead people astray from the scriptural accounts of the One who died and rose again on the third day. Books such as The DaVinci Code suck many into its lies. The apostles and early church fathers also dealt with Gnostics and other heretical teaching.

Paul reminds us that the third day is the focal point of the gospel of Jesus Christ. “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me – that Christ died for our sins, just as the scriptures said. He was buried and he was raised from the dead on the third day as the scriptures said” (I Corinthians 15:3-4 NLT).

Paul based his belief and doctrine on the scriptures alone. The inspired Word of God was the accepted cannon of the New Testament. Many theologians believe that the scripture concerning the death and resurrection of the Christ in I Corinthians 15:3-4 was part of the creed of the early church. The early church fathers (leaders) accepted and acknowledged that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Deity) because he arose on the third day as he said he would. The apostles were eyewitnesses of that fact. That’s what Easter is all about.

In the Old Testament God told Moses He was going to give the Israelites a special revelation of His glory and power on Mount Sinai. But first they had to get ready by washing their clothes and purifying themselves on the first and second day. “Be sure they are ready on the third day for I will come down” (Exodus 19:11).

It’s been 2000 years since Jesus died, arose on the third day, and ascended back to heaven. He promised to return for those who are watching and ready. That’s our blessed hope. (John 14; I Corinthians 11:25-26; I Thessalonians 4:13-18) It’s been two days since Jesus went away but on the third day (the third millennium) Jesus will come to usher in the third day – thousand year reign of His justice and righteousness. All who have purified themselves through faith in the blood sacrifice of Christ’s cross will live and reign with Jesus Christ forever. Are you ready for the third day? Jesus is coming.

Believe the sign of Jonah. This Easter you can experience the third day resurrection power of Jesus in your life.

“For if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).