Jesus, Jonah, and Prayer (Matthew 12:38-42)
Gary McManus, 04/07/2019Part of the Prayer series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Prayer; The Season of Lent
Matthew 12:38-42
Jesus mentions Jonah a number of times.
Jesus stated: NO SIGN WILL BE GIVEN
. . . .except the sign of Jonah. . .
The sign of Jonah is God’s miraculous
deliverance of Jonah. God will give that
same sign in Jesus.
We can follow Jesus’ reference out further.
As God sent Jonah to the Ninevites, so Jesus
is/was sent to his people.
Jonah was a prophet.
Jesus is/was GREATER than that.
But there is MORE. . .
(Read the whole book.)
Jonah prayed.
Remember the report on Jonah?
Notice Jonah does not recommend
that the sailors pray to Yahweh. . .but
then the sailors DO PRAY to the Hebrew’s
God!
More than that: they throw Jonah overboard
and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made
vows. (! They are pagans or are they now converts?)
GOD APPOINTED a fish to swallow Jonah.
Jonah would not serve the Lord’s purposes
but the FISH did serve God’s purposes!
The fish swallows Jonah. . .and saves Jonah’s life.
And then the Bible says
2:1 Jonah prayed to the Lord his God
from inside[a] the fish. . .
Jonah’s faith does not appear obvious
since he was running from God (although
that means that he believed in God and what
God would do).
Jonah believes in God and God’s mercy and
God’s power! That is why Jonah ran!
“I cried out for help in the belly of Sheol;
You heard my voice.” A confession of faith?
I ran, You, O Lord, saved me and You are
hearing my prayer.
In praying, Jonah demonstrated faith
—faith in God’s mercy
—faith in God’s patience,
faith in God’ love. . .
Then verse 2:8
God wants something FOR us
—faithful love.
(Remember Luke 15:11-32)
Final notes:
My God/ Dad is merciful, faithful
and loving.
Amen
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