We have spent the last two weeks writing blogs about the story of Jonah.  In the end, Jonah turns out to be a disappointment, having a disposition that is less than admirable.  Still, it was his preaching that led to the repentance of an entire city of Ninevites, about 120,000 souls.

When speaking to some scribes and Pharisees who were requesting a sign to prove that He was the Christ, Jesus told them that the only sign they would receive was the sign of the prophet Jonah (Matthew 12:39), and then promptly told them that the Ninevites, to whom Jonah preached, would rise up and condemn them (Matthew 12:41).  Why?  Because, as Jesus put it, “Behold, a greater than Jonah is here.”

We should know that the actions of the Ninevites will condemn us, too, if we do not respond to the preaching of God’s Word.  Both Jonah and Jesus are signs of the mercy and grace of God, but Jesus is far superior to Jonah.  Since the Ninevites took advantage of the opportunity presented by the arrival of Jonah, woe to us if we do not take advantage of the arrival of one who is far greater than Jonah.  Let’s see just how Jesus is so much greater than Jonah.

Let’s start with the obvious—Jesus was a better person than Jonah.  My aim is not to portray Jonah negatively here, for Jesus is a better person than anyone who has ever lived.  Jonah was a mere man who was a sinner, compared to Jesus who is the sinless Son of God (1 Peter 2:22). We can criticize Jonah for a lot of things, but not for not being as good as Jesus.  Why is it that if we refuse to repent of our sins, the Ninevites stand in judgment of us?  It is because we have a greater messenger than they had.  We have a messenger who has a greater name than the angels of heaven.  As the Hebrews writer said, “For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you?’” (Hebrews 1:5).  To ignore the word of God’s only begotten Son is foolish indeed.  Whenever Jesus speaks, everyone should listen, especially when He exhorts man to repent (Mark 1:15).

Jesus is also greater than Jonah in that He has a greater message.  The message of Jonah was on point.  It was exactly what the Ninevites needed to hear, for it was the message that God gave Jonah to give to them.  Still, it only offered an escape from destruction.  The message of Christ is not only one that will help those who listen to escape the wrath of God, it is also an invitation to be a citizen in the kingdom of God.  The message of Christ is one of redemption and reconciliation.  It is the only message in the world that gives one the power to become a child of God (John 1:12) and embrace the hope of an eternal home in heaven.  To reject a message like this is to prove oneself to be even more worldly than the wicked people of Nineveh.

Finally, Jesus represents a greater act of mercy than Jonah.  Make no mistake about it, God commanding Jonah to go to Nineveh was a merciful deed on the part of God.  As we have already seen in this series of blogs, it demonstrated that God loves all people.  However, no greater love was ever shown than when God sent His Son to become the sin-offering for the world (John 3:16).  What great mercy God showed when He sent Jonah to the people of Nineveh.  But, “behold, a greater than Jonah is here,” and He is God’s inexpressible gift to man (2 Corinthians 9:15).  Be sure to hear and obey Him when He speaks or the Ninevites will rise up and condemn you at the judgment.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.