Something Greater Than Jonah

Mar 18, 2014 • Don Willeman • Kingdom Perspective, Knowing God Series, 2014

Jonah, one of the most colorful Old Testament prophets, was commissioned by God to go to the Ninevites. He was to command them to repent. However, because Ninevites were Israel’s enemy Jonah was, well, let’s say reluctant, to go. Nonetheless, when he finally went, the Ninevites did repent.

Amazingly, when we come to Matthew 12, we find Jesus correcting the religious people of His day saying, “The men of Nineveh shall stand up with this generation at the judgment, and shall condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.” In other words, although the pagan people of Nineveh had the sense to repent at the preaching of the prophet Jonah, the religious leaders at the time of Christ were unwilling to repent at the preaching of the greater prophet Christ. By saying this Jesus parallels himself with the Old Testament office of prophet. However, more than that, He says that He is greater than the Old Testament prophets. Why? Because He is the fulfillment of all that they prophesied.

So how about you? What will you do at the preaching of Jesus?

Something to think about from the “Kingdom Perspective”.