Example of Grace

When Jesus used references from Israel’s past, how do you imagine He reflected on those events, considering that Jesus existed from the beginning? The Gospel of John begins with a phrase that we instantly connect with the opening lines of the Bible… “In the beginning was the Word…” (John 1:1-5)

In other words, Jesus was there during every event in Israel’s past. From Melchizedek in Hebrews 7:3, “… [Melchizedek was] without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God.” He was the mysterious priest who met Abraham on his return trip from rescuing his nephew, Lot, in Genesis 14:18-21. Or, we read of the mysterious “one like the Son of God” standing in the furnace with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 3:25). Basically, Christ was seen in Israel’s past long before He came to “dwell among men.”

As we journey through the Gospel, it would be wise to reflect on those prophets of the past, just as Jesus did. In Luke 11:29-32, Jesus says, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation…”

It can be an eye-opening event to finally read Jonah not as the runaway servant who happened to get swallowed by a “great fish,” but instead seeing his hatred for his neighbor (thus the reason he ran). Although it is easily justifiable to hate those who mistreat and abuse others, God still loved them enough to send a prophet to warn them.

As Jesus was addressing the Pharisees and those who were ridiculing Him for being in league with Satan (Luke 11:15), or the Jews' early response to Jesus' description of what it costs to follow Him, we begin to see the significance of Jonah’s story.

The story of Jonah picks up after the initial call to go to Nineveh. Jonah ran away instead. He wasn’t ashamed to tell others he was running from God, “They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so” (Jonah 1:10). Yet, God loved Jonah enough to save him from the storm, and he loved Nineveh enough to warn them of the cost of rebellion against His will. In the end, we read of Jonah’s successful deliverance of God’s message (even though he didn’t want to); and instead of praising God for His goodness and grace, he sits on a hillside watching the city hoping for the worst for them. He even said in Jonah 4:2, “I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”

Jonah brought light to Nineveh, but his heart wasn’t light. Jesus’ words to His listeners show us a double meaning in context. The warning Jonah brought Nineveh is true for any who rebel against God – “repent!” (Luke 13:3), but the other deeper meaning directed towards those in religious authority was a reminder of Jonah’s darkness in his heart. Luke 11:35, “See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.” What an important reminder for all mankind! Praise God for His example of grace!