Jesus and Jonah (Part 2 of 2)

Jesus' prediction about His own death and resurrection proved to be true! He is alive forevermore!

April 6, 2020

"For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

Matthew 12:40

Part 2

Yesterday:
“For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly.”
Jonah represented both the resurrection from the dead and preaching righteousness.

Today:
“So shall the Son of man.”
In the same way that Jonah spent three days and nights in the belly of the “whale” Jesus would be “in the heart of the earth.”  Jesus was taken down from the cross and put into a tomb where his body lay until He was raised.

“Be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
This is the second time that Jesus predicted His own death.  The first time was somewhat similar,

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19).

As things progressed and the Sanhedrin received word from Rome that Jesus was being crucified, they were elated.  Their plans had come together, and now they are watching Jesus go the cross. They think this will demolish this one who calls himself their Messiah.

The day after the crucifixion, sure enough, they did have good memories.

“Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again” (Matthew 27:62-63).

Pilate put a Roman seal on the grave and guards at Jesus’ tomb, thinking they could keep Him in.  But not even Roman guards could keep Jesus in the grave.  And just as Jonah was spat out of the whale’s belly, Jesus burst forth out of the tomb!

“Death could not keep its prey, Jesus my Savior
He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!”

Believers, God has a job for us to do now, we are to be preachers of righteousness in this generation.  We need to be preaching repentance, and God’s grace and mercy to those who will trust Him in faith.  And then, after a little sleep, He will raise us up the same way He raised Jesus.