Shadows to Substance: Jonah - DJ Dickerson

This morning we continue in our series

of lessons we started several Sundays

ago and that of course is our shadows to

substance series. And I would encourage

you to again go in your Bibles here just

a moment. We'll be looking at the book

of Jonah. Jonah.

Now,

as we have noted throughout this series

that God did not reveal his plan of

redemption by happen stance,

accidentally,

suddenly,

but progressively through those shadows

that we've been talking about in this

series, those shadows of the Old

Testament that points to the very

substance that is in Christ. as we've

noted in Colossians 2 and verse 17, a

shadow of things to come, but the

substance is Christ. And so, as we have

looked at at numerous, and again, we

we've been looking at persons to person

uh uh through many of them. We looked at

uh one being thing to person uh

regarding the tabernacle. And so, we

still have some ground to cover that

we're going to look together at. But for

this morning, we are going to consider

the life of Jonah as a type and shadow

of Christ. It's probably one of the most

unexpected persons to person type or

anti-ype for that matter in this series

of lessons. And when I said Jonah, the

book of Jonah, like, well, what is he

doing with this? Well, the scripture

reading this morning might have been a

hint. Okay. So, Jonah in in many

respects

contrast sharply with Jesus. All right.

Uh, nevertheless, Jesus identified clear

points of comparison that link their

lives and missions. It's pretty

interesting. In our Bible studies and in

the lessons of the life of Jonah, uh, we

might summarize the four chapters of the

book of Jonah simply as Jonah runs from

God. Jonah is swallowed by a great fish.

Jonah prays and delivered and Jonah

preaches in Nineveh. We might just say,

well, that's pretty much summarizes

Jonah. Obviously, there's a lot more in

those four chapters. But, uh, a lot of

lessons that we consider, but Jesus

himself tells us that Jonas that Jonah

is one of the clearest pictures of his

own mission, his death, his burial, and

resurrection. Matthew 12 and verse 40

from this morning's scripture reading

says what? For as Jonah was three days

and three nights in the belly of the

great fish, so will the Son of Man be

three days and three nights in the heart

of the earth.

Now, I want us to walk through this

remarkable shadow and see how Jonah

points us to Jesus, who is the true

prophet, the perfect preacher, and the

risen Lord.

So Jonah and Jesus, one of the first

ones that I thought about in kind of

working my way through Jonah chapter 1

Jonah 1 · chapter mention

through chapter 4 is

firstly Jonah was sent to preach to the

lost. Jesus was sent to seek and save

the lost.

In Jonah's commission, we might put it

that way in Jonah chapter 1. Look at

Jonah 1 · chapter mention

Jonah chapter 1:es 1 and two. Now the

word of the Lord came to Jonah the son

of Amiti, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh,

that great city, and cry out against it,

for their wickedness has come up before

me." So

this this commission that Jonah is given

is, I believe, would say, very pointed.

It's simple. It's direct. It's

unavoidable. Right? What's he say?

Arise, go to Nineveh, and cry out

against it. Well, Nineveh, just a little

background again, just a reminder, is

Nineveh was the capital of Assyria. And

the people of Nineveh were quite well

known for their brutality. They were

barbaric kind of uh people. They were

idolatrous. They were violent is what

I'm saying. And oh, and they were they

were an enemy of Israel as well. Okay.

So from a human perspective when we talk

about Jonah, Jonah's uh had every reason

to avoid them. Uh but from God's

perspective is he cared for them.

Jonah's mission shows us God's heart for

the lost. You you see that in this

passage that even what one may consider

to be the worst of the lost, who would

want to go to Nineveh and and preach

repentance to them?

But then in contrast,

Jonah's reluctant journey with Jesus

entire purpose as we find in Luke

Luke 19 · chapter mention

chapter 19 and verse 10. Luke 19:10

Luke 19:10

says, "For the son of man has come to

seek and to save that which was lost."

I think we we are quite well aware when

we think about the contrast here is that

Jesus didn't run from sinners did he uh

he's that we find ran toward them. Uh

truth be told Jesus is recorded you know

spending more time with sinners than

religious leaders. Uh he was called even

in Luke 7:34 the son of man has come

Luke 7:34

eating and drinking. You say look a

glutton and a wine a friend of tax

collectors and sinners.

I mean understanding that his mission

was was not Israel only but his mission

was for the whole world. We know John

John 3:16

3:16 and 17 it says for God so loved the

world that he gave his only begotten son

that whosoever believes in him should

not perish but have everlasting

life. For God did not send his son into

the world to condemn the world, but that

the world through him might be saved.

Where Jonah was sent to one city,

Jesus was went was sent to a world in

darkness.

And I want you to think about this.

If Jesus came to seek the lost, then his

church must share his mission.

Because evangelism is not optional.

It's not optional. It's the very

heartbeat of God. And Jesus provided us

the great example in demonstrating such

in his life. And yay, even in his own

death.

What else do we think about with Jonah

and Jesus? Jonah ran from God's will.

Jesus ran towards God's will.

In verse three of Jonah chapter 1, we

Jonah 1 · chapter mention

know that Jonah arose to flee to Tarses

from the presence of the Lord. He went

down to Japa and found a ship going to

Tarses. So he paid the fair and went

down into it to go with them to Tarsus

from the presence of the Lord. Friends,

I always think that he bought a ticket

to go to Tarses.

He paid the fair. Nineveh is reported to

have been over 500 miles

northeast from Jonah's hometown.

Tarses

would have been two or three times that

distance, the opposite direction,

thousands of miles.

Jonah was attempting to go to the

extreme western reaches of the known

world while Nineveh

lay far to the northeast illustrating

how drastically he tried to escape God's

commission. Why?

Why was that? Well, Jonah chapter 4 and

Jonah 4 · chapter mention

verse two,

remember? So he prayed to the Lord and

said, "Ah, Lord, was not this what I

said when I was still in my country?

Therefore, I fled previously to Tarsus,

for I know that you are a gracious and

merciful God, slow to anger and abundant

loving kindness, one who relents from

doing harm."

Now, that's a reason, isn't it? The

reason that he was getting as far away

as he possibly could of God's commission

was because he didn't want Nineveh

saved.

He says, "I I I knew you were gracious.

I knew you were merciful."

But you contrast that with Jesus.

In John 6 and:e 38, Jesus said,"For I

have come down from heaven not to do my

own will, but the will of him who sent

me."

Of course, Jesus, he never hesitated to

obey, never resisted the father, never

ran from a difficult command. But even

in Gethsemane although you the thinking

about that that robe that he was that

cross that he was going to bear

the death that he would die what do you

pray in Luke 22:41-42

Luke 22:41–42

I think the kids were learning about

this in their Bible class this morning

Luke 22:41-42

Luke 22:41–42

Jesus praying in Gethsemane

and he was withdrawn from them about a

stone's throw and he knelt down and

prayed saying father if it is your will

take this cup away from me.

Nevertheless, not my will but yours

be done.

What we see is that Jonah shows the

danger

of resisting God's voice. Jesus shows

the beauty of surrender to God's will.

What about the storm in the book of

Jonah? in in Jonah

in Jonah chapter 1 as we know it

Jonah 1 · chapter mention

progresses from there in Jonah chapter

1:es 4 and 5 that we think about this

storm well

we know the storm that we see in with

that of Jonah we also see the storm with

Jesus who was also on a boat at one time

wasn't he Jonah caused the storm while

Jesus calmed the storm

and Jonah remember when he ran

says that the Lord sent out a great wind

on the sea and there was a mighty

tempest on the sea so that the ship was

about to be broken up.

Mariners were afraid and every man cried

out to his God and threw the cargo that

was in the ship into the sea to lighten

the load. But Jonah had gone had down

into the lowest parts of the ship had

laid down and was fast asleep.

Think about that. The sailors panicked.

The ship almost sank. And Jonah,

symbolizing spiritual apathy, was fast

asleep.

Jonah slept in rebellion.

Jonah slept in denial.

Jonah slept while souls were perishing

around him.

However, in contrast to Jonah, we find

Jesus storm in Mark 4:es 37-39.

And a great windstorm arose and the

waves beat into the boat so that it was

already feeling. But he was in the storm

in in a stern asleep on a pillow. And

they awoke him and said to him,

"Teacher, do you not care that we are

perishing?" Then he arose and rebuked

the wind and said to the sea, "Peace be

still." And the wind ceased, and there

was a great calm.

See, Jesus, he slept in a storm,

but he slept with a clean conscience,

full faith, and perfect peace. And when

he w when when he awakened, Jesus

rebuked the the wind and he said, "Peace

be still."

Jonah's presence brought chaos to the

sea.

Jesus presence brought calm.

And what we find in contrast from the

life of Jonah and Jesus is, I think,

quite simple.

Running from God creates storms.

walking with him calms them.

What else do we find from the life of

Jonah? Well, Jonah offered himself to

save others.

Jesus offered himself to save the world.

in verses 10-2 of Jonah chapter 1.

Jonah 1 · chapter mention

Remember obviously there the men were

afraid exceedingly afraid obviously and

and said to Jonah,"Wh have you done

this? For the men knew that he fled from

the presence of the Lord because he had

told them." Then they said to him, "What

shall we do to you that the sea may be

calm for us?"

For the sea was growing more temptous.

And he said to them, "Pick me up and

throw me into the sea. and the sea will

become calm for you. For I know that

this great temptest is because of me. So

Jonah recognized he was because of the

danger. He told them and by giving

himself up the sailors would be spared.

And that's what happened.

Jesus in John chapter 10

John 10 · chapter mention

and verses 17 and 18.

Therefore my father loves me because I

lay down my life that I may take it

again. No one takes it from me but I lay

it down of myself. I have power to lay

it down and I have power to take it

again. This command I have received from

my father.

Yes, Jonah offered himself to save a

ship, save the people that were on the

ship. Jesus offered himself to save the

world.

Jonah's

death would calm a temporary storm.

Jesus' death would calm the eternal

storm of sin.

You think about this in this passage

of what that meant

of Jonah offering himself to save

others.

That he was willing to give his life so

that the others would be saved. Right?

But Jesus again

will be able to calm the eternal storm

of sin.

Well, then Jonah, Jonah's burial, and I

I put quotes there. Jonah's burial and

the fish

and the great fish, but Jesus burial in

the tomb. I want you to notice this as

well. In Jonah 1:1 17, we have this

Jonah 1:1

recorded that the Lord had prepared a

great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah

was in the belly of the fish

three days and three nights.

Now, what such represented to Jonah,

it was the very realm of death. And I

know that because of what's recorded in

Jonah chapter 2. If you look at Jonah

Jonah 2 · chapter mention Jonah 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2, look at verse two. And he

said, "I cried out to the Lord because

of my affliction and he answered me. Out

of the belly of sh I cried and you heard

my voice."

You see, to Jonah, he was as good as

dead. I mean,

he was cut off. He was helpless.

Buried in watery darkness.

But Jesus burial,

think about that. I think of Matthew 27

59 and 60.

Matthew 27:59 and 60. When Joseph had

Matthew 27:59

taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean

linen cloth and laid it in his new tomb

which he had horned out of the rock. And

he rolled a large stone against the door

of the tomb and departed.

Jesus is described being wrapped, laid

in the tomb, sealed, left in silence.

And Jesus says Jonah's experience was a

prophecy of his own.

Jesus draws upon Jonah's experience to

foretell his own descent into shield or

hades

saying as we saw in Matthew 12:40

Matthew 12:40

when Jesus referred to this it says for

as Jonah was three days and three nights

in the belly of the great fish so will

the son of man be three days and three

nights in the heart of the earth.

You know, the same the same idea

seems to surface in Peter's sermon on

the day of Pentecost.

When you go to the book of Acts and go

to Acts chapter 2,

Acts 2 · chapter mention

this is where Peter he cites the

passage.

Acts chapter 2 26 and 27.

Acts 2 · chapter mention

Therefore, my heart rejoiced and my

tongue was glad. nor will my flesh also

arrest in hope. For you will not leave

my soul in Hades.

Nor will you allow your holy one to see

corruption.

See, Jesus willingly offered his life to

secure salvation for others.

He moved from the wooden cross to the

tomb, stayed in the grave for three

days, then rose from the dead.

And after his resurrection, he fulfilled

the father's purpose by commissioning

his apostles and establishing his

church, the kingdom.

See, Jonah's

death was a symbol.

Jesus death was the substance

that redeems mankind.

But then obviously it doesn't stop there

because although we have the death, we

also have a resurrection, don't we?

Think about Jonah's resurrection

and Jesus glorious resurrection.

You go to Jonah 2 and verse 10, it's,

you know,

simply put, the Lord spoke to the fish

and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

And although it's an ugly scene,

obviously,

there's certainly beautiful meaning

because Jonah emerges alive when he

should have perished.

And he experiences

a type of resurrection, if you will, not

physical, but symbolic.

Think about what's said in Mark 16 and

verse 6.

But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed.

You seek Jesus of Nazareth whom was

crucified. Who was crucified? He is

risen. He's not here.

See the place where they laid him. See,

Jesus resurrection was literal, bodily

witnessed, world changing, eternal.

Jonah walked out of darkness to preach

repentance. Jesus walked out of the tomb

to bring salvation.

Friends, the resurrection of Jesus is

the center. It's the very core of our

faith. If he lives, obviously, then sin

is defeated. Death is temporary. Our

hope is secure. And that's exactly what

Paul was talking about in 1 Corinthians

15.

Jonah

and Jesus.

We got through chapter one and chapter

two.

What's chapter 3 show us?

Well, Jonah preached repentance. Jesus

preached repentance and salvation.

I thought about this. Obviously, we

don't have the full transcript of

Jonah's sermon. I'm I'm guessing that

the only thing that we have recorded is

that he says, "Yet 40 days and Nineveh

shall be overthrown."

Short sermon, long results, I think that

we will say on that. But this is what

the word of the Lord came to Jonah the

second time and said, "Arise, go to

Nineveh, that great city, and preach it.

Preach to it the message that I tell

you." So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh

according to the word of the Lord. Now

Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a

three-day journey in extent.

Jonah began to enter the city on the

first day's walked, and he cried out and

said, here's those words again, yet 40

days and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

Jonah preached judgment

and Nineveh repented from the king down.

That's what we find in Jonah chapter

3:es 5-10 that talks about the king

sackcloth and ashes and all. And then it

says, "And God saw their works that they

turned from their evil way and God

relented from the disaster that he had

said he would bring upon them and he did

not do it.

What's Jesus message?

We understand repentance, right?

Repentance is is that of a change of

heart, change of mind leads to a change

of direction, a change of life. In Mark

1:es 14 and 15, we find that that that's

what Jesus was preaching that after John

was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee

preaching the gospel of the kingdom of

God and saying, "The time is fulfilled

and the kingdom of God is at hand.

Repent and believe in the gospel.

You see, Jesus' message in preaching

repentance, it was it was so much more

in the gospel.

Forgiveness, new life, spiritual

rebirth, the kingdom of God, eternal

salvation.

And then we find ourselves in Jonah

Jonah 4 · chapter mention

chapter 4.

Jonah and Jesus.

Jonah resented God's mercy, but Jesus

embodied God's mercy. In Jonah chapter

4:es 1-3, it's kind of almost shocks us.

I mean, every time I read it, it shocks

me. But look at the first three verses

of Jonah chapter 4

Jonah 4 · chapter mention

that remember they just repented.

Nineveh repented.

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and

he became angry. So he prayed to the

Lord and said, "Ah, Lord, was not this

what I said when I was still in my

country? Therefore, I fled previously to

Tarses, for I know that you are a

gracious and merciful God, slow to anger

and abundant, loving kindness, one who

relents from doing harm. Therefore now,

oh Lord, please take my life from me,

for it is better for me to die than to

live.

That's a shocking statement, isn't it?

That Jonah was displeased exceedingly

and he became angry. Jonah was angry

that Nineveh repented. He was angry that

God was gracious.

It's quite interesting that Jonah loved

receiving mercy but struggled when mercy

was shown to others.

But Jesus as we know is quite opposite

of Jonah. For Jesus was never angry when

sinners repented. He rejoiced. He gave a

whole bunch of parables, didn't he? In

Luke chapter 15

Luke 15 · chapter mention

about the lost coin, the lost son.

Remember again as it was his Jesus

mission. That was his mission. Luke

Luke 19:10

19:10 was to seek and to save that which

is lost.

Jesus became emotional over the lost.

Luke 19 and verse 41 records that as he

drew near, he saw the city and wept over

it. Y'all remember why?

Even look at Matthew 23 gives us some

insight as well. Verses 37-39.

How often I would have gathered you

together as a hen with her chicks, but

you were not. You were not willing.

Behold, your house is left you desolate.

Jesus as we know forgave his enemies.

Jesus came full of grace and truth. John

1 and verse 14.

Jonah resisted mercy.

Jesus is mercy.

Friends, there's lots of applications I

believe even in this one that we always

have to check our hearts.

Can you imagine being angry when God

saves those who

we think don't deserve saving?

Do we rejoice when God saves

those

two

friends in many respects

I believe we have seen through this

lesson Jonah's Jonah was quite different

from Jesus right

yet Jesus deliberately deliberately

parallels

his own experience with Jonas

and by doing so he provided his

listeners with another clue that he

intended

to give his life and face death for all

humanity. Jesus was intentional on this

and they may not have fully grasped this

beforehand, but the meaning

became unmistakable once he arose from

the grave and extended the hope of

eternal life to all who would trust and

obey.

that although Jonah as a person may not

perfectly represent Jesus,

the situations he encountered with God

clearly foreshadow the key moments in

Jesus mission to fulfill the father's

will on earth.

It's also evident that God arranged the

circumstances

around Jonah's story so the people in

Jesus day and later Gentiles, Gentile

converts and even believers today could

recognize those parallels

and learn from them. As I have been

giving these handouts every Sunday and

doing this series, uh obviously it's

always smaller on the chart there. So,

grab a handout. There's some in the

back. I still see of several that I have

added here regarding the shadows of

sufface regarding Jonah and Jesus.

Thinking about Jonah, a prophet.

Jesus is the prophet.

Jonah dead three days. Jesus buried and

risen three days. Jonah preached to one

city. Jesus preached to all nations.

Jonah resented mercy. Jesus is mercy.

Offered mercy. And many other ones that

that again, make sure to grab a chart

with the scripture references there for

you. The point that I have shown

throughout this series yet again with

another example here that we're using

with that of the life of Jonah is the

shadow points forward.

The substance stands before us in Jesus

Christ. Friends, the words of Jesus in

Matthew 12 are both sobering and

hopeful. What we started with in our

scripture reading this morning, I will

end with in Matthew 12:39-41.

Matthew 12:39–41

Again, an evil and adulterous generation

seeks after a sign, and no sign will be

given to it, except

the sign of the prophet Jonah.

For as Jonah was three days and three

nights in the belly of the great fish,

so will the Son of Man be three days and

three nights in the heart of the earth.

The men of Nineveh will rise up into

judgment with this generation and

condemn it because they repented as the

preaching of Jonah. after preaching of

Jonah and indeed a greater than Jonah is

here.

Jesus reminds us that his resurrection

is the ultimate sign, the proof of his

identity and the foundation of our hope.

Jonah came back from the depths of the

sea.

Jesus came back from the depths of the

grave.

Jonah's message brought repentance to a

wicked city.

Jesus message brings salvation to the

whole world.

But notice what Jesus says. The people

of Nineveh, what how how are they

described earlier in the lesson? Y'all

remember they were pagans. They were

idolattors. They were barbaric. They

were violent.

They repented when God called them. And

Jesus says they will stand in judgment

against all who refuse to repent today

because indeed a greater than Jonah is

here.

I looked at this passage many times in

the for John and I if if Nineveh could

repent

certainly we can too.

If God offered mercy to them he

certainly offers mercy to us. But

repentance cannot wait. Judgment is

certain. A risen savior stands ready to

save. But he does not force himself on

anyone. And his resurrection is God's

final

and undeniable sign. And now the choice

is ours. Friends, the God who gave

Nineveh a second chance is offering you

one this morning.

Salvation that Jesus came to offer to

all. Having heard the word, you believe

that Jesus Christ is the son of living

in God.

To repent of your sins,

change of heart, a change of mind, which

leads to a change of life, confessing

Jesus to be the son of God. I mean,

baptized, immersed, buried with him in

baptism, to rise and walk in newness of

life, to remain faithful to him,

to do as he wishes, as he so desires, as

he so wills. You can do that this

morning. All things stand ready. As a

Christian, if you have wandered away,

maybe going the opposite direction like

Jonah was,

don't run no more.

Repent like Nineveh.

God is grace, graceful,

merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in

loving kindness. And how thankful we

should ever be for that.

May we be like Paul in this song, living

for Jesus. Christ liveth in me and the

life which I now live I live by faith in

the son of God. Won't you do that? Won't

you be Won't you respond to this

invitation call subject to it? Won't you

come as we stand as we sing this song

that's been selected.