The Sign of Jonah: Jesus, Nineveh, and God’s Mercy
- Fig Tree Ministries
- Aug 12
- 1 min read
Sea of Galilee (pt. 5 of 21)
What exactly is the “Sign of Jonah”?
Most of us immediately think of Jonah’s three days in the great fish as a picture of Jesus’ death and resurrection. But there may be much more happening beneath the surface.
In this lesson, we explore the remarkable connections between the story of Jonah and Mark 4:35–5:20. Jonah is sent to the Gentiles, and Jesus crosses the Sea of Galilee into Gentile territory. Both get into a boat. Both encounter a violent storm. Frightened sailors and disciples “cry out.” In both stories, the central figure is asleep, and in both, the raging sea is miraculously calmed.
Lesson Handout:
But the deepest connection may be the most challenging. Nineveh was the enemy in Jonah’s day. Rome was the enemy in Jesus’ day. Jonah knew God might show mercy to people he believed deserved judgment—and he hated the idea.
The Sign of Jonah forces us to ask an uncomfortable question: Who is our Nineveh?
Who is the enemy we would rather see judged than forgiven?
Join us as we explore the Sign of Jonah and what it reveals about the extraordinary reach of God’s mercy.
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