#focr 64

O Lord my God; notwithstanding these difficulties, which were insuperable by human power, and these seeming impossibilities of, deliverance; yet the Lord brought him out of the fish's belly, as out of a grave, the pit of corruption, and where he must otherwise have lain and rotted, and freed his soul from those terrors which would have destroyed him; and by this also we learn, that this form of words was composed after he came to dry land: herein likewise he was a type of Christ, who, though laid in the grave, was not left there so long as to see corruption, Psalm 16:10,

"For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; you will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay."

Not satisfied with my miracles which I do on earth, they would have a sign from heaven. God was not difficult of confirming and encouraging people’s faith by signs; he gave Gideon a sign upon his asking, he gave Hezekiah and proffered Ahaz a sign without asking; but he had already given the Pharisees signs enough, and sufficient to convince them, but they would not believe, but out of curiosity would have a sign of another kind, a sign from heaven, as Mark expounds it, Matthew 8:11, such a sign as the devil could not counterfeit.

There shall no sign be given to it; no sign of that nature, for we shall find that after this Christ wrought many miracles. But they shall have a sign when I shall be risen again from the dead, to their confusion and condemnation; when I shall answer the prophet Jonah’s type of me. He was cast into the sea, and was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, in the heart of the sea, Jonah 1:17, and then the whale vomited (him) out upon the dry land, Jonah 2:10. So I shall be by them violently put to death and shall be in the grave part of three days and three nights, and then I shall rise again from the dead.

But here arises a difficulty. Christ indeed dying the day before the Jewish sabbath, and rising the morning after, might be said to be in the grave three days, because he was there part of three days; but how can he be said to have been there three nights? For he was only in the grave the night of the Jewish sabbath, (for their sabbath began at the evening before), and the night following, which were but two nights, either in whole or in part.

Answer: What we call day and night made up the Jewish 'nucyhmeron.' It appears by Genesis 1:5, that the evening and the morning made up a day. Three days and three nights is with us but the same thing with three natural days, and so it must be understood here. Christ was in the grave three natural days, that is, part of three natural days; every one of which days contained a day and a night, viz. twenty-four hours.

Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent."

THE KETEA (Cetea) were the monsters of the sea, the two greatest of which were the Ketos (Cetus) slain by Perseus in Aithiopia (Ethiopia) and the Ketos slain by Herakles at Troy.

Ketea were usually depicted as serpentine fish with long rows of sharp teeth. Nereides often appear riding side-saddle on the backs of these creatures.

Ketos was also a generic word for any large sea-creature

Jonah had wickedly fled from the presence of the Lord, who might justly take his Holy Spirit from him, never to visit him more. Those only are miserable, whom God will no longer own and favor.

But though he was perplexed, yet not in despair. Jonah reflects on the favor of God to him, when he sought to God, and trusted in him in his distress. He warns others and tells them to keep close to God.

Those who forsake their own duty, forsake their own mercy; those who run away from the work of their place and day run away from the comfort of it.

As far as a believer copies those who observe lying vanities, he forsakes his own mercy and lives below his privileges.

But Jonah's experience encourages others, in all ages, to trust in God as the God of salvation.

Typology of Jonah and Jesus

Jonah's experience is a foreshadowing of Christ's death and resurrection. Understanding this typology helps us see the continuity of God's redemptive plan throughout Scripture.

Significance of the Resurrection

The resurrection is central to the Christian faith. It validates Jesus' claims and assures believers of their future resurrection and eternal life.

Trust in God's Timing

The "three days and three nights" symbolize God's perfect timing. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's timing in their own lives, even when it involves waiting or enduring difficult circumstances.

Repentance and Obedience

Jonah's account is also about repentance and obedience. Believers are called to respond to God's call with obedience, learning from Jonah's initial reluctance.

Hope in the Midst of Darkness

Just as Jonah was delivered from the fish and Jesus rose from the dead, believers can have hope that God will deliver them from their trials and bring new life from situations that seem hopeless.