1. Swallowed by Whale
In the late winter of 1891, the whale-ship 'Star of the East' was in the area of the Falkland Islands when it sighted a whale. Two boats were sent out with harpoons to catch and kill the creature. But the whale's lashing tail overturned one of the boats spilling the crew into the sea. All were finally hauled back on board ship except for one sailor, James Bartley.
The whale was eventually killed and its body drawn aboard the ship to begin the process of stripping its valuable resources. The sailors were startled by what appeared to be signs of life inside the stomach lining. Cutting the whale open the sailors found the missing James Bartley!
Bartley was quite insane for two weeks, but when he recovered his senses he told what he remembered of being dragged under the water. While struggling for his life he had been drawn into darkness and felt a terrible and oppressive heat. Reaching out his hand he felt slimy walls that gave slightly to his touch, but he couldn't find any exit. When it finally dawned on him what most likely had happened he lost his senses and lapsed into a catatonic state.
During his time inside the whale Bartley's face, neck and hands were bleached deathly white by gastric juices and the texture of his skin was like parchment. He never recovered from this effect. Bartley believed that he would have likely lived inside the whale until he starved to death, as he did not find breathing a problem.
Reports do suggest that this whole story is nothing more than an early urban legend. But whether it's true or not, we know that there has been at least one man in the world who has truly gone through such an amazing experience and lived -- and that man is Jonah!
2. Jesus connected to the sign of Jonah -- Matthew 12.38-40
3. In Mark 4.35-41 we see a connection
I. A Matter of Mission
A. Israel's Mission -- Isaiah 2.1-4; Micah 4.1-5 (two witnesses)
The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, 3 and many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
1. Some took it seriously -- Matthew 23.15
2. Some/Jonah -- did not -- sent to Nineveh, Assyria
[How would you respond to "Preach repentance to ISIS?
a. Jonah afraid of being beheaded?
b. Did Jonah not trust God? -- He knew God would forgive; he wanted destruction
c. Jonah dropped the ball because his heart was different than God's
B. Jesus' Mission -- Same -- John 8.12
1. To Israel then the nations (Romans 1.16; Acts 1.6)
2. Decapolis -- "Other Side" -- was a pagan center
3. With valuable people -- Isaiah 65.8
Thus says the LORD: "As the new wine is found in the cluster, and they say, 'Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it,' so I will do for my servants' sake, and not destroy them all.
4. Jesus faithfully completed his mission (Jonah reluctantly)
a. He had/was God's heart
b. Desires salvation for all -- 2 Peter 3.9
C. Our Mission -- Same -- Matthew 5.14
1. God partners with us
2. Sends us to stormy places
II. A Confrontation of Chaos (Mark 4.35-41
A. Purposes in the Storms
1. Jonah's Storm:
a. From God
b. For Repentance -- to get Jonah back on Mission
c. Reluctant change
2. Jesus' Storm
a. From the Adversary -- disrupt the mission; prevent repentance of hearers
b. To produce a change in direction and return to safety
c. Jesus prevailed
B. Some Similarities in the Storms
1. Presence of Chaos in Both
2. Sleeping in the Storms [Old USN -- crew slept in hammocks
3. Fear in Both
a. Fear of Jonah's sailors and Jesus' disciples
b. Reactions: Lighten load (gift to gods); call on gods/God; Call on Jesus
c. Seas and Fears calm
4. God did not give up on the missions
a. Jonah and his mission
b. Jesus and his mission
c. Us on our mission
C. Differences in the Storms
1. To calm the sea -- Jonah is thrown in; Jesus speaks
2. Pagans cared more about Jonah than he did about them
3. Jesus cared more about the pagans than they did for him
III. A Summary of the Sign [Joppa Fish pic
I once read the true story about a man who was a guest sailing aboard a submarine. Before they set sail, he asked the coxswain if there were any special regulations to be observed during exercises.
He said "I was puzzled when he replied by asking me how good my mental arithmetic was. He went on to explain the golden rule of submarine service: 'One of the most important things to remember on board a Submarine is to count how many times we dive, add the number of times we surface and then divide by two. If there is one left over, don't open the hatch.'"
It seems simple doesn't it? But for the crew of a submarine that simple rule can make all the difference. Certain aspects of God's will are simple. If he gives us something special to do, he will make it known clearly.
A. Death
1. Jonah -- as good as dead in the fish and in the sea
2. Jesus -- did die (Passover)
3. Both dealt with disobedience -- Jonah's//Ours
B. Burial
1. Jonah -- Buried in fish and sea
2. Jesus buried in the Earth -- (Feast of Unleavened Bread)
3. Feeling forsaken by God
C. Resurrection
1. Jonah -- Expelled to a New and Renewed Life
a. His Salvation
b. Nineveh's Salvation
2. Jesus Raised with a New Body (First Fruits)
a. For Our Salvation over Death -- 1 Corinthians 15
b. For Our Salvation in Eternity
1. Jesus was commissioned to come here to enemy territory, just as Jonah was sent to Nineveh. Both had a proclamation, Jonah's was one of doom, Jesus came to proclaim the good news of God's favor, but the heart of each message was Repent! Like Jonah, who was willing to give up himself to save the sailors, Jesus had to give up himself in order to save us. And after three days and nights, Jesus came out of the grave, just as Jonah came out of the fish. Jesus said that Jonah's experience was a sign of his death, burial and resurrection.
2. Jonah-Jesus is a Great Picture for Us
a. We are dead in trespasses and sins -- Ephesians 2.1-10
b. We are buried -- Romans 6.3
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
c. We are resurrected -- Romans 6.4
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
3. Focus on Jesus and His Power to calm storms and fears; fulfill mission; and bring life
There was a Christian lady that had to do a lot of traveling for her business; so naturally, she did a lot of flying. Flying made her extremely nervous, so she always took her Bible along with her to read since it helped relax her on the long flights. One time, she was sitting next to a man. When he saw her pull out her Bible, he gave a little chuckle, smirked and went back to what he was doing. After a while, he turned to her and asked, "You don't really believe all that stuff in there, do you?" The lady replied, "Of course I do. It's the Bible." He said, "Well, what about the guy that was swallowed by the whale?" She replied, "Oh, Jonah. Yes, I believe that. It's in the Bible." He asked, "Well, how do you suppose he survived all that time inside the whale?" The lady said, "Well, I don't really know. I guess when I get to heaven, I will ask him." "What if he isn't in heaven?" The man asked sarcastically. "Then you can ask him," replied the lady.
