Jonah Preaches

Death, burial, and resurrection! This is the message of the cross. This is the ministry of our Messiah. This is the core of the Christian life. We are baptised into his death. Reckoned dead to sin by His supreme sacrifice. And by the new life He gave us, we bury our baggage. We leave the natural man in the dead realm. By this we find transformation, resurrection of a man inside who is not subject to death. How incredibly awesome is that!

But what does this new man do? What is the result of walking this path? Well, we have reached some verses that can bring light. Jonah is fresh from the experience of death, burial, and resurrection. Of course, he is a living prophecy, a picture to the world revealing the nature of our Messiah, and his salvation was by the hand of God as a display of the coming perfection. But I believe that the progression from Jonah's salvation to the preaching of God's word in Nineveh is a glorious continuation of His purpose.

Jonah responds to the call, and heads out on the month long trek to Nineveh. Perhaps he makes the trip with joy and thanksgiving? When he arrives, he begins to speak, walking throughout the city proclaiming its destruction in forty days. It is the the word of God that leads to life! He preaches the cross here, even the judgement of God upon the flesh. For us now, Jesus is the complete fulfillment of this ministry. The gospel of Jesus is one of destruction, even His life in exchange for ours. The perfect judgement of God has been decreed upon all. All have fallen short of His purpose.

It is this word of destruction that Jonah speaks. We may infer many things about what he said, who he talked too. Or weather he just went about yelling at the top of his lungs "Destruction! Forty days left for Nineveh!" No matter how it happened, the scripture only records the message of destruction. And that message prompted a response. This is the core of the gospel for me. The power in the word towards more life. My hope and joy is great at all the goodness He provides, at the abundance of love we share. Yet I must not shrink back from the reality that is the destruction of the natural man.

I believe Nineveh is a good parallel for our day, in this age. Perhaps number one or two at the time in largest cities throughout the world. Prosperous beyond competing societies. Powerful, full of riches. And destined for destruction. These are not the people of God (i.e. those He brought out of Egypt). In fact, the Assyrians sacked, looted, and conquered the Israelites many times. Yet our amazing Father displayed His will in Jonah. He intends for all man to believe. Salvation is for those who are destined for destruction. Directly after the "Sign of Jonah", the prophesy in picture, comes the preaching of the gospel to the world.

Can we see the amazing intention of the Eternal? More than seven hundred years before the Messiah, a living picture went out. A expression of God's will, of His love. And in these few verses, that love is the revealing light of man's condition. The proof of salvation's work in Jonah personally is displayed as evangelism to the world. And that ministry is filled with God's amazing love. Even though the message was one of destruction, even as a curse, it was light. It was truth. It was filled with compassion.

Our inner man bears witness to the message. The natural mans sees a angry vengeful God. The gospel of Christ penetrates to the core of the heart with that choice, where to dwell. What life to choose. Eternal life with the amazing Creator, or utter destruction.

As a aside, when I became a believer, I was one of the zealous sort, who annoyingly went to every person, friend and family alike, and beat them over the head with the bible. This is a defense mechanism, born of insecurity and immature faith. There are times for strong words, and times for strong light, but the life inside us delivers these by faith, and in love. By no means do I want to give an interpretation that all should go out and cry in the streets "Destruction is at hand!" Some of us may be anointed to do that. But what I see in these verses, and the encouragement I get from the Spirit, is to speak honest truth to those we share Life with. Don't shrink from sharing in love the result of living forever in darkness.

Jonah walked some 500 miles to do just that.


For this meeting, here is the current agenda:

Prayer and Thanksgiving:
Let us seek the Lord for grace and guidance to be given for the families we know. Lift up the children, that God would reveal life to them. Pray for grace upon each mother and father, that they would see with His vision how to raise up these young ones. Seek protection from the dead influences of the world upon all, especially in school. Ask for a special empowerment from the Lord for those you know with single parent households, that they would have His leadership in the home.

Open questions:
Do you think Jonah traveled to Nineveh with an entourage, an assistant?

Current topic:
Read Jonah 3:5-8 with the openness to hear the living word. Often I recite a few lines over and over, then come back to them in a couple days. It is like marinating a good steak, needs to soak for a while. Keep in mind a few thoughts: sackcloth and ashes, turning from evil, violence in hand. Anything odd strike you about the King's decree?

Conclusion:
May everyone have a fantastic week. I want to be true to the gospel this week, and speak of the cross to each that the Lord brings me in contact with. The word to the satisfied, to the consumer mentality is one of destruction. I hope that the burdens on your hearts are lifted up, share them with the body. Let us embrace one another and walk forward into the good works He has prepared.