WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.839 continuing to look at this story of Jonah, 00:00:04.020 --> 00:00:06.719 the runaway prophet and the merciful God. 00:00:07.480 --> 00:00:11.060 Here we find ourselves in Jonah chapter 3. 00:00:12.140 --> 00:00:14.220 We'll read the whole chapter 00:00:14.220 --> 00:00:15.720 and then we'll think about it together. 00:00:19.179 --> 00:00:21.620 Jonah chapter 3, verse 1. 00:00:22.300 --> 00:00:25.440 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time. 00:00:26.300 --> 00:00:28.179 Go to the great city of Nineveh 00:00:28.179 --> 00:00:31.640 and proclaim to it the message I give you. 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:35.019 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. 00:00:35.579 --> 00:00:37.740 Now Nineveh was a very important city. 00:00:38.359 --> 00:00:40.079 A visit required three days. 00:00:40.679 --> 00:00:44.079 On the first day, Jonah started into the city. 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:45.340 He proclaimed, 00:00:45.939 --> 00:00:49.079 40 more days and Nineveh will be overturned. 00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:51.239 The Ninevites believed God. 00:00:52.019 --> 00:00:54.399 They declared a fast and all of them 00:00:54.399 --> 00:00:57.539 from the greatest to the least put on sackcloth. 00:00:58.179 --> 00:00:59.939 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:01.060 he rose from his throne, 00:01:01.700 --> 00:01:03.060 took off his royal robes, 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:05.060 covered himself with sackcloth 00:01:05.060 --> 00:01:06.640 and sat down in the dust. 00:01:07.459 --> 00:01:09.480 Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh. 00:01:10.359 --> 00:01:12.659 By the decree of the king and his nobles, 00:01:13.140 --> 00:01:14.680 do not let any man or beast, 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:16.480 herd or flock, taste anything. 00:01:17.019 --> 00:01:18.859 Do not let them eat or drink, 00:01:19.420 --> 00:01:21.659 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. 00:01:22.019 --> 00:01:24.159 Let everyone call urgently on God. 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:27.000 Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 00:01:27.539 --> 00:01:28.099 Who knows? 00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:32.239 God may yet relent and with compassion 00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:34.500 turn from his fierce anger 00:01:34.500 --> 00:01:37.179 so that we will not perish. 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:39.659 When God saw what they did 00:01:39.659 --> 00:01:42.259 and how they turned from their evil ways, 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:44.039 he had compassion 00:01:44.039 --> 00:01:46.719 and did not bring upon them 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:50.060 the destruction he had threatened. 00:01:50.060 --> 00:01:50.620 Amen. 00:01:55.019 --> 00:01:57.879 Been at the garage a few times 00:01:57.879 --> 00:01:58.879 in the last couple of weeks, 00:01:58.939 --> 00:02:01.359 so we're going to begin thinking about cars. 00:02:01.700 --> 00:02:03.680 I don't know what your car history is like, 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:06.939 but ours was pretty much a series 00:02:06.939 --> 00:02:09.759 of clapped out old bangers. 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:11.740 There's one that stands out in particular 00:02:11.740 --> 00:02:13.060 in my head, 00:02:13.480 --> 00:02:15.920 described affectionately by an American friend of ours 00:02:15.920 --> 00:02:17.460 as a shoebox on wheels, 00:02:18.199 --> 00:02:19.460 a really nice machine. 00:02:20.260 --> 00:02:22.680 Well, this shoebox on wheels 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:25.600 developed some gearbox trouble 00:02:25.600 --> 00:02:27.300 when we lived up in Dingwall. 00:02:27.400 --> 00:02:29.219 So we took it to our local mechanic. 00:02:29.860 --> 00:02:31.280 We used him quite a lot. 00:02:32.120 --> 00:02:33.080 He was a nice guy. 00:02:33.260 --> 00:02:34.080 We took him to the garage. 00:02:34.340 --> 00:02:35.439 He took a quick look, 00:02:35.900 --> 00:02:36.640 came back and I realized, 00:02:36.719 --> 00:02:37.340 he's fine. 00:02:37.879 --> 00:02:39.800 You'll be fine to run for weeks 00:02:39.800 --> 00:02:41.140 and months with that. 00:02:41.939 --> 00:02:43.180 Now, I don't know whether the mechanic 00:02:43.180 --> 00:02:45.159 was just particularly optimistic that day. 00:02:45.159 --> 00:02:48.159 20 miles later, 00:02:48.740 --> 00:02:50.000 coming out of Inverness, 00:02:50.099 --> 00:02:52.340 our car gets stuck in third gear. 00:02:52.500 --> 00:02:54.120 Will not shift out of third gear. 00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:55.539 So we're hitting the, 00:02:55.620 --> 00:02:56.579 this is about five o'clock, 00:02:56.680 --> 00:02:57.719 we're hitting the roundabouts. 00:02:58.159 --> 00:02:58.659 Third gear, 00:02:58.740 --> 00:03:00.620 we're coming up to traffic lights in third gear. 00:03:00.680 --> 00:03:00.800 It's like, 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:01.259 please, 00:03:01.379 --> 00:03:03.680 we made it all the way back to Dingwall 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:05.460 and we eventually had to stop 00:03:05.460 --> 00:03:06.340 on the high street 00:03:06.340 --> 00:03:08.460 and had to push our car 00:03:08.460 --> 00:03:10.020 to the local car park. 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:11.260 Now, 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:13.480 when I heard the mechanic's message 00:03:13.480 --> 00:03:14.099 that morning, 00:03:14.540 --> 00:03:15.360 I was delighted 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:17.159 because nobody wants to 00:03:17.159 --> 00:03:18.719 have to lose their car 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:19.340 for a few days 00:03:19.340 --> 00:03:22.040 and face a mechanic's heavy bill. 00:03:22.439 --> 00:03:23.920 The message was nice. 00:03:24.780 --> 00:03:25.760 Problem was, 00:03:26.300 --> 00:03:26.980 as it turned out, 00:03:27.020 --> 00:03:29.260 it was neither true nor accurate. 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:31.300 So when we reflect on that, 00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:32.680 which one would we prefer? 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:34.879 Think about those kind of situations 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:35.900 in your own life. 00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:37.599 I guess all of us 00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:39.900 would probably choose 00:03:39.900 --> 00:03:42.120 to know that there is a serious problem 00:03:42.120 --> 00:03:43.379 needing dealt with 00:03:43.379 --> 00:03:45.020 so that you can avoid 00:03:45.020 --> 00:03:46.640 a potentially difficult, 00:03:46.860 --> 00:03:50.080 potentially even dangerous situation. 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:51.219 Now, 00:03:51.260 --> 00:03:53.680 this takes us right to the heart 00:03:53.680 --> 00:03:55.719 of our story today 00:03:55.719 --> 00:03:57.620 and to Jonah's message 00:03:57.620 --> 00:04:00.080 as he preaches to Nineveh 00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:01.860 in chapter three 00:04:01.860 --> 00:04:02.860 and verse four. 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:04.060 Look at his message. 00:04:04.140 --> 00:04:05.900 Very simple sermon. 00:04:06.040 --> 00:04:07.240 Very short sermon, 00:04:07.380 --> 00:04:08.000 so it seems 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:09.880 you're not getting one of those. 00:04:10.600 --> 00:04:11.920 He proclaimed, 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:14.780 40 more days 00:04:14.780 --> 00:04:16.460 and Nineveh 00:04:16.460 --> 00:04:18.500 will be overturned. 00:04:18.860 --> 00:04:20.420 So here is Jonah 00:04:20.420 --> 00:04:22.840 walking into enemy territory 00:04:22.840 --> 00:04:24.400 saying to them, 00:04:24.860 --> 00:04:26.220 you are about to face 00:04:26.220 --> 00:04:28.300 the judgment of God. 00:04:28.300 --> 00:04:30.740 That's a hard thing to do, 00:04:30.780 --> 00:04:31.040 isn't it? 00:04:31.699 --> 00:04:32.500 But what we'll see 00:04:32.500 --> 00:04:33.699 is that God's truth, 00:04:33.860 --> 00:04:35.180 God's hard truth 00:04:35.180 --> 00:04:37.160 does its work 00:04:37.160 --> 00:04:40.000 and a city is saved 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:41.500 because Jonah brings 00:04:41.500 --> 00:04:43.000 the word of God 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:43.680 to the people, 00:04:43.780 --> 00:04:45.240 a word that they may well 00:04:45.240 --> 00:04:46.480 not have wanted 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:47.560 to hear. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:48.900 So this morning, 00:04:48.939 --> 00:04:49.620 we're going to concentrate 00:04:49.620 --> 00:04:50.860 on Jonah's message 00:04:50.860 --> 00:04:52.460 and then the response 00:04:52.460 --> 00:04:53.280 that we find 00:04:53.280 --> 00:04:54.460 in that, 00:04:54.580 --> 00:04:55.639 from that message. 00:04:55.639 --> 00:04:57.839 Look with me though 00:04:57.839 --> 00:04:59.180 at verse one 00:04:59.180 --> 00:05:00.139 before we even get 00:05:00.139 --> 00:05:01.300 to Jonah delivering 00:05:01.300 --> 00:05:01.959 the message. 00:05:02.719 --> 00:05:03.740 We see again 00:05:03.740 --> 00:05:04.539 hints of 00:05:04.539 --> 00:05:06.099 the dominant theme 00:05:06.099 --> 00:05:07.339 of the mercy of God 00:05:07.339 --> 00:05:08.120 coming through. 00:05:09.139 --> 00:05:10.339 The word of the Lord 00:05:10.339 --> 00:05:11.539 came to Jonah 00:05:11.539 --> 00:05:13.339 a second time. 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:15.279 So if you've not been here, 00:05:15.579 --> 00:05:16.439 in chapter one 00:05:16.439 --> 00:05:17.219 what we discover 00:05:17.219 --> 00:05:19.000 is Jonah being told 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:19.819 by God, 00:05:20.240 --> 00:05:21.060 go to Nineveh. 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:22.259 And what he does instead 00:05:22.259 --> 00:05:23.180 is he runs away. 00:05:23.180 --> 00:05:25.759 So he's a disobedient prophet 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:26.600 who gets 00:05:26.600 --> 00:05:28.340 a second chance. 00:05:29.079 --> 00:05:29.920 Now there's mercy, 00:05:30.060 --> 00:05:30.780 there's patience, 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:32.000 there's grace and kindness 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:33.579 from God 00:05:33.579 --> 00:05:34.519 there. 00:05:35.220 --> 00:05:36.500 And in verse two, 00:05:38.100 --> 00:05:39.000 he's given 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:41.040 his mission 00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:42.160 once again. 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:42.980 And it's almost 00:05:42.980 --> 00:05:43.639 the same 00:05:43.639 --> 00:05:44.800 as we find 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:45.500 in chapter one, 00:05:45.560 --> 00:05:46.180 but there's a really 00:05:46.180 --> 00:05:47.840 important difference. 00:05:48.120 --> 00:05:48.800 So if you flick 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:49.579 back over, 00:05:50.139 --> 00:05:51.439 let's see the difference. 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:52.360 In chapter one 00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:53.360 in verse two, 00:05:54.500 --> 00:05:55.560 Jonah is told, 00:05:56.519 --> 00:05:57.540 go to the great city 00:05:57.540 --> 00:05:58.100 of Nineveh 00:05:58.100 --> 00:05:58.920 and preach 00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:00.500 against it. 00:06:01.180 --> 00:06:02.139 Chapter three, 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:02.819 verse two, 00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:04.480 go to the great city 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:05.100 of Nineveh 00:06:05.100 --> 00:06:06.079 and proclaim 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:07.759 to it. 00:06:08.019 --> 00:06:09.360 So there is a difference 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:09.560 there. 00:06:09.659 --> 00:06:10.100 Chapter one, 00:06:10.159 --> 00:06:11.000 preach against it. 00:06:11.139 --> 00:06:11.620 Chapter three, 00:06:11.819 --> 00:06:12.879 proclaim to it. 00:06:12.920 --> 00:06:13.399 So here's 00:06:13.399 --> 00:06:14.339 what I want us 00:06:14.339 --> 00:06:14.879 to see 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:16.279 this morning. 00:06:16.740 --> 00:06:18.180 That Jonah's words, 00:06:18.939 --> 00:06:19.860 words of judgment, 00:06:19.860 --> 00:06:22.360 and Jonah's story, 00:06:22.819 --> 00:06:23.819 his story of receiving 00:06:23.819 --> 00:06:24.800 grace and mercy 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:25.920 from the Lord God 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:27.560 are a message 00:06:27.560 --> 00:06:28.139 of hope 00:06:28.139 --> 00:06:29.180 proclaimed 00:06:29.180 --> 00:06:30.439 to the city 00:06:30.439 --> 00:06:31.020 of Nineveh. 00:06:31.860 --> 00:06:32.500 That Jonah 00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:33.420 can speak to them 00:06:33.420 --> 00:06:33.680 and say, 00:06:34.040 --> 00:06:34.340 yes, 00:06:34.400 --> 00:06:35.100 you are facing 00:06:35.100 --> 00:06:36.720 God's just judgment, 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:38.259 but still 00:06:38.259 --> 00:06:38.840 there is hope 00:06:38.840 --> 00:06:39.780 of forgiveness 00:06:39.780 --> 00:06:40.540 and rescue 00:06:40.540 --> 00:06:41.180 and restoration. 00:06:41.180 --> 00:06:42.759 And I know this 00:06:42.759 --> 00:06:44.720 because this is my story, 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:47.080 because this is my experience. 00:06:47.079 --> 00:06:48.919 And so Jonah, 00:06:49.279 --> 00:06:50.019 as we found 00:06:50.019 --> 00:06:51.259 in the end of chapter one 00:06:51.259 --> 00:06:52.199 into chapter two, 00:06:52.439 --> 00:06:53.300 had been thrown 00:06:53.300 --> 00:06:54.500 into a storm 00:06:54.500 --> 00:06:55.459 of God's judgment, 00:06:55.919 --> 00:06:57.339 facing certain death, 00:06:57.539 --> 00:06:58.359 but was saved 00:06:58.359 --> 00:06:59.339 by God's grace 00:06:59.339 --> 00:07:00.599 as God sent the fish 00:07:00.599 --> 00:07:01.539 to swallow Jonah. 00:07:02.459 --> 00:07:03.399 Now Jonah, 00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:04.439 it is restored 00:07:04.439 --> 00:07:05.199 to relationship 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:05.740 with God. 00:07:05.799 --> 00:07:07.039 Now he is in service 00:07:07.039 --> 00:07:08.399 of God 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:09.759 and this is 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:10.899 his message. 00:07:11.459 --> 00:07:12.560 This is the message 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:13.539 of his life. 00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:14.879 There is grace 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:16.939 after judgment. 00:07:17.740 --> 00:07:19.139 There is a God 00:07:19.139 --> 00:07:20.079 who delights 00:07:20.079 --> 00:07:22.360 to show mercy. 00:07:23.319 --> 00:07:25.199 And in God's providence, 00:07:25.379 --> 00:07:26.319 God has been controlling 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:27.560 this whole story. 00:07:28.100 --> 00:07:29.100 The city of Nineveh 00:07:29.100 --> 00:07:29.899 are going to hear 00:07:29.899 --> 00:07:31.319 from a prophet of God 00:07:31.319 --> 00:07:32.719 who's just recently 00:07:32.719 --> 00:07:35.120 had this first-hand reminder 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:36.379 of the grace 00:07:36.379 --> 00:07:37.540 and mercy 00:07:37.540 --> 00:07:39.259 of God. 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:39.879 And so we need 00:07:39.879 --> 00:07:40.740 to bear that in mind 00:07:40.740 --> 00:07:41.300 and we'll see it 00:07:41.300 --> 00:07:42.060 come out actually. 00:07:42.680 --> 00:07:43.399 But in verse three, 00:07:43.399 --> 00:07:45.000 we see Jonah this time 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:45.879 doesn't go running. 00:07:46.259 --> 00:07:47.500 This time he obeys 00:07:47.500 --> 00:07:48.459 the word of the Lord 00:07:48.459 --> 00:07:49.959 and goes to Nineveh, 00:07:50.359 --> 00:07:51.439 travels right through it 00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:52.579 over the three days 00:07:52.579 --> 00:07:54.319 and he proclaims 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:55.759 that message. 00:07:56.719 --> 00:07:58.019 Takes him three days, 00:07:59.039 --> 00:08:00.359 whether that's because 00:08:00.359 --> 00:08:01.120 he has to meet 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:01.699 the officials 00:08:01.699 --> 00:08:02.479 and there's all kinds 00:08:02.479 --> 00:08:02.939 of ceremony 00:08:02.939 --> 00:08:03.620 or whether it's just 00:08:03.620 --> 00:08:05.120 it's a fairly large city. 00:08:05.679 --> 00:08:06.500 But you get the idea 00:08:06.500 --> 00:08:07.199 of Jonah going 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:07.899 through each part 00:08:07.899 --> 00:08:08.859 of the city, 00:08:09.019 --> 00:08:09.939 whether it's to the rich area 00:08:09.939 --> 00:08:10.719 or the poor area, 00:08:10.819 --> 00:08:11.719 whether it's the centers 00:08:11.720 --> 00:08:13.000 of business 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:14.440 or education 00:08:14.440 --> 00:08:15.140 or government 00:08:15.140 --> 00:08:16.320 and the message 00:08:16.320 --> 00:08:17.260 is the same. 00:08:18.660 --> 00:08:19.580 The message is 00:08:19.580 --> 00:08:20.000 that because 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:21.600 of your wickedness, 00:08:21.980 --> 00:08:22.500 the judgment 00:08:22.500 --> 00:08:23.100 of God 00:08:23.100 --> 00:08:25.260 is upon you. 00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:29.960 It's an easy message 00:08:29.960 --> 00:08:30.480 in a sense 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:31.020 to read 00:08:31.020 --> 00:08:32.399 sort of divided 00:08:32.399 --> 00:08:33.060 as we are 00:08:33.060 --> 00:08:34.460 by time and history. 00:08:34.580 --> 00:08:35.180 But imagine 00:08:35.180 --> 00:08:36.940 being Jonah. 00:08:37.180 --> 00:08:37.899 He knows 00:08:37.899 --> 00:08:38.340 what the people 00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:38.980 of Nineveh are like. 00:08:39.019 --> 00:08:39.500 He knows 00:08:39.500 --> 00:08:40.740 their wickedness. 00:08:40.779 --> 00:08:41.320 He's probably 00:08:41.320 --> 00:08:42.940 heard the stories, 00:08:43.059 --> 00:08:44.059 maybe seen it firsthand 00:08:44.059 --> 00:08:45.039 and now he has to go 00:08:45.039 --> 00:08:46.720 into enemy territory 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:47.580 announcing 00:08:47.580 --> 00:08:49.360 this message 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:50.440 to them. 00:08:50.500 --> 00:08:51.179 That's not 00:08:51.179 --> 00:08:52.240 easy. 00:08:54.379 --> 00:08:55.379 Let's just stop 00:08:55.379 --> 00:08:55.860 for a moment. 00:08:55.980 --> 00:08:56.340 Let me 00:08:56.340 --> 00:08:58.039 encourage 00:08:58.039 --> 00:08:59.399 one another 00:08:59.399 --> 00:09:01.000 to be praying 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:01.580 for 00:09:01.580 --> 00:09:02.960 the people 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:03.480 that we know 00:09:03.480 --> 00:09:04.019 who preach 00:09:04.019 --> 00:09:04.860 and teach the Bible, 00:09:05.659 --> 00:09:06.779 to pray for 00:09:06.779 --> 00:09:07.579 Christians 00:09:07.579 --> 00:09:08.000 who are 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:09.139 public figures, 00:09:09.740 --> 00:09:10.240 for those 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:10.699 who seek 00:09:10.699 --> 00:09:11.159 to live 00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:12.159 consistently 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:14.120 faced with 00:09:14.120 --> 00:09:15.379 a barrage 00:09:15.379 --> 00:09:15.899 of attacks. 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:16.579 We see it 00:09:16.579 --> 00:09:17.519 in our media 00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:18.199 how difficult 00:09:18.199 --> 00:09:19.100 it can be 00:09:19.100 --> 00:09:19.919 to live 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:20.659 consistently 00:09:20.659 --> 00:09:22.059 for the Lord 00:09:22.059 --> 00:09:22.480 Jesus. 00:09:22.939 --> 00:09:23.559 There is that 00:09:23.559 --> 00:09:24.360 temptation 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:26.519 to give people 00:09:26.519 --> 00:09:27.500 what they 00:09:27.500 --> 00:09:28.240 want, 00:09:28.439 --> 00:09:29.659 to bend 00:09:29.659 --> 00:09:30.579 to culture, 00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:32.120 perhaps to 00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:33.559 present a God 00:09:33.559 --> 00:09:34.259 who is love 00:09:34.259 --> 00:09:35.019 and love 00:09:35.019 --> 00:09:35.620 only, 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:37.139 to miss 00:09:37.139 --> 00:09:38.379 the judgment 00:09:38.379 --> 00:09:38.860 of God 00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:39.559 that Jonah 00:09:39.559 --> 00:09:40.240 was called 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:41.539 to speak of. 00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:43.059 But if we are 00:09:43.059 --> 00:09:44.019 to be faithful 00:09:44.019 --> 00:09:44.799 to the Bible 00:09:44.799 --> 00:09:45.860 and to be faithful 00:09:45.860 --> 00:09:46.759 to the character 00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:47.299 of God 00:09:47.299 --> 00:09:48.460 and to actually 00:09:48.460 --> 00:09:49.679 present Jesus 00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:50.439 as good news, 00:09:50.539 --> 00:09:51.580 we need to bring 00:09:51.580 --> 00:09:52.840 these hard realities 00:09:52.840 --> 00:09:53.500 to people. 00:09:54.460 --> 00:09:55.120 To use some 00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:55.700 of the pictures 00:09:55.700 --> 00:09:57.019 that we find 00:09:57.019 --> 00:09:57.639 in the Bible, 00:09:58.480 --> 00:09:59.379 God is 00:09:59.379 --> 00:10:00.799 our king. 00:10:01.539 --> 00:10:02.019 Whether we 00:10:02.019 --> 00:10:02.700 accept that 00:10:02.700 --> 00:10:03.419 or whether we 00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:04.159 don't accept that 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:04.500 as people 00:10:04.500 --> 00:10:05.620 makes no odds, 00:10:05.740 --> 00:10:06.579 God is the 00:10:06.579 --> 00:10:07.279 king who is 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:08.079 over us 00:10:08.079 --> 00:10:09.219 and our 00:10:09.219 --> 00:10:09.899 rebellion 00:10:09.899 --> 00:10:11.459 against his 00:10:11.459 --> 00:10:12.379 rule and his 00:10:12.379 --> 00:10:14.000 law is like 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:14.819 an act of 00:10:14.819 --> 00:10:15.759 treason 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:17.759 against our 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:18.319 king. 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:20.860 Or to use 00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:21.539 another picture 00:10:21.539 --> 00:10:22.240 from the Bible, 00:10:22.439 --> 00:10:23.299 God is 00:10:23.299 --> 00:10:24.319 our 00:10:24.319 --> 00:10:25.439 father. 00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:27.339 We read a 00:10:27.339 --> 00:10:27.740 couple of weeks 00:10:27.740 --> 00:10:28.259 ago the story 00:10:28.259 --> 00:10:28.879 of the prodigal 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:29.279 son. 00:10:29.899 --> 00:10:30.740 That son who 00:10:30.740 --> 00:10:31.000 said, 00:10:31.319 --> 00:10:31.639 Father, 00:10:31.839 --> 00:10:32.220 I don't want 00:10:32.220 --> 00:10:33.019 anything to do 00:10:33.019 --> 00:10:33.399 with you. 00:10:33.399 --> 00:10:34.279 I want your 00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:34.519 money, 00:10:34.620 --> 00:10:35.000 I want your 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:35.319 stuff, 00:10:35.399 --> 00:10:35.740 but I don't 00:10:35.740 --> 00:10:36.519 want you, 00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:37.279 I want freedom 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:38.419 away from you. 00:10:38.699 --> 00:10:39.659 When we treat 00:10:39.659 --> 00:10:40.600 God in that 00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:40.860 way, 00:10:40.959 --> 00:10:41.939 when we live 00:10:41.939 --> 00:10:42.679 in his world 00:10:42.679 --> 00:10:43.240 without any 00:10:43.240 --> 00:10:44.120 thought of 00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:45.000 God, 00:10:45.699 --> 00:10:46.039 the Bible 00:10:46.039 --> 00:10:46.860 says that's 00:10:46.860 --> 00:10:47.959 deserving of 00:10:47.959 --> 00:10:48.879 judgment. 00:10:49.959 --> 00:10:50.639 The Bible 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:51.500 often presents 00:10:51.500 --> 00:10:52.439 God as 00:10:52.439 --> 00:10:53.620 a judge 00:10:53.620 --> 00:10:54.879 and our 00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:55.699 sin, 00:10:55.860 --> 00:10:56.419 our failure 00:10:56.419 --> 00:10:57.240 to love God 00:10:57.240 --> 00:10:57.740 and to love 00:10:57.740 --> 00:10:58.360 others is 00:10:58.360 --> 00:10:59.340 presented as 00:10:59.340 --> 00:11:00.579 lawlessness. 00:11:00.580 --> 00:11:00.820 forgiveness. 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:02.120 And the 00:11:02.120 --> 00:11:02.840 sentence that 00:11:02.840 --> 00:11:03.580 we deserve 00:11:03.580 --> 00:11:05.800 is eternal 00:11:05.800 --> 00:11:06.220 death. 00:11:07.740 --> 00:11:08.180 Now, 00:11:08.220 --> 00:11:08.560 that's a 00:11:08.560 --> 00:11:09.960 hard message, 00:11:10.560 --> 00:11:11.680 but it's a 00:11:11.680 --> 00:11:12.200 necessary 00:11:12.200 --> 00:11:12.940 message. 00:11:15.280 --> 00:11:15.960 Imagine for 00:11:15.960 --> 00:11:16.340 a moment 00:11:16.340 --> 00:11:17.360 that we're 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:17.660 sitting, 00:11:17.740 --> 00:11:17.940 and some 00:11:17.940 --> 00:11:18.300 of you have 00:11:18.300 --> 00:11:18.720 been here 00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:19.420 sitting in a 00:11:19.420 --> 00:11:20.000 surgeon's 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:20.540 office. 00:11:21.280 --> 00:11:21.879 You've gone, 00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:22.320 there's been 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:23.259 something bothering 00:11:23.259 --> 00:11:23.700 you, you've 00:11:23.700 --> 00:11:24.220 gone and you've 00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:24.920 had some tests 00:11:24.920 --> 00:11:25.379 and now you're 00:11:25.379 --> 00:11:26.340 waiting to hear 00:11:26.340 --> 00:11:27.660 the outcome. 00:11:27.659 --> 00:11:28.559 Of course, 00:11:28.659 --> 00:11:29.319 the message 00:11:29.319 --> 00:11:30.159 that we would 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:30.679 all want to 00:11:30.679 --> 00:11:31.199 hear at that 00:11:31.199 --> 00:11:31.699 moment is, 00:11:32.079 --> 00:11:32.759 the tests are 00:11:32.759 --> 00:11:33.159 all clear, 00:11:33.299 --> 00:11:34.399 you're fine. 00:11:35.899 --> 00:11:36.779 But if in 00:11:36.779 --> 00:11:37.639 reality you 00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:38.759 have an 00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:39.319 aggressive 00:11:39.319 --> 00:11:40.459 illness at 00:11:40.459 --> 00:11:41.339 work in 00:11:41.339 --> 00:11:42.059 your body, 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:43.600 then that's 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:44.240 not the 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:44.899 message that 00:11:44.899 --> 00:11:45.360 you need. 00:11:46.039 --> 00:11:46.579 The message 00:11:46.579 --> 00:11:47.259 you need is 00:11:47.259 --> 00:11:48.279 your condition 00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:49.620 is serious, 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:52.019 but there is 00:11:52.019 --> 00:11:52.839 hope, there 00:11:52.839 --> 00:11:54.019 is a 00:11:54.019 --> 00:11:54.459 cure. 00:11:54.460 --> 00:11:56.460 And so 00:11:56.460 --> 00:11:57.180 we must 00:11:57.180 --> 00:11:58.940 always speak 00:11:58.940 --> 00:11:59.360 of the 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:00.019 judgment of 00:12:00.019 --> 00:12:00.759 God, otherwise 00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:01.639 the cross of 00:12:01.639 --> 00:12:02.800 Jesus makes 00:12:02.800 --> 00:12:04.720 no sense. 00:12:05.420 --> 00:12:06.019 Unless we 00:12:06.019 --> 00:12:06.740 understand that 00:12:06.740 --> 00:12:07.360 he is there 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:08.560 in our place 00:12:08.560 --> 00:12:09.500 taking that 00:12:09.500 --> 00:12:10.560 judgment for 00:12:10.560 --> 00:12:12.980 us, there is 00:12:12.980 --> 00:12:13.840 no point in 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:14.280 the Son of 00:12:14.280 --> 00:12:15.060 God going to 00:12:15.060 --> 00:12:16.100 the cross unless 00:12:16.100 --> 00:12:17.420 the judgment of 00:12:17.420 --> 00:12:18.100 God is real 00:12:18.100 --> 00:12:20.040 and sin is 00:12:20.040 --> 00:12:21.139 serious. 00:12:22.200 --> 00:12:23.000 And what we 00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:23.540 see even in 00:12:23.540 --> 00:12:24.440 the story of 00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:25.580 Nineveh is 00:12:25.580 --> 00:12:26.840 that had 00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:28.040 Jonah refused 00:12:28.040 --> 00:12:28.720 to speak of 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:29.160 the judgment 00:12:29.160 --> 00:12:30.180 of God, those 00:12:30.180 --> 00:12:30.760 people would 00:12:30.760 --> 00:12:31.320 not have 00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:32.380 changed and 00:12:32.380 --> 00:12:32.940 their city 00:12:32.940 --> 00:12:33.900 would certainly 00:12:33.900 --> 00:12:34.820 have been 00:12:34.820 --> 00:12:35.420 destroyed. 00:12:35.960 --> 00:12:36.980 They needed 00:12:36.980 --> 00:12:38.540 to hear of 00:12:38.540 --> 00:12:39.280 the judgment 00:12:39.280 --> 00:12:39.900 of God. 00:12:40.940 --> 00:12:41.640 But you 00:12:41.640 --> 00:12:41.940 know that's 00:12:41.940 --> 00:12:43.180 not all that 00:12:43.180 --> 00:12:43.820 Jonah brought 00:12:43.820 --> 00:12:44.240 to them. 00:12:44.980 --> 00:12:45.720 Look with me 00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:46.460 at verse 00:12:46.460 --> 00:12:48.200 number nine. 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:49.460 There's this 00:12:49.460 --> 00:12:51.380 wonderful hint 00:12:51.380 --> 00:12:52.360 at what Jonah 00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:53.260 has been speaking 00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:53.919 to them 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:55.200 about. 00:12:55.799 --> 00:12:56.799 So this is a 00:12:56.799 --> 00:12:57.960 godless king 00:12:57.960 --> 00:12:59.519 known for 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:00.480 leading the 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:01.080 way in 00:13:01.080 --> 00:13:01.879 violence but 00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:02.399 yet he can 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:04.319 reflect and 00:13:04.319 --> 00:13:05.259 say, who 00:13:05.259 --> 00:13:06.960 knows, God 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:07.519 may yet 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:09.039 relent and 00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:10.039 with compassion 00:13:10.039 --> 00:13:11.779 turn from his 00:13:11.779 --> 00:13:12.819 fierce anger 00:13:12.819 --> 00:13:14.340 so that we 00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:15.580 will not 00:13:15.580 --> 00:13:16.379 perish. 00:13:16.860 --> 00:13:17.720 Now where 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:18.360 does that 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:19.539 idea come 00:13:19.539 --> 00:13:20.039 from? 00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:21.379 It certainly 00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:22.059 doesn't come 00:13:22.059 --> 00:13:22.959 from any 00:13:22.959 --> 00:13:23.620 of the pagan 00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:24.259 gods that 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:24.899 were around 00:13:24.899 --> 00:13:26.620 in Nineveh 00:13:26.620 --> 00:13:27.259 at the time. 00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:29.179 This king, 00:13:29.299 --> 00:13:30.000 this godless 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:30.679 king has 00:13:30.679 --> 00:13:31.179 hope of 00:13:31.179 --> 00:13:31.439 finding 00:13:31.439 --> 00:13:32.559 compassion and 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:34.579 mercy because 00:13:34.579 --> 00:13:35.319 of Jonah's 00:13:35.319 --> 00:13:36.179 life story, 00:13:36.899 --> 00:13:37.599 because of 00:13:37.599 --> 00:13:38.620 the message 00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:39.539 of Jonah, 00:13:39.659 --> 00:13:40.120 because of 00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:41.179 the experiences 00:13:41.179 --> 00:13:42.579 of Jonah. 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:43.539 He is the 00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:44.779 prophet who 00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:46.459 could reflect 00:13:46.459 --> 00:13:47.259 on the fact 00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:48.159 that he was 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:49.039 deserving of 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:49.759 God's judgment 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:50.579 but instead 00:13:50.579 --> 00:13:51.519 he knew God 00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:52.419 relenting and 00:13:52.419 --> 00:13:53.059 showing mercy 00:13:53.059 --> 00:13:53.819 and compassion. 00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:55.819 Here is a 00:13:55.819 --> 00:13:56.379 prophet who 00:13:56.379 --> 00:13:57.139 could speak of 00:13:57.139 --> 00:13:57.620 both the 00:13:57.620 --> 00:13:58.480 justice of 00:13:58.480 --> 00:13:59.559 God and 00:13:59.559 --> 00:14:00.639 mercy beyond 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:02.219 justice to 00:14:02.219 --> 00:14:03.120 Nineveh. 00:14:03.339 --> 00:14:03.740 And you know 00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:04.980 that's what 00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:05.799 we all need. 00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:07.620 We all need 00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:08.779 someone sent 00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:09.639 by God to 00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:10.659 speak the 00:14:10.659 --> 00:14:11.679 hard truth to 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:12.639 us of our 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:13.799 wickedness and 00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:14.360 the judgment 00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:15.039 that we should 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:16.339 receive but 00:14:16.339 --> 00:14:18.120 can also offer 00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:18.740 us the hope of 00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:19.320 rescue. 00:14:19.960 --> 00:14:20.560 He can also 00:14:20.560 --> 00:14:21.159 offer us the 00:14:21.159 --> 00:14:21.799 hope of finding 00:14:21.799 --> 00:14:22.639 peace with 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:23.659 God from this 00:14:23.659 --> 00:14:24.940 desperate situation 00:14:24.940 --> 00:14:26.279 that we find 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:26.980 ourselves in. 00:14:28.460 --> 00:14:29.299 And isn't this 00:14:29.299 --> 00:14:30.039 the heart of 00:14:30.039 --> 00:14:31.220 our Christian 00:14:31.220 --> 00:14:31.980 testimony? 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:33.879 That our 00:14:33.879 --> 00:14:35.000 stories are not 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:36.039 about ourselves. 00:14:36.659 --> 00:14:37.600 They're about the 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:39.000 grace of God in 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:40.620 rescuing us. 00:14:41.379 --> 00:14:42.659 That's the God 00:14:42.659 --> 00:14:43.500 that we share 00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:44.500 with others. 00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:45.320 We have a story 00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:46.260 to share like 00:14:46.260 --> 00:14:47.879 Jonah of God's 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:48.740 grace to us. 00:14:48.800 --> 00:14:49.500 And ultimately 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:51.620 this prophet Jonah 00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:52.680 points us forward 00:14:52.680 --> 00:14:53.720 to Jesus the 00:14:53.720 --> 00:14:54.460 true prophet, 00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:55.300 the ultimate 00:14:55.300 --> 00:14:55.840 prophet. 00:14:56.379 --> 00:14:57.200 Because the 00:14:57.200 --> 00:14:58.740 gospel of Jesus 00:14:58.740 --> 00:15:00.320 Christ says that 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:01.200 God's judgment 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:02.420 against sin is 00:15:02.420 --> 00:15:03.860 real and God in 00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:04.540 his love sent 00:15:04.540 --> 00:15:05.560 Jesus to bear 00:15:05.560 --> 00:15:06.580 that sin and 00:15:06.580 --> 00:15:08.000 that judgment for 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:09.220 us on our 00:15:09.220 --> 00:15:10.240 behalf. 00:15:10.940 --> 00:15:11.960 So that we 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:12.880 might know 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:14.559 God's compassion. 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:16.840 That God's mercy 00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:17.740 towards sinners 00:15:17.740 --> 00:15:18.580 is real and the 00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:20.299 cross shows us 00:15:20.299 --> 00:15:20.580 that. 00:15:21.100 --> 00:15:22.000 Because God 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:23.019 didn't leave us 00:15:23.019 --> 00:15:24.120 in our helpless 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:24.779 condition. 00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:25.939 He sent Jesus to 00:15:25.939 --> 00:15:26.860 be our substitute, 00:15:27.059 --> 00:15:28.080 to be our 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:29.419 rescuer. 00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:31.620 So that on the 00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:32.740 cross Jesus takes 00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:33.580 our sin on 00:15:33.580 --> 00:15:34.439 himself and he 00:15:34.439 --> 00:15:35.799 gifts us his 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:36.879 perfect record of 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:37.759 righteous obedience 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:38.799 so we can be 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:40.139 accepted by God 00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:40.799 so that God can 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:41.559 delight over us 00:15:41.559 --> 00:15:42.059 with singing. 00:15:42.959 --> 00:15:44.019 He becomes the 00:15:44.019 --> 00:15:45.319 abandoned son so 00:15:45.319 --> 00:15:46.379 that we by faith 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:47.359 in him might be 00:15:47.359 --> 00:15:48.819 adopted children 00:15:48.819 --> 00:15:50.359 of God. 00:15:50.459 --> 00:15:51.759 And so Jesus, 00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:52.599 the true prophet, 00:15:52.699 --> 00:15:53.500 his life and his 00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:54.079 death and his 00:15:54.079 --> 00:15:55.139 resurrection speak a 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:56.119 message of hope 00:15:56.119 --> 00:15:57.539 to us. 00:15:58.439 --> 00:15:59.199 He is the one who 00:15:59.199 --> 00:16:00.199 has lived for us 00:16:00.199 --> 00:16:00.879 the life that we 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:01.599 could never live. 00:16:01.699 --> 00:16:02.859 He has died for us 00:16:02.859 --> 00:16:04.019 the death that we 00:16:04.019 --> 00:16:04.939 deserve to die and 00:16:04.939 --> 00:16:06.359 he's risen again to 00:16:06.359 --> 00:16:07.599 guarantee new life 00:16:07.599 --> 00:16:08.159 to all who will 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:08.919 trust in him. 00:16:09.599 --> 00:16:10.959 And that by faith in 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:12.600 him we can know 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:13.720 forgiveness and 00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:14.980 mercy and grace 00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:16.440 after judgment. 00:16:17.820 --> 00:16:18.860 And there is power 00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:20.920 in that story, 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:23.220 in the gospel story. 00:16:23.340 --> 00:16:24.600 We see it in 00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:26.280 Nineveh here because 00:16:26.280 --> 00:16:27.060 look at their 00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:29.420 response in verses 00:16:29.420 --> 00:16:30.580 five to nine. 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:32.379 Having heard of 00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:33.220 the judgment of 00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:34.800 God, having seen 00:16:34.800 --> 00:16:35.680 in Jonah's life 00:16:35.680 --> 00:16:37.379 the mercy of God, 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:38.680 how do they 00:16:38.680 --> 00:16:39.320 respond? 00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:40.900 It's really 00:16:40.900 --> 00:16:41.560 helpful for us to 00:16:41.560 --> 00:16:43.680 reflect on their 00:16:43.680 --> 00:16:44.520 response because 00:16:44.520 --> 00:16:45.820 perhaps we find 00:16:45.820 --> 00:16:46.940 ourselves thinking, 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:47.620 well if this is 00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:48.879 God's message to me, 00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:49.620 if this is God's 00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:50.320 message to the world, 00:16:50.780 --> 00:16:51.640 how should I 00:16:51.640 --> 00:16:52.900 respond to this? 00:16:52.940 --> 00:16:53.379 What am I supposed 00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:54.940 to do about this 00:16:54.940 --> 00:16:55.920 message of a God 00:16:55.920 --> 00:16:57.040 who is just and a 00:16:57.040 --> 00:16:58.440 God who shows mercy 00:16:58.440 --> 00:16:59.560 and a God who sent 00:16:59.560 --> 00:17:00.360 Jesus? 00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:01.120 Well let's look 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:02.580 together at the 00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:03.900 city of Nineveh 00:17:03.900 --> 00:17:05.640 and see what we can 00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:07.340 learn from them. 00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:09.579 first of all, 00:17:09.939 --> 00:17:11.220 in verse five, 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:13.319 they are those who 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:15.720 believed God. 00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:17.459 So Jonah came 00:17:17.459 --> 00:17:18.459 bringing a message 00:17:18.459 --> 00:17:19.980 from God and they 00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:21.119 believed it. 00:17:22.179 --> 00:17:23.639 What could they have 00:17:23.639 --> 00:17:25.139 done in that 00:17:25.139 --> 00:17:25.599 situation? 00:17:25.740 --> 00:17:26.740 What might people 00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:27.799 have expected them 00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:29.179 to do given their 00:17:29.179 --> 00:17:31.559 history of wickedness 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:32.319 and cruelty? 00:17:33.459 --> 00:17:34.259 Well they could have 00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:35.559 heard this message 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:36.519 and they could 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:37.720 simply have killed 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:39.899 Jonah as a hostile 00:17:39.899 --> 00:17:40.539 enemy. 00:17:41.139 --> 00:17:42.200 They had a history 00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:44.079 of hatred towards 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:45.519 the people of God, 00:17:45.619 --> 00:17:46.419 the people of Israel, 00:17:46.879 --> 00:17:48.039 so he could just 00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:48.899 have been another 00:17:48.899 --> 00:17:51.159 casualty of that 00:17:51.159 --> 00:17:51.539 hatred. 00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:54.679 Or they could have 00:17:54.679 --> 00:17:55.839 laughed his message 00:17:55.839 --> 00:17:57.839 off as crazy talk. 00:17:58.220 --> 00:17:59.339 Who is this guy 00:17:59.339 --> 00:18:00.299 walking in here 00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:01.559 saying 40 days and 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:02.240 the place is going 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:02.859 to be destroyed? 00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:04.240 That's nonsense. 00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:06.899 Or they could have 00:18:06.899 --> 00:18:07.719 heard the message 00:18:07.719 --> 00:18:09.819 and despaired at it 00:18:09.819 --> 00:18:10.639 but concluded there 00:18:10.639 --> 00:18:11.240 was no hope, 00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:12.099 so there was no point 00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:13.719 in them changing. 00:18:14.719 --> 00:18:15.439 But the wonderful 00:18:15.439 --> 00:18:16.539 thing is they don't do 00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:17.819 any of those, 00:18:18.139 --> 00:18:18.979 rather they 00:18:18.979 --> 00:18:21.119 believed God. 00:18:22.439 --> 00:18:22.799 And you know, 00:18:22.859 --> 00:18:23.719 that's not down to 00:18:23.719 --> 00:18:24.079 them, 00:18:24.139 --> 00:18:24.939 that's entirely 00:18:24.939 --> 00:18:26.299 a God thing. 00:18:26.459 --> 00:18:27.779 God is opening 00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:28.679 their hearts 00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:30.240 and their consciences 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:31.680 to respond 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:33.039 positively to this 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:33.600 message. 00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:35.200 For hundreds of years, 00:18:35.620 --> 00:18:36.380 the nation and the 00:18:36.380 --> 00:18:36.680 city, 00:18:37.060 --> 00:18:38.080 hostile to God 00:18:38.080 --> 00:18:38.640 and his people 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:39.279 and his word, 00:18:39.640 --> 00:18:40.740 but now in God's 00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:41.220 grace, 00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:42.480 they respond 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:43.920 with belief. 00:18:44.600 --> 00:18:45.240 And that belief 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:46.500 leads them to action. 00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:48.420 We read it in 00:18:48.420 --> 00:18:50.380 verses 5 to 8, 00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:51.019 there's all these 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:53.400 signs of repentance. 00:18:54.299 --> 00:18:55.460 So as we continue 00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:56.220 in verse 5, 00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:57.480 they declare a fast, 00:18:58.100 --> 00:19:00.220 they put on sackcloth, 00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:02.019 we see the king 00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:03.559 taking off his robes, 00:19:03.600 --> 00:19:04.220 he's covered with 00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:04.920 sackcloth and he 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:06.880 sits down in the dust. 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:08.140 All of these are 00:19:08.140 --> 00:19:09.319 signs of sorrow 00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:10.380 for their wickedness, 00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:11.420 a sense of humility 00:19:11.420 --> 00:19:12.259 before God 00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:13.319 and a desire 00:19:13.319 --> 00:19:14.480 to change. 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:16.380 In verse 8, 00:19:16.839 --> 00:19:17.620 the king calls 00:19:17.620 --> 00:19:19.160 the whole society, 00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:20.220 even the animals, 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:21.640 to a fast, 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:23.360 to not eating, 00:19:24.120 --> 00:19:25.220 to show sorrow 00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:26.460 over their wickedness 00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:26.880 and sin. 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:28.140 We see them 00:19:28.140 --> 00:19:29.000 wearing sackcloth, 00:19:29.100 --> 00:19:30.600 those scratchy 00:19:30.600 --> 00:19:31.579 pieces of clothing 00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:32.420 as a sign of them 00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:33.440 humbling themselves 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:34.440 before God. 00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:36.220 And then in verse 8, 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:38.480 we see there is 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:38.960 prayer, 00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:40.539 let everyone call 00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:41.980 urgently on God 00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:43.759 and there is a desire 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.940 to change their ways, 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:45.799 let them give up 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:46.980 their evil ways 00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:48.740 and their violence. 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:49.420 There's going to be 00:19:49.420 --> 00:19:50.559 a new direction 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:51.960 for the life 00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:53.700 of this city 00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:54.940 because they have 00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:56.039 heard the message, 00:19:56.299 --> 00:19:57.339 they've been convicted 00:19:57.339 --> 00:19:57.940 by it, 00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:58.819 and there's a desire 00:19:58.819 --> 00:20:00.220 to repent and change. 00:20:02.679 --> 00:20:04.179 For God to change 00:20:04.179 --> 00:20:05.799 any one of us, 00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:08.119 it begins with that 00:20:08.119 --> 00:20:09.539 sense of conviction 00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:11.679 that all is not well 00:20:11.679 --> 00:20:12.819 between me and God. 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:15.259 That because of our sin, 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:16.720 our walking away 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:17.339 from God, 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:18.059 our failure, 00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:19.720 even to match up 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:20.659 to our own standards, 00:20:20.779 --> 00:20:21.759 never mind God's, 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:23.339 there is a problem there. 00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:25.299 And there needs to be 00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:25.940 that conviction 00:20:25.940 --> 00:20:26.779 that leads us 00:20:26.779 --> 00:20:27.519 to repentance. 00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:29.279 So instead of, 00:20:29.619 --> 00:20:30.440 I feel really bad 00:20:30.440 --> 00:20:30.879 about that, 00:20:30.919 --> 00:20:31.379 but there's nothing 00:20:31.379 --> 00:20:32.460 I can do about it, 00:20:32.659 --> 00:20:33.200 and we decide, 00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:34.019 I'm not going to walk 00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:34.779 my own way, 00:20:34.839 --> 00:20:35.740 I'm not going to walk 00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:37.240 just pleasing myself, 00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:38.339 I'm going to turn 00:20:38.339 --> 00:20:39.059 and I'm going to live 00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:41.299 for the glory of God. 00:20:41.399 --> 00:20:42.500 That I'm going to get rid 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.500 of those other things 00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:44.099 that I've made 00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:45.399 more important than God, 00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:46.379 that He's going to be 00:20:46.380 --> 00:20:48.940 my first priority. 00:20:49.820 --> 00:20:50.740 And we see 00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:51.540 in the language 00:20:51.540 --> 00:20:52.620 of verse 9 00:20:52.620 --> 00:20:54.100 that there is a sense 00:20:54.100 --> 00:20:56.980 of trust in God. 00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:59.180 They don't presume 00:20:59.180 --> 00:21:01.180 on the mercy of God. 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:03.380 God may yet relent 00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:05.100 and with compassion 00:21:05.100 --> 00:21:06.400 turn from His fierce anger 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:07.660 so that we will not perish, 00:21:08.040 --> 00:21:09.560 but they certainly see 00:21:09.560 --> 00:21:11.940 that God is their only hope 00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:13.320 of salvation. 00:21:14.280 --> 00:21:15.600 Our city is going 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:16.519 to be destroyed 00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:18.619 unless we turn to God, 00:21:18.959 --> 00:21:20.439 unless we place our hope 00:21:20.439 --> 00:21:22.579 in His mercy. 00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:26.139 And that all leads them 00:21:26.139 --> 00:21:28.839 to this point of trust, 00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:30.179 and then we see 00:21:30.179 --> 00:21:31.659 how God wonderfully 00:21:31.659 --> 00:21:34.299 responds to that. 00:21:35.939 --> 00:21:36.980 So I wonder, 00:21:37.179 --> 00:21:40.679 as we consider the gospel, 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:41.459 as we consider 00:21:41.459 --> 00:21:42.459 what God has done 00:21:42.460 --> 00:21:43.440 for us in Jesus, 00:21:44.380 --> 00:21:45.960 how are we responding 00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:47.240 to that message? 00:21:48.140 --> 00:21:48.960 Is there a sense 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:50.240 of conviction 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:51.940 in our hearts 00:21:51.940 --> 00:21:52.559 about the ways 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:53.759 that we have chosen 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:54.620 to ignore God 00:21:54.620 --> 00:21:56.039 or walk away from God? 00:21:56.579 --> 00:21:57.980 Is there a desire 00:21:57.980 --> 00:21:58.779 in us 00:21:58.779 --> 00:21:59.759 to repent 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.620 from that 00:22:00.620 --> 00:22:02.220 and to turn to God 00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:03.160 or to return 00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:04.200 to God? 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:06.000 Because a Christian life, 00:22:06.120 --> 00:22:06.759 Martin Luther said, 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:07.180 should be one 00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:08.860 of daily repentance. 00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:10.960 Are we coming 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:12.200 to Him in our need, 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:13.079 trusting in Him 00:22:13.079 --> 00:22:14.940 as our only hope, 00:22:15.340 --> 00:22:17.400 as our only Savior? 00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:18.980 Are we responding 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:20.240 to the gospel 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.720 in ways 00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:23.000 that would be 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:24.600 similar to that 00:22:24.600 --> 00:22:25.700 of Nineveh? 00:22:26.360 --> 00:22:27.840 And then we see 00:22:27.840 --> 00:22:29.600 God's response. 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:32.160 We see God's mercy. 00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:33.340 We see this incredible 00:22:33.340 --> 00:22:34.039 turnaround. 00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:36.000 When God saw 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.720 what they did 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:38.460 and how they turned 00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:39.839 from their evil ways, 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:41.740 He had compassion 00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:43.860 and did not bring 00:22:43.860 --> 00:22:44.620 upon them 00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:45.920 the destruction 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:47.600 He had threatened. 00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:49.259 So remember, 00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:51.319 the book of Nahum 00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:52.059 tells us this, 00:22:52.140 --> 00:22:52.960 that this is a city 00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:53.579 that's famous 00:22:53.579 --> 00:22:54.860 for lying, 00:22:55.339 --> 00:22:55.900 for stealing, 00:22:56.360 --> 00:22:56.920 for killing. 00:22:57.620 --> 00:22:58.380 This is a city 00:22:58.380 --> 00:22:58.920 and nation 00:22:58.920 --> 00:22:59.519 with a history 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:00.019 of hatred 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.819 towards God 00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:01.720 and God's people. 00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:04.240 But here is a city 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:05.940 that is saved 00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:07.299 by God's 00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:09.539 incredible mercy 00:23:09.539 --> 00:23:10.940 because of the heart 00:23:10.940 --> 00:23:11.559 of God, 00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:13.660 because of God's desire 00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:15.539 to rescue people. 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:18.180 As Peter says it 00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:19.299 in his second letter, 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:20.019 chapter 3, 00:23:20.120 --> 00:23:21.299 the Lord is patient 00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:21.839 with you, 00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:23.859 not wanting anyone 00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:24.680 to perish, 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:26.019 but everyone 00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:27.700 to come to repentance. 00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:29.220 It was a story 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:29.700 of Paul, 00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:32.620 that here I was, 00:23:32.619 --> 00:23:33.799 a violent man 00:23:33.799 --> 00:23:34.919 persecuting the church, 00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:36.839 wanting rid of the church 00:23:36.839 --> 00:23:38.299 and God in His grace 00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:39.079 sent Jesus 00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:40.919 and His mercy 00:23:40.919 --> 00:23:41.939 changed me. 00:23:43.479 --> 00:23:44.919 So Nineveh's change 00:23:44.919 --> 00:23:46.139 of heart towards God 00:23:46.139 --> 00:23:47.019 results in this 00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:49.019 wonderful new verdict 00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:51.239 that once they turn 00:23:51.239 --> 00:23:51.939 towards Him 00:23:51.939 --> 00:23:52.699 as they are prompted 00:23:52.699 --> 00:23:53.319 to do that 00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:54.199 by God Himself, 00:23:54.739 --> 00:23:55.579 He shows them 00:23:55.579 --> 00:23:57.000 mercy and compassion. 00:23:58.579 --> 00:23:58.839 And you know, 00:23:58.899 --> 00:23:59.919 it's stories like this, 00:23:59.979 --> 00:24:01.379 it's stories of God's grace 00:24:01.380 --> 00:24:03.280 that can encourage us 00:24:03.280 --> 00:24:04.480 towards prayerfulness. 00:24:05.340 --> 00:24:05.480 You know, 00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.920 if God can change Paul, 00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:08.060 He can change anyone. 00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:09.600 If God can change this city, 00:24:09.900 --> 00:24:11.820 He can change any city. 00:24:12.560 --> 00:24:13.420 It's stories like this 00:24:13.420 --> 00:24:14.740 that can fuel 00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:16.560 our desire to pray 00:24:16.560 --> 00:24:17.400 and to keep praying 00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:18.320 for those missionaries 00:24:18.320 --> 00:24:18.980 that we know 00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:20.440 around the globe 00:24:20.440 --> 00:24:21.600 and gives us courage 00:24:21.600 --> 00:24:22.800 to witness 00:24:22.800 --> 00:24:24.540 instead of to despair 00:24:24.540 --> 00:24:24.920 and think, 00:24:25.560 --> 00:24:26.640 God will never use me 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:29.240 or things will never change. 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:32.099 God's mercy 00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:33.920 is great. 00:24:34.620 --> 00:24:36.000 And this brings us back 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:36.960 once again 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:37.599 to Jesus, 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:38.620 the true prophet 00:24:38.620 --> 00:24:40.599 and to the good news 00:24:40.599 --> 00:24:42.140 that Jesus brings. 00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:43.500 Think about it. 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:44.819 If Jonah's life 00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:46.480 encouraged the people 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:46.980 of Nineveh 00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:47.980 that there is hope 00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:48.539 for them 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:50.099 in the mercy of God, 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:51.220 how much more 00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:52.420 should the life of Jesus 00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:53.460 encourage us 00:24:53.460 --> 00:24:54.640 to recognize 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:55.620 that there is mercy 00:24:55.620 --> 00:24:57.140 for us? 00:24:57.140 --> 00:24:59.140 So the king of Nineveh 00:24:59.140 --> 00:25:00.280 wasn't sure 00:25:00.280 --> 00:25:02.200 would God relent 00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:03.060 and show compassion, 00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:04.540 but we can know 00:25:04.540 --> 00:25:05.980 with certainty 00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:07.680 that if we trust 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:08.240 in Jesus 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:10.180 that He will relent, 00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:11.640 that He will show us 00:25:11.640 --> 00:25:12.180 compassion 00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:14.300 because the justice 00:25:14.300 --> 00:25:15.120 that we deserve 00:25:15.120 --> 00:25:16.140 has been served 00:25:16.140 --> 00:25:17.740 on the Lord Jesus. 00:25:19.100 --> 00:25:20.320 Jesus experienced 00:25:20.320 --> 00:25:21.880 the Father's fierce anger 00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:23.000 on our behalf 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:24.420 so that we need not 00:25:24.420 --> 00:25:25.820 and we will not 00:25:25.819 --> 00:25:27.339 if our hope 00:25:27.339 --> 00:25:28.299 is in Him, 00:25:29.099 --> 00:25:30.279 that we can know 00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:32.359 salvation from Jesus, 00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:35.039 that we can know 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:36.019 that we will not 00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:36.779 be destroyed 00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:39.079 because He gave up 00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:39.819 His body 00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:40.659 to be destroyed 00:25:40.659 --> 00:25:41.799 so that we 00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:43.679 could be welcomed 00:25:43.679 --> 00:25:45.619 and loved 00:25:45.619 --> 00:25:46.980 by our Father 00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:47.559 in Heaven, 00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:49.039 that we could know 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:50.599 new life. 00:25:51.659 --> 00:25:53.299 So just as Jonah 00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:54.119 is the prophet 00:25:54.119 --> 00:25:55.419 who speaks of justice 00:25:55.419 --> 00:25:56.000 and mercy, 00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:58.519 Jesus is the true prophet 00:25:58.519 --> 00:25:59.399 we look to, 00:25:59.879 --> 00:26:01.319 who speaks to us, 00:26:01.379 --> 00:26:02.579 the cross speaks to us 00:26:02.579 --> 00:26:03.839 absolutely of the justice 00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:04.500 of God, 00:26:05.079 --> 00:26:06.379 the seriousness of sin 00:26:06.379 --> 00:26:07.779 and the holiness of God, 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:09.379 but it speaks to us 00:26:09.379 --> 00:26:10.500 also of mercy 00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:12.119 beyond judgment 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:15.459 in His resurrection life. 00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:17.900 And so He is the one 00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:19.660 that we need to look to 00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:20.819 and trust in. 00:26:21.100 --> 00:26:22.360 His is the story 00:26:22.360 --> 00:26:24.680 that we need to share. 00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:26.680 He is the true prophet 00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:28.720 whose words we all need 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:30.779 to respond to 00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:31.980 in faith 00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:33.920 and obedience.