So, over the last few weeks, we've been working through the story of Jonah.
Chapter 1, we heard that God commanded Jonah to go to the great city of Nineveh and call
out against it.
But Jonah, in a moment of defiance and possibly fear, leads to Tarshish, a city that was located
somewhere in southern Spain, completely in the opposite direction of Nineveh.
Instead of obeying God's command, Jonah chose to run.
He boards a ship, thinking he can escape God's call, but God sends a mighty storm to intercept
him.
The sailors, realizing that Jonah is the cause of the storm, reluctantly throw him overboard
in a miraculous act of both judgment and mercy.
Jonah is swallowed by a great fish, where he spends three days and three nights in the
depth of the sea.
Then, in chapter 2, we witness Jonah's prayer from within the fish.
In the belly of this creature, Jonah has no way out, no escape from God's presence.
In that moment of desperation, he turns back to God, acknowledging his power and mercy.
Jonah repents for his disobedience, and in his prayer, he recognizes the profound truth
that salvation comes from the Lord.
After this, God speaks once again, not to Jonah this time, but to the fish, commanding it to
release Jonah onto dry land, sparing his life and giving him a second chance.
At this point, it's clear that Jonah isn't the one guiding the story.
In fact, when we turn back to the very first verse of the very first chapter, we see that
the book of Jonah doesn't even begin with Jonah.
It's something far greater, the word of the Lord.
It's not just any word, but the very word of him who spoke creation into existence, saying
that there be light, and there was light.
Him who spoke creation into existence.
As John's gospel testifies, this is the same word that was with God in the beginning.
Of course, the book of Jonah doesn't proceed like the gospel to speak of the word made flesh,
being Jesus Christ, but it does reveal the power of God's word made manifest.
God's word comes with purpose, setting things in motion and bringing unexpected things to light.
The creative words that shape the universe is the same word that governs history and shapes human lives.
And just as it quite visibly reveals, can be revealed in the story of Jonah.
This is a story originated, unfolded, and driven by God's word to his creatures.
It begins with the word of the Lord, and in the end, the same word as the final word.
In between, his word propels the events forward, commanding the fish to release Jonah,
sending him to Nineveh with a message, and even, as we'll read next week in the fourth chapter,
engaging in a conversation with the distraught prophet when Nineveh is spared.
Jonah's flight itself is triggered by God's word,
though in a negative way, indeed, the word often has this dual aspect.
Jonah runs, not from danger, but from the very commission he was given by the same word.
Even the sailor's decision to throw him overboard is brought about by the revelation of the name of the Lord,
the God who speaks these words.
Without this word, there would be no story,
no movement,
no tension,
no flight,
and no rescue.
The message of the story,
the events themselves,
are inconceivable without this word,
and the particular God whose word it is.
Then the words of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.
Here in the third chapter of Jonah,
everything begins again,
just as it did before.
We hear the very same words from the beginning of the book,
with only one addition,
the reminder that this is the second time
the Lord is persistent,
not quick to abandon his purposes,
and always willing to begin again.
But this time things are different.
Jonah is not merely starting over.
He has been given new life,
delivered from the depths of Sheol,
much like Israel delivered from exile out of Babylon.
The second half of the book tells the story of one
who has been brought back from the dead.
And because of this,
Jonah's response to the words of the Lord
will reflect that transformation.
When Jonah is given a second chance in chapter 3,
something has changed.
The same word is spoken,
but Jonah's heart has been renewed
through his experience in the belly of the fish.
He no longer runs from God's command.
Instead, he obeys and goes to Nineveh.
This transformation reveals profound truth.
When we encounter God's word,
we too are given opportunities for a fresh start.
Jonah's change in attitude
is a testimony to God's grace and patience.
It shows us that no matter how far we stray,
God's word remains a call to repentance and obedience.
Jonah's new response to that God's word
doesn't just bring about external change,
it transforms the hearts of those who hear it.
Like Jonah, we are recipients
of the same powerful living word of God.
The Bible is not just a historical text,
it's a living revelation
speaking into our lives with authority and power.
God's word is the capacity to enter our hearts,
challenge our sinful tendencies,
guide us in the path of righteousness.
It calls us to repentance,
just as it did for Nineveh.
It convicts us of sin,
but also offers hope, forgiveness,
and restoration.
In a world filled with uncertainty,
the word of the Lord remains our anchor and guide,
calling us to walk in the light of his truth.
As we look through Jonah 3,
we'll see the power of the words of God
is evident in at least three key ways.
The first thing we notice,
a rather obvious but important point,
is that the message Jonah is entrusted with
originates not from any human source,
but directly from the creator of the universe.
This is significant because it places Jonah's task
within the framework of God's sovereign rule
over all creation.
In Jonah 3,
when the word of the Lord comes to Jonah,
it's not a mere suggestion or a piece of advice
or an opinion.
Instead, it's a divine declaration
from the same God who spoke the world into existence.
The message Jonah carries is powerful
because it comes with the authority of the creator.
It should remind us that
any message we receive from God today
when we read scripture
carries the same weight.
It's coming from the one
who holds all things in his hands.
The message of salvation
is not merely advice or philosophy,
but a call from the one
who has the power to create,
sustain, and redeem all things.
What's striking about Jonah's message
is that it doesn't rely on his skill or eloquence.
Jonah's message was brief,
just a simple proclamation,
but God used it to move the hearts
of an entire city.
In the same way,
the power of the gospel
doesn't depend on the messenger's abilities.
St. Paul understood this when he said,
my message and my preaching
were not with wise and persuasive words,
but with a demonstration
of the Spirit's power.
As we read in 1 Corinthians,
the effectiveness of God's words
comes not from human effort,
but from his Spirit.
Again, in 1 Corinthians we read,
God chose the foolish things of the world
to shame the wise.
God chose the weak things of the world
to shame the strong.
Our skill,
our wisdom,
our eloquence,
are not what makes God's message powerful.
It's God's choice to use us
that makes his word effective,
and that truth should fill us
with both confidence
and humility.
The gospel's power
is in God's action.
It's reassuring to know
that the power of God's message
doesn't rely on the skill of the messenger,
but even more comforting
is the fact that the message itself
reminds us of some important aspects
of God's character.
For one,
God is unchanging.
Despite Jonah's initial disobedience,
the message doesn't change.
God recommissions Jonah
in chapter 3.
It's the same message.
Go to the great city of Nineveh
and proclaim to it
the message I have given you.
It reminds us that
God's word is stable,
reliable,
and unwavering in its purposes.
His plans are
not altered by human failure
or resistance.
Even when we falter,
God remains steadfast,
showing us that
his will continues to move forward,
unaffected by our shortcomings.
His changing nature of God
brings comfort
because it reminds us
that we can trust in his word
and his promise
regardless of our own failings.
As well as revealing
God's unchanging nature,
the message reveals
two other elements of his character.
One hand is his justice,
also is his mercy.
In warning Nineveh
of impending judgment,
God demonstrates his righteousness
and his commitment
to uphold justice.
As we see in Jonah's message,
God's mercy
is equally present.
He gives the Ninevites
a chance to repent
and turn from their sin.
The power of God's message
lies in the fact
that it reflects his heart
with his righteous justice
and his deep desire
to save sinners.
This is not a message
of condemnation,
but an invitation
to experience mercy
and redemption.
God is just,
yet he extends grace
to those who turn to him.
Ultimately,
the power of the gospel
lies not in our words
or efforts,
but in God's action.
Just as he worked
through Jonah's simple message
to bring about
the repentance of Nineveh,
so too does God
work through the gospel
to bring mercy
to sinners today.
Our role
is simply
to be faithful messengers
trusting that the true power
comes from God himself
who is always at work
to accomplish
his purposes.
Another message we see
is that
the message is simple,
surprisingly brief.
In fact,
in Jonah 3, 4,
we read his proclamation,
40 more days
and Nineveh will be overthrown.
It's most likely
that he said
more than this
during his time in Nineveh,
but I think
the simplicity
of the message
recorded in the scripture
seems intentional.
The brevity
underscores
the power of God's word.
Even without detailed
explanation
or lengthy sermon,
the message was clear enough
to reach the hearts
of the people.
Jonah's simple proclamation
led to a citywide repentance
from the king
to the common people,
showing that it's not
the complexity
of the message,
but the power behind it
that brings change.
To provide some
background in Nineveh,
we know from the book
of Kings
that Jonah lived
during the reign
of King Jeroboam II,
which places his life
somewhere between
793 and
753
BC.
Nineveh was the capital
of the Assyrian Empire,
which is located
near Mosul,
modern-day Iraq.
At the time,
Assyria was
surrounded by
some of the most powerful
nations on the earth
at that time.
To the east,
there was Elam,
there was Phrygia
and around Damascus
to the west.
To the south,
there were the kingdoms
of Israel and Judah,
and to the north,
Araratu,
among many other
kingdoms,
smaller kingdoms.
The result of this
was that
the empire became
highly militarized,
a society built
in conquest,
and to main control
over the vast
territories,
the Assyrians
were infamous
for the brutality.
Using extreme
acts of cruelty
to strike fear
into their enemies.
These horrific displays
served as a chilling
warning to other cities,
resist Assyria,
and you will face
terrifying consequences.
The Assyrians
were by nature
aggressive,
hard-hearted,
but somehow
this hard-hearted
city in a hard-hearted
kingdom
was moved
by the words
of one man.
The power of the message
was not in its length,
sophistication,
but in its divine
origin and authority.
The message of the gospel,
like the message of Jonah,
is also simple
yet powerful.
Repent and believe
the good news
as we hear
in Mark's gospel.
The gospel is rooted
in the straightforward truth.
Despite its simplicity,
this message
has the power
to transform lives.
Just as Jonah's
simple warning
that the people of Nineveh
to repentance,
and simplicity
doesn't diminish
its power.
In fact,
it emphasizes
that God's work
in salvation
depends solely
on the sovereign grace
and the response
of our own hearts.
The message
of the gospel
is simply this.
God created the world
and humanity
out of love,
intending for us
to live
in a perfect relationship
with him.
Humanity sinned
by disobeying God,
which led to a separation
from him
and spiritual death.
Despite our sins,
God sent his son,
Jesus Christ,
into the world
to save us.
Jesus lived
a sinless life,
died on the cross
to take the punishment
for our sins,
and rose from the dead,
conquering both sin
and death.
By repenting
of our sins
and placing our faith
in Jesus Christ,
we receive forgiveness
and eternal life
and are restored
to relationship
with God.
The gospel
promises that all
who trust in Jesus
will experience
eternal life
with God
in his kingdom,
free from sin,
suffering,
and death,
both physical
and spiritual
in our separation
from God.
Sometimes
we feel like
we need to have
all the right words
or deep theological
insights
or arguments
to share the gospel
effectively,
but God's message
can be simple
and even a few words
can make a big difference
when they come from him.
So,
another thing we learn
about the message
God sent Jonah
is that it was for all.
Jonah's message
to the people of Nineveh
was clear,
accessible to everyone,
regardless of how good
or bad they were.
Even though the Ninevites
were notorious
notorious for their wickedness
and unfamiliar
with the God of Israel,
they were all given
the opportunity
to repent.
We see that God's mercy
extends to all people
no matter how far
they have strayed
from what their past
looks like.
God's call
to repentance
is not reserved
for the righteous,
but is offered
for everyone,
showing his desire
to save all
regardless
of their sins.
In addition to
passing over
past sins,
Jonah's message
cuts across
all levels of society,
from the king
in his palace
to the lowest servant
in the streets.
Every person
heard the call
to repent,
and every person
responded.
This is a demonstration
of the inclusiveness
of God's offer of grace,
reaching all levels
of society,
regardless of social class
or education
or status.
Similarly,
the Great Commission
given by Christ
calls us to bring
the gospel
to all nations
and all people.
The gospel,
like Jonah's message,
is intended
for all people.
We read in St. Paul's
letter to the Galatians,
he declares that
in Christ there is
neither Jew nor Gentile,
neither slave nor free,
nor is there male
and female,
for you are all one
in Christ Jesus.
Just as the Ninevites
were given
the opportunity
to repent,
so too is the gospel
an invitation
for everyone
to turn to God
and receive
his grace.
So as we
reflect on Jonah's
message to Nineveh
and the remarkable
transformation
of an entire city,
we're led to consider
one of the most
central themes
in scripture,
repentance.
The story of Nineveh
is not simply
a tale of a city
avoiding destruction,
it's a powerful
illustration of what
true repentance
looks like,
the impact it can
have on both
individuals
and communities.
Repentance is not
just an emotional
response
or a fleeting
feeling of guilt,
it's a total
change of direction,
turning away from sin
and turning towards
God.
The story of Nineveh
gives us
a vivid picture
of the different
aspects of repentance.
The Nineveh
demonstrate their
repentance
is not passive
but active.
It involves
hearing God's word,
responding with
action,
being transformed
from the inside
out.
True repentance
is about more
than feeling sorry
for past wrongs,
it's about making
a genuine shift
in our behavior,
our mindset,
and our relationship
with God.
So as we explore
the nature of repentance,
we'll look at four
key aspects
of the marriage
from Jonah 3.
Each of these
elements reveals
something important
about how repentance
can work in our lives.
Conversely,
true repentance
begins with hearing
and believing
God's word.
Without hearing
God's word,
the people
remain unaware
of their sins
and they need
to turn back to him.
Imagine a person
walking towards danger
without realizing it,
unless someone
warns them,
they remain
unaware of the peril
ahead.
In the same way,
God's word serves
as both a warning
and a guide,
opening our eyes
to the reality
of our sin,
leading us towards
repentance.
In Jonah 3.4,
Jonah's proclamation
to Nineveh,
although simple,
lies in an urgent
call to change.
The Ninevites
could have ignored
the message,
but instead
they listened.
The act of hearing
God's word
is crucial
because it
initiates
the message,
but instead
they listened.
Sorry,
the Ninevites
could have ignored
the message,
but instead
they listened.
The act of hearing
God's word
is crucial
because it
initiates
an encounter
with God's truth.
This encounter
often acts
as a mirror
revealing
areas of sin
in our own lives
that we have
otherwise ignored.
repentance
is impossible
without first
hearing God's word.
This was true
for Nineveh
and is true
for us today.
We often,
like the Ninevites,
are unaware
or ignoring
the path
we are on
until God's word
awakens us
to reality.
The phrase,
the Ninevites
believe God,
shows that repentance
also begins
with faith.
They didn't just
hear the message
and dismiss it.
They believed
in the truth
of God's warning
and trusted
that he would
respond
if they repented.
St. Paul says
in his letter
to the church
in Rome,
faith comes
from hearing
and hearing
from the word
of the Lord.
Without faith
in what they
have heard,
the Ninevites
would have
continued
in their way.
Faith is not
just intellectual
acknowledgement
but a response
of trust
in God's
character
and his promises.
The Ninevites
did not ignore
or resist Jonah's
message.
Instead,
they responded
immediately
with belief
and action.
Repentance
requires more
than just hearing
God's words
with our ears,
it requires
listening with
our hearts,
allowing his truth
to enter deeply.
Today,
we must approach
God's word
with openness
and humility,
ready to respond
in repentance
and God
convicts us
of sin.
We must ask
God for the grace
to not harden
our hearts
but to allow
his word
to change us
from the inside
out.
Ignoring God's
word leads
to spiritual
blindness
and ultimately
judgment.
True repentance
leads to action.
true repentance
is seen
when God
saw what they
did,
how they
turned from
their evil
ways.
God
acknowledges
repentance
when it's
accompanied by
genuine life
change,
not merely
words or
rituals.
In Jonah 3,
5,
we see the people
of Nineveh
proclaiming a
fast from the
greatest to the
least of them.
Fasting in this
context is more
than just abstaining
from food.
It's a powerful
symbol of
repentance.
By giving up
their basic
physical needs,
the Ninevites
were demonstrating
their willingness
to turn away
from their
former ways.
Fasting
represents a
conscious decision
to forsake
the things
that once
consumed us,
whether it be
sinful habits,
selfish desires,
or the pursuit
of personal gain.
It's an outward
expression of an
inward conviction,
acknowledging that
the paths we were
on led us
away from God.
giving up food,
they were declaring
that their desire
for God's mercy
and favor was
greater than their
physical hunger.
In addition to
fasting, the
people of Nineveh
clothed themselves
in sackcloth,
and even the
king himself
sat in ashes
as described in
Jonah 3, 6.
Sackcloth and
ashes are ancient
symbols of mourning
and grief,
humility.
Sackcloth was
a coarse material,
it was uncomfortable
and symbolized
the discomfort
of the soul,
a heart grieving
over sin.
Ashes associated
with death
symbolized decay
and signified
the awareness
of one's own
mortality
and the unworthiness
before a holy
God.
By choosing
to wear a
sackcloth and
covering themselves
in ashes,
the Ninevites
were publicly
humbling themselves,
acknowledging their
guilt and their
dependence on God's
mercy.
It's a visible
expression of the
inward realization
that they were
nothing without him.
True repentance
always comes with
humility,
realizing that we
are in need of
God's grace.
The actions of
the Ninevites
remind us that
repentance is not
only about regret,
but about
surrendering our
pride and coming
before God
with a humble
heart.
well, the
outwards actions
of repentance
like fasting
and wearing
sackcloth are
important.
Psalm 51
verses 16 and
17 remind us
that God's
desire, God
desires more
than just physical
displays.
King David
writes in the
Psalm,
you do not
delight in
sacrifice or I
would bring it.
You do not
take pleasure in
burnt offerings.
My sacrifice,
O God,
is a broken
spirit,
broken and a
contrite heart.
You, God,
will not despise.
This passage
speaks of the
truth that
outward rituals
and actions
mean nothing
if they are
not accompanied
by a genuine
change of heart.
People of
Nineveh understood
this.
They did not
just fast or
wear sackcloth
to avoid
destruction,
but they humbled
their hearts
before God.
True repentance
begins in the
heart with
an acknowledgement
of sin and
a deep desire
to be reconciled
with God.
Without that
inner transformation,
even the most
dramatic physical
actions are
empty.
God values
sincerity over
ritual and he
is moved by a
heart that is
truly broken
over sin and
desires reconciliation
with him.
This is the
essence of genuine
repentance,
not just outward
behavior,
inward renewal.
true repentance
needs to change.
Jonah's journey
is not one of
simple obedience,
but one that
includes a deep
wrestling with
God's mercy
towards those
he views as
enemies.
His internal
conflict parallels
the process of
true repentance,
which involves a
shift in heart
and perspective.
Jonah, in his
reluctance, struggles
to see beyond his
own biases and
judgments, much
like how we
often fail to
recognize our
own failures when
we judge others.
This blindness
prevents us from
truly understanding
both God's will
and the people
around us.
We read in the
Gospel of Matthew,
Jesus says,
Why do you look at
the speck of sawdust
in your brother's
eye and pay no
attention to the
plank in your own
eye?
How can you say
to your brother,
let me take the
speck out of your
own eye, when all
the time there is a
plank in your own
eye?
You hypocrites,
first take the
plank out of your
own eye and you
will see clearly to
remove the speck from
your brother's eye.
Failing to
recognize our own
sin blinds us, not
just to God's truth,
but also to reality
in others and in
the world.
By acknowledging and
addressing our inner
selves, we can see
clearly and engage
with truth and move
towards love.
Repentance is about
turning towards love
and compassion.
The people of
Nineveh, by
repenting, demonstrated
a shift from evil and
violence to humility
and an openness to
God's mercy.
Without genuine
repentance, we, like
the people of
Nineveh, for their
change, live in a
spiritual hell,
separated from
experiencing the
love of God.
Finally, we see in
Jonah 10, it's
emphasized that God
is not indifferent to
the actions of those
who seek him in
repentance.
He's attentive to the
sincerity of our
hearts and he
responds to true,
heartfelt repentance.
The people of
Nineveh didn't just
acknowledge their
sins, they
demonstrated repentance
by changing their
behavior.
God looks beyond
superficial actions
and recognizes
genuine transformation
which was evident
when the Ninevites
turned from their
evil ways.
True repentance
isn't merely about
feeling remorse,
but involves a
turning away from
sin and a desire
to live in
alignment with
God's will.
The mercy God
showed to Nineveh
was not because
they earned it,
but because of his
gracious character.
God's mercy,
while freely given,
does require genuine
repentance from us.
The people of Nineveh
didn't just feel bad
for their sins,
they actively sought
change through
fasting and prayer
and turning from
their wickedness.
While repentance is
necessary, mercy is
ultimately a gift of
God's grace, not
something we can
merit through our
own efforts.
God gives mercy
out of his abundant
love and it's
always undeserved.
God's decision to
relent from bringing
disaster upon Nineveh
is a reflection of
his nature.
We'll read next
week in Jonah 4.2,
Jonah himself
acknowledges that
God is gracious
and compassionate,
slow to anger
and abounding in
love.
This is a powerful
reminder that God's
response to
repentance is not
mechanical but is
deeply rooted in
who he is,
merciful and
compassionate,
patient.
His desire is not
to punish but to
restore and forgive
when people turn
back to him.
This shows that
God's mercy flows
from his character
of love and grace,
rather from any
external pressure
our conditions.
The story of
Jonah and
Nineveh and
its deliverance
foreshadows the
ultimate act of
mercy shown to
us through Jesus
Christ.
Just as the people
of Nineveh were
spared from the
destruction they
deserved, we too
have been spared
from the consequences
of our sin through
the sacrifice of
Jesus.
He took upon
himself the
judgment we
deserve, offering
us forgiveness
and reconciliation.
This mercy
should not be
taken for granted
but should move
us towards
gratitude and a
transformed life.
In light of the
mercy we've
received, we're
all called to
live in obedience
and humility,
reflecting on how
God's grace
continues to
shape our
lives.
Amen.
So as we
close, let
us, we
should take a
moment to
reflect on the
mercy God has
shown to us.
Have we truly
repented of the
areas where we've
turned away from
him?
Are we living in
the freedom that
comes from knowing
we are forgiven
or do we take his
mercy for granted?
I encourage you
today, just as God
spared Nineveh, he's
waiting with open
arms to receive us
when we repent.
His mercy is not
limited by our
failures but is
made new every
morning.
So let us live
lives marked by
gratitude, humility
and a deep
awareness of the
mercy we've
received because
through Jesus
Christ we too
have been
spread.
Let us pray.