WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.219 Now, when you think of the book of Jonah, what do you think of? 00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:07.860 You think of a big fish, don't you? 00:00:08.759 --> 00:00:11.800 Jonah is swallowed up by a big fish at the end of this chapter. 00:00:12.359 --> 00:00:15.359 And that is often the main thing we take away from Jonah, isn't it? 00:00:16.500 --> 00:00:21.500 But I want us to see over the next few weeks, the book of Jonah is about so much more. 00:00:22.440 --> 00:00:23.780 It's about something amazing. 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:28.420 The book of Jonah is about God's mercy. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.780 This book is about God not giving us what we deserve. 00:00:35.240 --> 00:00:36.500 That's what mercy means. 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:39.060 God not giving us what we deserve. 00:00:40.299 --> 00:00:42.200 Now, this book is filled with miracles. 00:00:42.519 --> 00:00:43.560 Incredible events happen. 00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:44.560 There is a big fish. 00:00:45.519 --> 00:00:49.780 But at its heart, this is all about God and his mercy. 00:00:51.260 --> 00:00:56.980 So in every chapter, we will see something about what we as humans, as sinners, what we deserve. 00:00:56.979 --> 00:01:05.739 And then we will see how good and compassionate and merciful God is in how he treats us. 00:01:07.219 --> 00:01:09.299 And so it's no surprise how this book opens. 00:01:09.539 --> 00:01:10.859 It opens with God. 00:01:11.239 --> 00:01:11.759 Verse 1. 00:01:12.899 --> 00:01:16.560 Now, the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amittai. 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:21.600 God speaks, and he speaks to a man named Jonah. 00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:24.100 Now, Jonah is a real man. 00:01:24.579 --> 00:01:28.620 He's a prophet, someone who God uses and speaks through. 00:01:28.980 --> 00:01:31.500 And you can read about Jonah in 2 Kings 14. 00:01:32.140 --> 00:01:34.560 This is a real man, a real story. 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:35.300 This is history. 00:01:36.460 --> 00:01:37.900 And look what God says to Jonah. 00:01:38.520 --> 00:01:39.340 He commands something. 00:01:39.340 --> 00:01:39.840 Verse 2. 00:01:40.960 --> 00:01:48.939 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me. 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:52.659 God says, I'm sending you on a mission trip. 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:54.740 I need you to go preach. 00:01:56.020 --> 00:01:59.260 Paul Levy sometimes sends me to Hammersmith to go preach. 00:01:59.859 --> 00:02:04.020 Well, God sends Jonah to preach to a city called Nineveh. 00:02:04.019 --> 00:02:10.060 Now, Nineveh is a city east of Israel, about 10 days' walk. 00:02:10.859 --> 00:02:12.159 And it's not a friendly city. 00:02:12.759 --> 00:02:19.259 It's a city that belongs to one of Israel's big enemy nations, the big bad Assyrians. 00:02:20.740 --> 00:02:23.639 And Nineveh was the central hub of the Assyrians. 00:02:24.500 --> 00:02:25.659 So it's not friendly. 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:28.180 In fact, it's an evil city. 00:02:28.180 --> 00:02:34.159 Call out against it, for their evil has come up before me. 00:02:35.939 --> 00:02:40.840 God is saying to Jonah, go into the heart of the enemy and preach. 00:02:42.060 --> 00:02:47.920 This would be like a British preacher in 1940 being sent to Nazi Germany. 00:02:49.040 --> 00:02:53.159 Arise, go east, head to Berlin, and preach against the Nazis. 00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:55.379 Tell them about their sin. 00:02:55.500 --> 00:02:56.819 Tell them about God. 00:02:56.819 --> 00:02:59.500 This is Jonah's task. 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:03.859 Now, let's just pause for a second here. 00:03:04.939 --> 00:03:07.439 Do you realize what this says about God? 00:03:09.180 --> 00:03:12.280 God sees the evil of Nineveh. 00:03:13.479 --> 00:03:14.319 Look what he says. 00:03:15.139 --> 00:03:17.639 Their evil has come up before me. 00:03:19.099 --> 00:03:25.840 It's like the stench of their lives comes up to heaven and God can smell it. 00:03:26.819 --> 00:03:29.780 God knows and sees what they do. 00:03:29.939 --> 00:03:31.900 And he's disgusted. 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:35.099 It's evil in his eyes. 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:39.759 God sees what everyone does. 00:03:40.759 --> 00:03:43.900 God knows and sees all the world. 00:03:43.900 --> 00:03:45.900 God knows and sees what they do. 00:03:45.900 --> 00:03:50.780 Every person, you and me, our lives are not hidden from God. 00:03:51.420 --> 00:03:56.020 He's not oblivious to what we do and think and how we live. 00:03:56.879 --> 00:03:58.180 He sees it. 00:03:58.640 --> 00:04:00.240 He cares about it. 00:04:00.939 --> 00:04:02.120 And he judges it. 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:07.800 He examines our lives and he calls things good or evil. 00:04:07.800 --> 00:04:13.760 This world, our lives, all play out before God's eyes. 00:04:14.760 --> 00:04:18.939 And it comes up before him and it matters to him. 00:04:20.379 --> 00:04:21.520 Just like Nineveh. 00:04:23.020 --> 00:04:28.340 Which is why he wants Jonah to go out, to go and call out against their evil. 00:04:28.339 --> 00:04:32.359 And this is quite a remarkable thing in the life of Israel. 00:04:33.419 --> 00:04:40.419 Pretty much for the whole Bible up until now, God's focus of salvation has been on Israel. 00:04:41.079 --> 00:04:43.259 Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Israel. 00:04:43.799 --> 00:04:45.599 That's been the focus of God's work. 00:04:46.739 --> 00:04:50.919 But in this moment, God's work is expanding. 00:04:50.920 --> 00:04:55.600 He wants to speak, not just to Israel, but to Nineveh. 00:04:56.560 --> 00:04:57.500 Another people. 00:04:58.960 --> 00:05:01.460 And he's not letting them stay in their evil ways. 00:05:01.540 --> 00:05:03.640 He wants to call out against their evil. 00:05:03.960 --> 00:05:05.360 This is a call to repentance. 00:05:07.160 --> 00:05:10.000 God is offering mercy to Nineveh. 00:05:11.720 --> 00:05:13.660 And this is God's command for Jonah. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:17.319 Arise, go, bring my mercy to that people. 00:05:19.020 --> 00:05:20.560 But look how Jonah responds, verse 3. 00:05:21.780 --> 00:05:22.060 But. 00:05:24.960 --> 00:05:31.520 Now, whenever God commands something and the next sentence begins with but, that's never a good sign. 00:05:32.980 --> 00:05:38.020 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:42.240 He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:47.780 So he paid the fare and went on board to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. 00:05:47.779 --> 00:05:51.000 God commands Jonah to preach. 00:05:51.119 --> 00:05:52.019 And what did Jonah do? 00:05:53.059 --> 00:05:54.639 He ran from God. 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:58.000 And this brings me to my first point today. 00:05:58.839 --> 00:06:01.239 Sin is running away from God. 00:06:02.239 --> 00:06:04.179 Sin is running away from God. 00:06:04.180 --> 00:06:07.540 Where does it say Jonah fled to? 00:06:08.819 --> 00:06:09.259 Tarshish. 00:06:09.259 --> 00:06:16.959 Now, what you need to know about Tarshish is that it's in the opposite direction to Nineveh. 00:06:18.120 --> 00:06:21.659 Nineveh is east and Tarshish is west. 00:06:21.660 --> 00:06:29.260 It's like if I asked you to go to Berlin, but then instead you jumped on a ferry and went to Belfast. 00:06:30.400 --> 00:06:31.939 That's what Jonah is doing here. 00:06:31.939 --> 00:06:36.019 Whatever God said, Jonah is just doing the opposite. 00:06:38.180 --> 00:06:43.939 And so, you don't need to look into Jonah's heart to see what's going on here. 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:50.860 You don't need to look into his heart to see his sin or to see his disobedience here. 00:06:50.980 --> 00:06:51.199 No. 00:06:51.959 --> 00:06:53.420 You just need to look at a compass. 00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:55.920 God says east. 00:06:56.920 --> 00:06:58.180 Jonah says no west. 00:06:58.180 --> 00:07:04.699 This is the blatant and obvious disobedience by Jonah here. 00:07:06.019 --> 00:07:08.860 The direction he's going in couldn't make it clearer. 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:13.960 And notice, he's not just fleeing his duties, is he? 00:07:14.680 --> 00:07:16.920 He's not just running from his job. 00:07:17.660 --> 00:07:18.500 No, look what's happening. 00:07:18.600 --> 00:07:19.060 Verse 3. 00:07:19.899 --> 00:07:24.819 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 00:07:24.819 --> 00:07:31.800 He got on a ship to sail to Tarshish, again, away from the presence of the Lord. 00:07:34.120 --> 00:07:36.180 Jonah is not just running away from his job. 00:07:37.459 --> 00:07:39.060 He's running away from God. 00:07:40.920 --> 00:07:43.579 I don't want to do what you say, God. 00:07:44.600 --> 00:07:46.939 In fact, I don't want to be anywhere near you. 00:07:47.019 --> 00:07:48.399 I don't want you watching over me. 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:49.680 I don't want you in my life. 00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:51.139 Get away from me. 00:07:51.139 --> 00:07:56.240 And so Jonah runs in the opposite direction. 00:07:58.419 --> 00:08:00.439 And that is what disobedience is. 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:03.379 This is what sin is. 00:08:04.779 --> 00:08:06.680 Sin is running away from God. 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:11.019 And this is what Adam and Eve did in the garden, didn't they? 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:16.240 When they ate the fruit and God came to the garden, what did they do? 00:08:17.279 --> 00:08:18.680 They hid in the bushes, didn't they? 00:08:18.680 --> 00:08:22.959 They ran from God, away from his presence. 00:08:23.900 --> 00:08:26.800 Running from God, it really captures what sin is. 00:08:28.280 --> 00:08:29.600 This is what Adam was doing. 00:08:30.420 --> 00:08:31.980 This is what Nineveh was doing. 00:08:32.700 --> 00:08:34.340 This is what Jonah was doing. 00:08:36.060 --> 00:08:38.860 And this is what the world is doing right now. 00:08:38.860 --> 00:08:49.200 As you look around at the world, a world in chaos, a world that is living by its own rules, 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:53.480 a world that thinks it can define its own reality, 00:08:54.419 --> 00:08:56.740 that is a world running from God. 00:08:58.820 --> 00:09:04.920 In our sin, we're not trying to get to God, but we've just got lost along the way. 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:07.979 No, we're running straight away from him. 00:09:08.959 --> 00:09:11.059 We don't want anything to do with him. 00:09:11.339 --> 00:09:12.459 We push him aside. 00:09:12.599 --> 00:09:14.000 We pretend he doesn't exist. 00:09:14.779 --> 00:09:17.819 In Romans, it says we suppress the truth of God. 00:09:18.459 --> 00:09:22.819 We push it deep down inside of us, and we pretend he's not there. 00:09:23.639 --> 00:09:25.179 We pretend he's not watching. 00:09:26.019 --> 00:09:29.279 We make up lies about this world, and we say that there's no God. 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:33.279 We make up other gods, and we convince ourselves the true God isn't there. 00:09:33.899 --> 00:09:37.240 We try to live our lives like there's no judge over us. 00:09:38.179 --> 00:09:40.879 And that is a world running away from God. 00:09:43.399 --> 00:09:49.699 For every unbeliever here today, God sees you, and he sees you running. 00:09:52.759 --> 00:09:56.759 And even for the Christian, we feel this too, don't we? 00:09:56.759 --> 00:10:03.240 You know when we're in that spiritually dry place, maybe a spiritually dark place, 00:10:04.100 --> 00:10:09.220 and maybe you're in a pattern of sin, and you know it's wrong, but you keep doing it, 00:10:09.659 --> 00:10:15.360 or you're sinning in secret, or you've started that relationship, and you know it's wrong. 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:18.700 How do we feel in those times? 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:22.220 It feels like we're running away from God. 00:10:22.220 --> 00:10:27.580 I know how I should live, Lord, but I'm not going to do it. 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:31.100 And so we kind of shut him out, don't we? 00:10:31.940 --> 00:10:33.680 We try not to think about him. 00:10:34.259 --> 00:10:37.460 We don't pray, because then we'll have to acknowledge him. 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:43.700 We go through the motions of church, but we don't really want to come into his presence. 00:10:45.060 --> 00:10:46.580 It's like we're running away from him. 00:10:46.580 --> 00:10:49.580 And that is sin. 00:10:51.280 --> 00:10:52.900 Sin is running away from God. 00:10:54.580 --> 00:10:57.460 But just think, is this actually possible? 00:10:58.860 --> 00:11:03.920 Jonah gets on a ship, he sails in the opposite direction, trying to escape from God's presence. 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:06.120 But is that even possible? 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:09.639 Can we actually run and hide from God? 00:11:09.639 --> 00:11:12.399 Well, look at verse 4. 00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:20.100 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:22.580 so the ship was threatened to break up. 00:11:24.340 --> 00:11:26.740 But God saw Jonah the whole time. 00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:29.759 God was there the whole time. 00:11:31.419 --> 00:11:33.259 We cannot escape God. 00:11:34.419 --> 00:11:37.200 We can run, but we cannot hide. 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:41.420 And you might want to say to Jonah in this moment, 00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:43.379 Jonah, what are you thinking? 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:46.460 Do you actually think you can run away from God? 00:11:47.100 --> 00:11:49.020 Where do you think you're going to? 00:11:50.460 --> 00:11:53.400 You think about Jonah, and you think that this is crazy, isn't it? 00:11:54.940 --> 00:11:56.680 But we do exactly the same. 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:00.379 This is what we need to ask ourselves. 00:12:01.100 --> 00:12:03.680 Do you actually think you can run from God? 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:06.939 God is always there. 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:08.479 God is here right now. 00:12:09.439 --> 00:12:10.339 He's watching. 00:12:10.539 --> 00:12:13.919 We're in his presence now, and we cannot escape. 00:12:16.679 --> 00:12:19.259 And if we try to, everything falls apart. 00:12:20.419 --> 00:12:22.279 And we see this with Jonah. 00:12:23.559 --> 00:12:25.319 Because when you run from God, 00:12:25.559 --> 00:12:28.179 you run into his judgment. 00:12:28.179 --> 00:12:30.879 And this is my second point today. 00:12:31.359 --> 00:12:32.819 When you run from God, 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:34.739 you run into his judgment. 00:12:36.939 --> 00:12:38.699 Look what Jonah meets when he runs. 00:12:39.439 --> 00:12:40.339 A storm. 00:12:41.839 --> 00:12:43.500 God sends a tempest. 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:44.939 A huge storm. 00:12:45.299 --> 00:12:49.259 So big that the ship could fall apart any moment. 00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:50.539 It's being rocked. 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:51.679 It's being battered. 00:12:52.539 --> 00:12:54.899 And even these experienced sailors are terrified. 00:12:55.059 --> 00:12:55.599 Verse 5. 00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:59.360 That they start panicking and calling out to their gods. 00:12:59.580 --> 00:13:02.080 That they go to the cargo and throw it overboard. 00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:04.860 That maybe if the boat is lighter, maybe then we'll survive. 00:13:05.700 --> 00:13:07.460 That they're on the brink of death. 00:13:07.560 --> 00:13:09.139 It's mayhem on deck. 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:11.399 And look where Jonah is. 00:13:11.540 --> 00:13:11.980 Verse 5. 00:13:13.040 --> 00:13:15.720 But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship. 00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:17.340 And had lain down. 00:13:17.920 --> 00:13:18.820 And was fast asleep. 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:21.379 He's having a nap. 00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:26.080 He's even using sleep to escape the reality of God. 00:13:27.399 --> 00:13:29.659 We often use sleep to escape our troubles, don't we? 00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:33.100 Take a nap and hopefully the problem will disappear. 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:35.179 But it never does, does it? 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:38.399 And so the captain wakes him up. 00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:39.320 What are you doing? 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:40.860 Wake up. 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:41.960 Call out to your God. 00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:42.720 Do something. 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:43.500 Maybe he'll listen. 00:13:43.620 --> 00:13:44.399 Maybe he'll help. 00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:45.779 Maybe we won't die. 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:46.720 Do something, Jonah. 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:50.659 These sailors aren't Israelites. 00:13:51.579 --> 00:13:52.980 They don't worship Yahweh. 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:56.079 But they know something. 00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:58.559 Something that Jonah is trying to ignore. 00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:02.559 They know this storm is no ordinary storm. 00:14:03.839 --> 00:14:06.559 They know this storm is a divine event. 00:14:07.719 --> 00:14:09.319 That's why they call out to their gods. 00:14:09.439 --> 00:14:11.480 That's why they cast lots in verse 7. 00:14:12.199 --> 00:14:13.159 And they said to one another, 00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:14.959 Come, let us cast lots. 00:14:15.439 --> 00:14:18.539 That we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us. 00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:22.679 Casting lots is basically like picking the short straw. 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:27.639 So these sailors probably had like dice and you throw the dice and it would highlight someone. 00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:30.480 And whoever that would highlight, that's kind of like picking the short straw. 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:39.860 And they do this because they want to find out who on this ship has done something wrong and brought this storm on everyone. 00:14:39.860 --> 00:14:47.200 And so while Jonah is trying to ignore God, these sailors are really right about something. 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:50.320 They're right that this storm is from God. 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:54.740 And they're right that this has come because of someone. 00:14:55.879 --> 00:14:56.220 Who? 00:14:57.640 --> 00:15:00.640 And the lot fell on Jonah. 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:12.439 This is God pointing his finger down into the world at Jonah and saying this storm is because of him. 00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:20.439 Jonah is running from God and this storm is God's judgment on Jonah. 00:15:22.319 --> 00:15:23.779 Jonah has run from God. 00:15:23.779 --> 00:15:29.240 And when that happens, there's only one place that path leads into God's judgment. 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:35.120 Whenever you run from God, you run into his judgment. 00:15:37.199 --> 00:15:40.399 And this is what is happening with the world right now. 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:47.039 The world is running from God and it's running into his judgment. 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:54.139 The world cannot stand being in God's presence and it's trying to escape. 00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:55.980 It's got its hand up to God. 00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:57.980 Get away from me, God. 00:15:59.439 --> 00:16:02.199 And God is furious. 00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:07.959 And so God has hurled a storm upon this world. 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:14.819 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against a world that is running away from God. 00:16:14.820 --> 00:16:28.720 The misery of this world, the sadness all around us, the pain, the war, the fear, the suffering, death itself. 00:16:29.940 --> 00:16:34.220 That is the storm that God has unleashed onto this world. 00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:38.340 This is God's judgment on the world. 00:16:38.340 --> 00:16:46.800 And the storm we're experiencing right now, that is just a taste of where this world is going. 00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:54.000 The judgment now is just a sign of where the world is really running to. 00:16:55.720 --> 00:17:00.780 Because when you run from God, you're running into final judgment. 00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:10.839 And just like the world pretends God isn't there, the world pretends it's not running into judgment. 00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:14.859 And that is the great lie of this world. 00:17:16.099 --> 00:17:17.279 We hear this everywhere. 00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:21.359 Boys and girls, you will hear this a lot. 00:17:22.139 --> 00:17:25.599 The world will tell you, you can live however you want. 00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:27.740 You can live the life you want. 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:28.779 That's what you'll hear. 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:34.940 The world will tell you, you can be like Jonah and run in any direction you want. 00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:36.799 Forget about what God says. 00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:40.440 Forget about where God tells you to go and how to live your life. 00:17:41.139 --> 00:17:45.200 No, the world will tell you, follow where you want to go and then you'll be happy. 00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:49.639 Then you'll have a more meaningful, authentic life. 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:52.700 Run that way and you'll be happy. 00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:55.039 That's what you're going to hear. 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:58.220 But boys and girls, are you listening? 00:17:58.319 --> 00:17:59.119 This is really important. 00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:00.039 I need you to hear this. 00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:04.279 What the world is telling you is a lie. 00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:11.700 Because when you run away from God, you will not be running into a better life. 00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:16.799 When we run from God, we run into his judgment. 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:21.519 And this is where the world is heading. 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:28.159 Now we need to know, for everyone in Christ, there will never be judgment. 00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:32.059 But there will be fatherly discipline. 00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:40.339 And if we have those times of running from God in our Christian journeys, we won't be running into God's judgment. 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:43.440 But we will be running into his discipline. 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:47.879 We may feel the painful consequences of our sin. 00:18:48.899 --> 00:18:53.099 We might feel the darkness and loneliness of not being with God's people. 00:18:54.339 --> 00:18:59.099 Our secret sins and our dry spiritual life, it may make for a worse life. 00:18:59.099 --> 00:19:02.779 Our consciences might eat away at us. 00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:06.559 God might send a storm to stop us in our tracks. 00:19:07.679 --> 00:19:09.579 But realize what that is. 00:19:10.879 --> 00:19:13.439 That is God saying, don't go any further. 00:19:14.919 --> 00:19:19.899 That is God saying, I love you too much to let you keep going on like this. 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:25.219 That is God's fatherly discipline on the children he loves. 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:28.279 That is God's mercy. 00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:33.259 And one of those storms is falling on Jonah right now. 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:38.559 As the storm rages around them, the lot falls on Jonah. 00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:41.000 And the sailors interrogate him, don't they? 00:19:41.659 --> 00:19:42.199 Verse 8. 00:19:43.159 --> 00:19:43.980 Who are you? 00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:45.959 Where have you come from? 00:19:46.019 --> 00:19:46.579 Who are your people? 00:19:46.659 --> 00:19:47.279 Come on, tell us. 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:47.899 Tell us, Jonah. 00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:50.539 And Jonah answers them. 00:19:50.599 --> 00:19:51.119 Verse 9. 00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:53.019 I am a Hebrew. 00:19:53.579 --> 00:19:57.279 And I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land. 00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:00.659 And that's when things click. 00:20:01.859 --> 00:20:03.599 These men have heard of the Lord. 00:20:04.859 --> 00:20:06.179 They've heard about Israel. 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:08.219 They know who this God is. 00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:11.480 And they know Jonah was running from him. 00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:14.799 And so now they're even more terrified. 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:18.440 What have you done, Jonah? 00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:22.559 They ask in verse 11, what should we do with you? 00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:24.240 What are the next steps now? 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:27.880 And Jonah realizes what needs to be done. 00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:29.220 Look what he says. 00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:32.720 It's the only sensible thing we've had from Jonah so far. 00:20:33.539 --> 00:20:33.940 Verse 12. 00:20:35.380 --> 00:20:39.200 He said to them, pick me up and hurl me into the sea. 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:41.900 Then the sea will quiet down for you. 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:44.740 For I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you. 00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:48.660 Jonah knows he needs to die. 00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:53.000 He knows judgment needs to take hold of him. 00:20:54.380 --> 00:20:56.180 But the sailors don't do it at first, do they? 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:59.700 They try to row back to shore, but it's no use. 00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:03.120 The sea just grows more and more tempestuous against them. 00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:07.160 And so they all then realize there's only one option. 00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:09.100 It's the only option. 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:13.960 Judgment only ends when someone dies. 00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:16.759 And this is my third and final point today. 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:18.759 Judgment only ends when someone dies. 00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:21.200 Look at verse 14. 00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:25.039 The sailors realize the gravity of what they're about to do. 00:21:25.140 --> 00:21:25.720 Verse 14. 00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:28.440 Therefore they called out to the Lord, 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:30.720 O Lord, let us not perish for this man's life. 00:21:31.400 --> 00:21:35.240 And lay not on us innocent blood for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you. 00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:39.480 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea. 00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:44.240 And as soon as he went overboard, what happened next? 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:48.920 And the sea ceased from its raging. 00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:51.559 It's all quiet. 00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:53.920 The storm ends. 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:57.259 Judgment is over. 00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:03.380 Do you see what it takes to end the judgment of God? 00:22:03.380 --> 00:22:06.980 Someone needs to die. 00:22:08.840 --> 00:22:10.320 And this goes for all of us. 00:22:11.360 --> 00:22:13.340 We have all run from God. 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.980 And that is not a light thing. 00:22:16.120 --> 00:22:19.880 And God's justice and his judgment demand something from us. 00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:22.620 It demands our death. 00:22:22.619 --> 00:22:26.879 And there's only one way to end that judgment. 00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:28.359 Only one way. 00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:32.500 Judgment only ends when someone dies. 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:38.539 And this is precisely why Jesus had to die. 00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:45.279 The only thing that could end this storm was handing Jonah over to God's judgment. 00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:53.920 And the only way to end the storm of God's judgment over your life is for the Son of God to die for you. 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:57.259 This is what is happening. 00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:59.400 This is what was happening on the cross. 00:22:59.400 --> 00:23:05.200 Jesus was handing himself into the storm of God's judgment. 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:13.060 He was throwing himself overboard to end the storm of judgment, hanging over a people who have run from God. 00:23:14.360 --> 00:23:21.940 Men and women, boys and girls who have been living their life running from God, but who trust in Jesus. 00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:31.240 For them, Jesus threw himself into that judgment so that the storm over your life will end forever. 00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:36.519 And brothers and sisters, that is what has happened to you. 00:23:38.120 --> 00:23:42.779 While God's judgment rages against this world right now, it does not rage against you. 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:45.440 Jesus has ended it. 00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:48.759 God's anger against you is finished. 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:54.420 As calm as this sea was at the end, that is like God's anger over you now. 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:55.700 Calm. 00:23:56.879 --> 00:23:57.440 Quiet. 00:23:59.039 --> 00:24:00.200 Do you realize this? 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:03.259 God is not angry with you anymore. 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:07.160 You are no longer heading to judgment. 00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:11.440 In fact, you were once running from God, 00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:17.940 but you have now returned back to the living God to worship him forever. 00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:21.700 Did you notice what happened to the sailors at the end? 00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:22.259 Verse 16. 00:24:23.700 --> 00:24:28.859 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. 00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:35.440 Through the death of Jonah, these men who were worshipping other gods, 00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:41.220 through the death of Jonah, these men come to worship the living God. 00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:49.319 As they look at the death of Jonah, they look up and see this is the true God of heaven. 00:24:50.579 --> 00:24:52.620 This is the God who sees all. 00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:54.660 This is the God you cannot escape. 00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:59.620 This is the God who has spared their lives. 00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:04.180 This is the God who has shown them mercy. 00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:11.060 And as we look at the death of Christ, that is the same God we see. 00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:16.060 The God who sees our lives, who knows we have run away from him, 00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:20.160 who knows our hearts wander away from him again and again. 00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:26.220 But the God who has brought us back to himself by sending his son to die. 00:25:28.120 --> 00:25:31.400 In the death of Christ, we see God's mercy. 00:25:31.400 --> 00:25:36.160 And whoever you are today, you need this death. 00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:40.100 This is the only way to escape God's judgment. 00:25:41.100 --> 00:25:45.400 You can try running anywhere else, but it will not help you. 00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:48.040 There is nowhere else you can run to. 00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:52.740 Christ's death is the only thing that can calm the judgment of God on this world. 00:25:52.740 --> 00:26:00.039 And so if you are running from God today, you need to change direction right now. 00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:02.980 And you need to run to Jesus Christ. 00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:07.299 And when you do, you will not run into more judgment. 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:09.900 You will not run into a scolding. 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:11.620 You will not get what you deserve. 00:26:13.140 --> 00:26:16.359 No, you will run into the mercy of God. 00:26:18.680 --> 00:26:21.299 And we, brothers and sisters, we need this death. 00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:25.960 When our hearts wander, when we feel like we're running away, 00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:28.400 it's not too late to come back. 00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:33.859 Run to the death of Christ and God will always show you mercy. 00:26:35.579 --> 00:26:37.960 His mercy has brought you safe this far. 00:26:38.660 --> 00:26:40.500 And his mercy will lead you home. 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:42.680 Let me pray.