WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.199 And we're going to be thinking about Jonah's prayer and Jonah's situation in a few minutes. 00:00:08.740 --> 00:00:14.620 And in Matthew chapter 12, we find Jesus referring to the sign of Jonah. 00:00:14.960 --> 00:00:18.940 But before we get to that section, we're going to begin reading at verse 22. 00:00:19.100 --> 00:00:23.240 So Matthew 12, reading at verse 22. 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:26.560 This is God's word. 00:00:26.559 --> 00:00:31.279 Then they brought Jesus, a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. 00:00:31.820 --> 00:00:35.939 And Jesus healed him so that he could both talk and see. 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:40.719 All the people were astonished and said, could this be the son of David? 00:00:41.519 --> 00:00:43.019 The Savior, the Messiah. 00:00:43.519 --> 00:00:51.140 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, it's only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons. 00:00:52.060 --> 00:00:56.320 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, every kingdom divided against itself. 00:00:56.320 --> 00:00:57.020 Will be ruined. 00:00:57.660 --> 00:01:01.280 And every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 00:01:01.939 --> 00:01:05.560 If Satan drives out Satan, he's divided against himself. 00:01:05.680 --> 00:01:07.560 How then can his kingdom stand? 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:13.219 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? 00:01:13.700 --> 00:01:15.640 So then, they will be your judges. 00:01:15.640 --> 00:01:21.680 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:29.219 Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? 00:01:29.599 --> 00:01:30.819 Then he can rob his house. 00:01:31.700 --> 00:01:34.000 He who is not with me is against me. 00:01:34.420 --> 00:01:37.620 And he who does not gather with me scatters. 00:01:37.620 --> 00:01:46.400 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 00:01:47.180 --> 00:01:50.620 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. 00:01:51.180 --> 00:01:54.380 But anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 00:01:54.960 --> 00:01:57.719 Either in this age or in the age to come. 00:01:57.719 --> 00:02:01.120 Make a tree good, and its fruit will be good. 00:02:01.739 --> 00:02:03.879 Or make a tree bad, and its fruit will be bad. 00:02:04.219 --> 00:02:06.920 For a tree is recognized by its fruit. 00:02:07.620 --> 00:02:08.919 You brood of vipers! 00:02:09.240 --> 00:02:11.439 How can you who are evil say anything good? 00:02:12.079 --> 00:02:14.680 For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 00:02:15.340 --> 00:02:19.340 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him. 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:24.139 And the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 00:02:24.139 --> 00:02:31.219 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 00:02:32.119 --> 00:02:33.639 For by your words you will be acquitted. 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:36.519 By your words you will be condemned. 00:02:37.619 --> 00:02:40.279 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, 00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:43.159 Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you. 00:02:43.819 --> 00:02:44.439 He answered, 00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:49.039 A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign. 00:02:49.659 --> 00:02:53.339 But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 00:02:53.340 --> 00:02:58.080 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, 00:02:58.500 --> 00:03:02.379 so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 00:03:03.020 --> 00:03:06.900 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it. 00:03:07.300 --> 00:03:09.360 For they repented at the preaching of Jonah, 00:03:09.860 --> 00:03:12.300 and now one greater than Jonah is here. 00:03:12.900 --> 00:03:16.539 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it. 00:03:16.920 --> 00:03:20.000 For she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:23.960 and now one greater than Solomon is here. 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:27.259 Now, can you turn with me in your Bibles to the book of Jonah, 00:03:27.639 --> 00:03:32.199 which you'll find on page 927, if you're using the church Bible. 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:38.560 Last week we saw Jonah running from the call of God to go and preach. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:43.659 Jonah's in Nineveh didn't want his enemies to have any chance of God's mercy, 00:03:43.759 --> 00:03:45.300 so he runs in the opposite direction. 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:47.319 God sent a storm. 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:51.400 Jonah recognizes it's from God. 00:03:52.699 --> 00:03:54.099 And he tells the sailors, 00:03:54.259 --> 00:03:56.640 Well, the only way you're going to be saved is if you throw me overboard, 00:03:57.120 --> 00:03:58.640 which they do. 00:03:59.140 --> 00:04:03.140 And we'll pick up our reading, Jonah chapter 1 at verse 17. 00:04:03.139 --> 00:04:09.799 But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, 00:04:10.239 --> 00:04:13.439 and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights. 00:04:14.019 --> 00:04:17.180 From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 00:04:17.259 --> 00:04:17.719 He said, 00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:21.560 In my distress, I called to the Lord, and he answered me. 00:04:22.099 --> 00:04:24.919 From the depths of the grave, I called for help, 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:27.519 and you listened to my cry. 00:04:28.180 --> 00:04:29.699 You hurled me into the deep, 00:04:29.699 --> 00:04:32.019 into the very heart of the seas, 00:04:32.379 --> 00:04:34.459 and the currents swirled about me. 00:04:34.860 --> 00:04:37.819 All your waves and breakers swept over me. 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:39.180 I said, 00:04:39.259 --> 00:04:41.060 I've been banished from your sight, 00:04:41.479 --> 00:04:44.699 yet I will look again towards your holy temple. 00:04:45.560 --> 00:04:48.019 The engulfing waters threatened me. 00:04:48.459 --> 00:04:50.159 The deep surrounded me. 00:04:50.759 --> 00:04:52.879 Seaweed was wrapped around my head. 00:04:52.879 --> 00:04:55.680 To the roots of the mountains I sank down. 00:04:56.180 --> 00:04:58.519 The earth beneath barred me in forever. 00:04:58.519 --> 00:05:01.579 But you brought my life up from the pit, 00:05:02.019 --> 00:05:03.279 O Lord my God. 00:05:03.919 --> 00:05:05.659 When my life was ebbing away, 00:05:05.779 --> 00:05:07.199 I remembered you, Lord, 00:05:07.459 --> 00:05:09.500 and my prayer rose to you, 00:05:09.959 --> 00:05:11.060 to your holy temple. 00:05:12.039 --> 00:05:13.819 Those who cling to worthless idols 00:05:13.819 --> 00:05:16.539 forfeit the grace that could be theirs. 00:05:17.159 --> 00:05:19.659 But I, with a song of thanksgiving, 00:05:19.779 --> 00:05:21.219 will sacrifice to you. 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:23.219 What I have vowed, 00:05:23.560 --> 00:05:24.680 I will make good. 00:05:25.479 --> 00:05:27.819 Salvation comes from the Lord. 00:05:27.819 --> 00:05:30.639 And the Lord commanded the fish, 00:05:31.139 --> 00:05:35.139 and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:38.540 Now we'll leave our reading there. 00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:40.759 Now some of you will have noticed 00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:42.879 that our MPs this week 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:45.079 have been discussing fake news. 00:05:45.860 --> 00:05:48.560 Describing fake news as a threat 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:50.719 to our democracy. 00:05:51.180 --> 00:05:53.519 That there is so much disinformation, 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:56.219 it's hard to know what's true. 00:05:57.159 --> 00:05:59.659 Now, when we come to the Bible, 00:05:59.779 --> 00:06:01.839 when we come to stories like Jonah, 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:04.740 how do we handle those stories? 00:06:04.899 --> 00:06:07.479 Fact or fiction? 00:06:08.579 --> 00:06:11.919 How we read and receive any information 00:06:11.919 --> 00:06:14.159 is always going to be influenced 00:06:14.159 --> 00:06:15.959 by our view of the world. 00:06:15.959 --> 00:06:17.839 And that's certainly true 00:06:17.839 --> 00:06:20.439 when we think about the Bible 00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:22.500 and when we think in particular 00:06:22.500 --> 00:06:26.079 about this story of Jonah. 00:06:26.199 --> 00:06:27.219 So you read some books 00:06:27.219 --> 00:06:28.839 and the commentators will say, 00:06:28.939 --> 00:06:29.659 this is history. 00:06:30.339 --> 00:06:31.359 And you read other books 00:06:31.359 --> 00:06:32.679 and say, well, this is a kind of myth. 00:06:32.799 --> 00:06:33.939 Or it's like the parables 00:06:33.939 --> 00:06:35.099 that Jesus told. 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:37.060 A nice story teaching us a point. 00:06:37.479 --> 00:06:37.979 Which is it? 00:06:37.980 --> 00:06:41.319 And I guess our worldview 00:06:41.319 --> 00:06:42.860 in large part will influence 00:06:42.860 --> 00:06:43.920 how we think about it. 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:46.259 Do we believe, for example, 00:06:46.420 --> 00:06:48.680 in a God who creates 00:06:48.680 --> 00:06:50.700 and controls everything? 00:06:52.300 --> 00:06:55.240 Is that God able to intervene 00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:58.040 in miraculous ways? 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:00.160 Now, that won't just influence 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:01.140 how we think about Jonah. 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:01.840 That will influence 00:07:01.840 --> 00:07:02.920 how we think about Jesus 00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:04.420 and the life of Jesus 00:07:04.420 --> 00:07:05.920 because he worked so many miracles. 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:08.860 Is the word of God reliable 00:07:08.860 --> 00:07:11.060 when it teaches history? 00:07:11.520 --> 00:07:12.439 So there are times 00:07:12.439 --> 00:07:13.319 when the Bible is written 00:07:13.319 --> 00:07:14.439 in a poetic style 00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:17.100 and Jesus does tell parables, 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:18.319 but here is a story 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:19.379 presented as history. 00:07:19.879 --> 00:07:22.400 So what do we do with it? 00:07:22.939 --> 00:07:24.280 It forces us to think, 00:07:24.620 --> 00:07:25.900 do I trust God 00:07:25.900 --> 00:07:28.960 and do I trust God's word? 00:07:30.700 --> 00:07:32.040 Significant when we read 00:07:32.040 --> 00:07:33.120 in Matthew 12 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:34.300 to think about how Jesus 00:07:34.300 --> 00:07:36.139 thought and understood 00:07:36.139 --> 00:07:37.900 the Jonah story. 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:40.360 So when people came to him 00:07:40.360 --> 00:07:41.540 asking for a miraculous sign, 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:41.759 he said, 00:07:41.819 --> 00:07:42.800 I won't give you a sign 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:44.740 other than the sign of Jonah. 00:07:45.460 --> 00:07:46.759 And what he meant by that 00:07:46.759 --> 00:07:48.180 was that his life, 00:07:48.920 --> 00:07:50.860 particularly his dying 00:07:50.860 --> 00:07:51.800 and rising, 00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:54.120 was a parallel 00:07:54.120 --> 00:07:55.400 to what happened earlier 00:07:55.400 --> 00:07:56.980 in the story of Jonah. 00:07:57.660 --> 00:07:58.819 That just as Jonah 00:07:58.819 --> 00:08:01.300 went into the belly of the fish 00:08:01.300 --> 00:08:02.780 for three days and three nights 00:08:02.779 --> 00:08:05.519 as if dead and then came out again 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:07.539 as if he'd come back to life, 00:08:08.119 --> 00:08:08.599 Jesus said, 00:08:08.699 --> 00:08:09.659 I'm going to fulfill 00:08:09.659 --> 00:08:11.619 what was pointed forward to 00:08:11.619 --> 00:08:14.419 in the history of Jonah. 00:08:15.079 --> 00:08:16.979 So Jesus certainly read it 00:08:16.979 --> 00:08:19.619 as history that taught 00:08:19.619 --> 00:08:21.519 and really taught about 00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:24.659 the mercy and the grace of God. 00:08:25.059 --> 00:08:25.759 So that's how we're going 00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:27.439 to think about it this morning. 00:08:27.519 --> 00:08:28.239 We're going to think about it 00:08:28.239 --> 00:08:30.139 as an event that Jonah experienced 00:08:30.139 --> 00:08:31.639 that helps us to understand 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:32.939 more of the mercy 00:08:32.939 --> 00:08:34.860 of our God. 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:36.740 Specifically here, 00:08:36.840 --> 00:08:38.199 thinking about how God's mercy 00:08:38.199 --> 00:08:39.879 comes to the prophet Jonah. 00:08:40.580 --> 00:08:41.120 So remember, 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:43.399 Jonah was at best 00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:44.559 a reluctant prophet 00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:45.939 and at worst he was disobedient, 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:46.980 running from God. 00:08:47.559 --> 00:08:48.879 But here he finds himself 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:51.419 being saved by God. 00:08:51.799 --> 00:08:52.480 So we're going to think 00:08:52.480 --> 00:08:53.639 about Jonah's situation 00:08:53.639 --> 00:08:55.259 and Jonah's prayer 00:08:55.259 --> 00:08:56.779 in order to discover 00:08:56.779 --> 00:08:59.179 some truths about God's mercy 00:08:59.179 --> 00:09:00.580 and about ourselves 00:09:00.580 --> 00:09:01.879 as those who need to know 00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:04.200 this God of mercy. 00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:05.939 So the first thing 00:09:05.939 --> 00:09:07.939 I want us to notice 00:09:07.939 --> 00:09:09.659 both in the events 00:09:09.659 --> 00:09:10.939 and in Jonah's prayer 00:09:10.939 --> 00:09:12.399 is the providence of God. 00:09:12.700 --> 00:09:13.939 It really stands out 00:09:13.939 --> 00:09:15.299 the extent to which God 00:09:15.299 --> 00:09:16.939 is in control in this story. 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:18.759 So the last time 00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:19.419 in chapter one, 00:09:19.480 --> 00:09:20.899 we see God sending a storm 00:09:20.899 --> 00:09:21.879 as a sign of judgment 00:09:21.879 --> 00:09:23.360 against Jonah's disobedience. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:25.279 We see further evidence 00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:26.060 of his control 00:09:26.060 --> 00:09:28.600 in verse 17 of chapter one. 00:09:29.300 --> 00:09:29.860 It's the Lord 00:09:29.860 --> 00:09:31.039 who provides the fish 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:32.620 to swallow Jonah, 00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:33.320 to save him, 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:35.539 to rescue him from drowning. 00:09:35.899 --> 00:09:37.019 And then in chapter two 00:09:37.019 --> 00:09:37.840 in verse 10, 00:09:38.259 --> 00:09:40.399 God again commands the fish, 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:43.800 this time to deposit Jonah 00:09:43.800 --> 00:09:45.080 on dry land. 00:09:46.340 --> 00:09:47.220 And then we find 00:09:47.220 --> 00:09:48.600 in Jonah's prayer 00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:50.279 that he too sees 00:09:50.279 --> 00:09:51.820 that God has been at work. 00:09:51.820 --> 00:09:53.300 I find the words 00:09:53.300 --> 00:09:53.940 of verse three 00:09:53.940 --> 00:09:55.520 particularly interesting. 00:09:55.940 --> 00:09:57.140 Look at verse three with me. 00:09:57.240 --> 00:09:57.560 It says, 00:09:58.200 --> 00:10:00.360 you hurled me into the deep, 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:02.000 into the very heart 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:02.500 of the seas. 00:10:02.560 --> 00:10:04.040 Now, if you were to look back 00:10:04.040 --> 00:10:05.240 at Jonah chapter one again, 00:10:05.300 --> 00:10:05.780 you would discover 00:10:05.780 --> 00:10:06.580 it was the sailors 00:10:06.580 --> 00:10:08.440 that threw Jonah overboard. 00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:09.879 But Jonah can see 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:10.720 beyond the sailors 00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:12.020 and he can see 00:10:12.020 --> 00:10:13.920 God's bigger plan. 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:15.140 He can see God's hand 00:10:15.140 --> 00:10:16.660 behind everything. 00:10:17.060 --> 00:10:18.340 And then in verse nine, 00:10:18.560 --> 00:10:20.300 as he concludes his prayer, 00:10:20.299 --> 00:10:21.859 says, 00:10:21.979 --> 00:10:23.279 I with a song of thanksgiving 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:24.759 will sacrifice to you 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:26.219 what I have vowed 00:10:26.219 --> 00:10:27.379 I will make good. 00:10:28.259 --> 00:10:30.179 Salvation comes from the Lord. 00:10:30.259 --> 00:10:31.819 He is in the belly of a fish 00:10:31.819 --> 00:10:33.459 able to say salvation 00:10:33.459 --> 00:10:34.240 comes from the Lord. 00:10:34.319 --> 00:10:35.159 He knows the sailors. 00:10:35.459 --> 00:10:36.359 He knows the storm. 00:10:36.439 --> 00:10:36.959 He knows the fish. 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:37.879 All of these things 00:10:37.879 --> 00:10:39.859 are organized by God 00:10:39.859 --> 00:10:41.439 in order for Jonah 00:10:41.439 --> 00:10:42.859 to be saved, 00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:44.679 in order that he would know 00:10:44.679 --> 00:10:45.679 and appreciate 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:47.439 the mercy of God 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:49.140 in his life. 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:51.240 The presentation 00:10:51.240 --> 00:10:51.940 that we have 00:10:51.940 --> 00:10:52.740 in the book of Jonah 00:10:52.740 --> 00:10:54.180 that Jonah writes himself 00:10:54.180 --> 00:10:55.180 delivers to us 00:10:55.180 --> 00:10:56.100 is that Jonah 00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:58.140 has been unfaithful. 00:10:58.840 --> 00:11:00.500 But by contrast, 00:11:01.180 --> 00:11:01.860 his God, 00:11:01.960 --> 00:11:04.740 the personal promise-making God, 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:07.320 has been utterly faithful 00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:09.500 at every point. 00:11:10.820 --> 00:11:12.860 So God is in control. 00:11:13.040 --> 00:11:13.900 His providence 00:11:13.900 --> 00:11:15.360 is working all things out. 00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:16.940 And what they're showing us 00:11:16.940 --> 00:11:17.860 in the life of Jonah 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:19.740 is both God's justice 00:11:19.740 --> 00:11:21.740 and God's mercy. 00:11:22.659 --> 00:11:23.680 Jonah knew this. 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:24.759 He knew this in the storm. 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:25.639 He knew the storm 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:27.000 was a sign of God's judgment. 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:28.620 And he knew that he, 00:11:29.019 --> 00:11:29.980 the only way the storm 00:11:29.980 --> 00:11:30.580 was going to stop 00:11:30.580 --> 00:11:31.399 is if he was thrown 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:33.120 into the storm. 00:11:33.960 --> 00:11:35.180 And he understands 00:11:35.180 --> 00:11:36.639 that his near death 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:37.300 by drowning, 00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:38.560 that's God's judgment 00:11:38.560 --> 00:11:40.720 on his sin. 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:43.740 But he also knows 00:11:43.740 --> 00:11:45.960 the mercy of God. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:47.600 He knows that God 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:48.700 has responded 00:11:48.700 --> 00:11:51.060 in kindness and compassion 00:11:51.060 --> 00:11:53.180 by rescuing him. 00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:54.139 Not because Jonah 00:11:54.139 --> 00:11:55.220 has deserved it. 00:11:55.980 --> 00:11:57.860 It's clearly undeserved kindness 00:11:57.860 --> 00:12:00.379 from a loving God. 00:12:01.420 --> 00:12:02.220 And so the events 00:12:02.220 --> 00:12:03.060 of Jonah's life 00:12:03.060 --> 00:12:04.160 show us the justice 00:12:04.160 --> 00:12:06.160 and the mercy of God 00:12:06.160 --> 00:12:07.000 and the interplay 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:07.720 between them. 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:09.860 Now there are lessons for us 00:12:09.860 --> 00:12:11.460 in Jonah's story 00:12:11.460 --> 00:12:13.680 and in Jonah's prayer. 00:12:14.680 --> 00:12:15.540 First of all, 00:12:15.580 --> 00:12:16.160 there's an encouragement 00:12:16.160 --> 00:12:17.139 to us to remember 00:12:17.139 --> 00:12:17.700 that whatever 00:12:17.700 --> 00:12:19.519 our circumstances 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:22.040 and we understand 00:12:22.040 --> 00:12:22.580 with Jonah 00:12:22.580 --> 00:12:23.680 that they are planned 00:12:23.680 --> 00:12:25.480 by God. 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:26.360 And so they become 00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:27.480 for us a chance 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:29.060 to pray to him, 00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:30.660 to cry out to him, 00:12:30.759 --> 00:12:31.879 to invite him 00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:32.759 into that situation 00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:33.500 that he's already 00:12:33.500 --> 00:12:35.259 aware of, 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:37.600 confident that he knows 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:39.379 us and that he cares 00:12:39.379 --> 00:12:39.860 about us. 00:12:42.200 --> 00:12:43.139 That was hugely 00:12:43.139 --> 00:12:44.120 hopeful for Jonah 00:12:44.120 --> 00:12:45.180 and it can be hopeful 00:12:45.180 --> 00:12:46.600 for us. 00:12:46.899 --> 00:12:48.300 To learn from Jonah 00:12:48.300 --> 00:12:49.500 in moments of crisis. 00:12:49.659 --> 00:12:50.779 Sometimes when we know 00:12:50.779 --> 00:12:51.620 we've done the wrong thing 00:12:51.620 --> 00:12:52.840 we can just turn inward 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:54.300 and we can just feel 00:12:54.300 --> 00:12:55.220 bad about ourselves 00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:56.399 and we never go to God. 00:12:56.840 --> 00:12:58.300 Or we can turn our back 00:12:58.300 --> 00:12:58.960 on God thinking, 00:12:59.139 --> 00:12:59.820 well this has turned out 00:12:59.820 --> 00:13:00.460 really badly 00:13:00.460 --> 00:13:01.100 so I want nothing 00:13:01.100 --> 00:13:02.019 to do with God. 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:03.560 Rather like Jonah, 00:13:03.860 --> 00:13:04.879 we've got this invitation 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:05.600 to turn upwards 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:06.899 upwards to God 00:13:06.899 --> 00:13:08.300 to seek him, 00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:10.180 to turn from our sin 00:13:10.180 --> 00:13:11.399 and to turn to him 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:13.100 for mercy. 00:13:14.980 --> 00:13:16.100 Now just as Jesus 00:13:16.100 --> 00:13:17.460 would have us understand 00:13:17.460 --> 00:13:18.540 in Matthew 12, 00:13:19.019 --> 00:13:19.680 Jonah's story 00:13:19.680 --> 00:13:20.779 helps us to reflect 00:13:20.779 --> 00:13:21.500 on the story 00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:23.060 of Jesus. 00:13:24.060 --> 00:13:25.120 And we need to understand 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:25.960 that our hope 00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:27.240 of being heard 00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:27.879 in a crisis, 00:13:28.420 --> 00:13:29.139 our hope 00:13:29.139 --> 00:13:30.340 for receiving mercy 00:13:30.340 --> 00:13:31.740 rests entirely 00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:34.039 on the providence 00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:34.680 of God 00:13:34.680 --> 00:13:36.360 in sending Jesus. 00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:37.340 In planning 00:13:37.340 --> 00:13:38.519 from all eternity 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:39.960 to send Jesus 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:41.779 to be our Savior. 00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:43.460 And in the story 00:13:43.460 --> 00:13:44.279 of Jesus 00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:45.120 we see both 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:46.100 the justice 00:13:46.100 --> 00:13:47.299 and the mercy 00:13:47.299 --> 00:13:47.960 of God 00:13:47.960 --> 00:13:49.220 being worked out 00:13:49.220 --> 00:13:51.000 on the cross. 00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:52.480 In the providence, 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:53.759 in the plan of God, 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:55.740 Jesus went to the cross 00:13:55.740 --> 00:13:57.200 in order to satisfy 00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:58.340 God's justice 00:13:58.340 --> 00:13:59.340 against sin. 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:00.940 Not the sin of Jesus, 00:14:00.940 --> 00:14:03.280 but our sin. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:05.180 And Jesus didn't just 00:14:05.180 --> 00:14:06.940 face a near-death experience, 00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:09.260 he actually died. 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:11.200 The wages of sin 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:11.920 the Bible says 00:14:11.920 --> 00:14:12.560 is death. 00:14:13.280 --> 00:14:14.420 The cross reminds us 00:14:14.420 --> 00:14:15.740 of the judgment of God 00:14:15.740 --> 00:14:17.160 and the seriousness 00:14:17.160 --> 00:14:17.900 of sin. 00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:20.380 But the cross of Jesus 00:14:20.380 --> 00:14:21.340 also reminds us 00:14:21.340 --> 00:14:22.880 of the mercy of God 00:14:22.880 --> 00:14:24.160 because Jesus dies there 00:14:24.160 --> 00:14:25.040 to secure 00:14:25.040 --> 00:14:26.880 our hope of forgiveness 00:14:26.880 --> 00:14:27.640 and mercy 00:14:27.640 --> 00:14:29.760 if we put our trust in him. 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:31.819 that we look to the cross 00:14:31.819 --> 00:14:32.200 and we see 00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:32.939 there is Jesus 00:14:32.939 --> 00:14:33.740 paying the debt, 00:14:33.960 --> 00:14:34.840 cancelling the debt 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:36.539 for my sin. 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:38.559 That he faces death 00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:40.159 in order to gift us 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:41.360 new life 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:43.379 as an act 00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:44.759 of great grace. 00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:48.240 So we see in the story 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:48.759 of Jonah, 00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:50.100 the God who is 00:14:50.100 --> 00:14:51.340 in total control, 00:14:51.539 --> 00:14:52.220 the God who 00:14:52.220 --> 00:14:53.819 can use the events 00:14:53.819 --> 00:14:55.319 of our lives 00:14:55.319 --> 00:14:56.960 in a sense 00:14:56.960 --> 00:14:57.860 to wake us up 00:14:57.860 --> 00:14:58.779 to our needs, 00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:00.319 our need to find 00:15:00.319 --> 00:15:00.939 mercy 00:15:00.939 --> 00:15:02.379 from 00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:03.899 the Lord Jesus. 00:15:04.419 --> 00:15:05.319 And there's an invitation 00:15:05.319 --> 00:15:06.639 for us to pray 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:08.500 like Jonah did. 00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:11.059 So that's the providence 00:15:11.059 --> 00:15:12.100 of God that we see 00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:13.720 in this chapter. 00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:14.639 We also 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:15.960 are reminded 00:15:15.960 --> 00:15:18.080 of the presence 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:20.180 of God. 00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:22.860 Read with me again 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:23.940 from verse 2 00:15:23.940 --> 00:15:26.519 as Jonah's prayer begins. 00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:26.840 He said, 00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:27.820 In my distress, 00:15:28.160 --> 00:15:29.680 I called to the Lord 00:15:29.680 --> 00:15:30.820 and he answered me 00:15:30.820 --> 00:15:31.920 from the depths 00:15:31.920 --> 00:15:32.540 of the grave. 00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:33.379 I called 00:15:33.379 --> 00:15:34.740 for help 00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:35.980 and you listened 00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:37.180 to my cry. 00:15:37.680 --> 00:15:38.800 You hurled me 00:15:38.800 --> 00:15:39.500 into the deep, 00:15:39.540 --> 00:15:40.500 into the very heart 00:15:40.500 --> 00:15:41.379 of the seas 00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:42.679 and the current 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:43.820 swirled about me. 00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:44.759 And then in verse 4, 00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:45.419 I said, 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:46.399 I've been banished 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:48.320 from your sight, 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:50.200 yet I'll look again 00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:51.559 towards your holy temple. 00:15:51.939 --> 00:15:52.100 Now, 00:15:53.059 --> 00:15:53.860 I'm going to guess 00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:54.779 many of us, 00:15:55.240 --> 00:15:55.500 basically, 00:15:55.659 --> 00:15:56.299 we're British, 00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:57.500 we've been through 00:15:57.500 --> 00:15:57.960 school, 00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:58.600 secondary school, 00:15:58.679 --> 00:15:59.220 we'll have studied 00:15:59.220 --> 00:16:00.039 at some point 00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:01.919 Shakespeare's Romeo 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:03.139 and Juliet. 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:03.820 Or at least 00:16:03.820 --> 00:16:04.200 you'll maybe 00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:04.779 remember it 00:16:04.779 --> 00:16:05.860 from the movies 00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:06.399 or maybe you've 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:07.019 seen it in the theater. 00:16:07.019 --> 00:16:07.279 Well, 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:09.079 the part 00:16:09.079 --> 00:16:09.679 that I want us 00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:10.319 to think about 00:16:10.319 --> 00:16:10.939 is the part 00:16:10.939 --> 00:16:12.419 where Romeo 00:16:12.419 --> 00:16:14.779 kills Tybalt 00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:15.620 accidentally. 00:16:15.699 --> 00:16:16.179 You know the story 00:16:16.179 --> 00:16:17.480 about rival families. 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:19.100 And the sentence 00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:20.480 that is delivered 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:21.220 on Romeo 00:16:21.220 --> 00:16:22.579 because of that 00:16:22.579 --> 00:16:23.240 is that he is 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:24.319 banished 00:16:24.319 --> 00:16:25.779 from Verona, 00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:27.100 the place 00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:27.579 where he lives. 00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:28.639 And as Friar Lawrence 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:29.879 delivers that message 00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:30.539 to Romeo, 00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:32.500 he gets all poetic 00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:33.379 and all angsty 00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:34.220 and he talks about it 00:16:34.220 --> 00:16:35.360 as a fate worse 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:36.120 than death 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:37.399 because 00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:39.440 he's banished 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:40.200 from the presence 00:16:40.200 --> 00:16:42.080 of his Juliet. 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:43.519 To be far 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:44.080 from the one 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:44.940 that he loves 00:16:44.940 --> 00:16:46.480 is a sorrow 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:48.820 worse than death. 00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:50.379 The presence 00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:51.159 of God 00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:51.860 is something 00:16:51.860 --> 00:16:52.820 precious 00:16:52.820 --> 00:16:53.600 to his people 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:54.820 to know 00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:55.799 that we are 00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:57.259 close to God. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:57.720 And that's 00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:59.299 crucial actually 00:16:59.299 --> 00:16:59.980 to understanding 00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:00.899 the whole storyline 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:01.600 of the Bible. 00:17:02.539 --> 00:17:02.899 I'm going to look 00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:03.580 at it very shortly. 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:05.480 The grand story 00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:06.000 of the Bible 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:06.960 is about God 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:08.220 acting 00:17:08.220 --> 00:17:09.539 so that his people 00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:10.440 might be with him 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:10.839 forever 00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:11.720 to enjoy 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:13.559 his presence. 00:17:14.619 --> 00:17:15.420 But as we think 00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:16.160 about Jonah's 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:17.400 experience here 00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:19.279 in the storm, 00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:20.940 we get a feeling 00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:22.000 that he's feeling 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:23.019 the absence. 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:24.740 So in verse 2 00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:25.660 he talks about 00:17:25.660 --> 00:17:26.539 distress, 00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:27.640 he talks about 00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:28.359 in the depths 00:17:28.359 --> 00:17:29.079 of the grave, 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:30.079 the loss of God's 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:30.880 presence is like 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:31.359 a death. 00:17:31.940 --> 00:17:32.859 In verse 3 00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:34.220 there's the idea 00:17:34.220 --> 00:17:35.000 of darkness. 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:35.960 In verse 4 00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:36.700 this idea 00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:38.279 of banishment. 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:39.440 There's despair 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:40.360 at the sense 00:17:40.360 --> 00:17:41.680 that he can't feel 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:42.680 that God is present 00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:43.360 with him because 00:17:43.360 --> 00:17:44.579 of his disobedience. 00:17:45.079 --> 00:17:46.039 But then he cries 00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:46.579 out to God 00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:47.059 and he knows 00:17:47.059 --> 00:17:47.920 God is with him. 00:17:49.600 --> 00:17:50.720 This has happened 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:52.279 because Jonah 00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:53.460 has run from God. 00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:55.960 He doesn't want 00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:56.740 to obey God 00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.660 and so he decides 00:17:57.660 --> 00:17:58.920 to go running 00:17:58.920 --> 00:17:59.559 and he's found 00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:00.380 that life 00:18:00.380 --> 00:18:01.440 has turned out 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:02.120 badly 00:18:02.120 --> 00:18:03.299 as he's trying 00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:04.259 to move away 00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:06.019 from the presence 00:18:06.019 --> 00:18:07.320 of God. 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:09.100 So as I was saying 00:18:09.100 --> 00:18:09.539 this is a really 00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:10.700 important theme 00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:11.500 in the Bible. 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:12.680 So just to give us 00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:14.500 a quick sketch 00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:14.880 of that, 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:15.559 in the book 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:16.220 of Genesis 00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:17.680 when Adam 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:17.960 and Eve 00:18:17.960 --> 00:18:18.480 are created 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:19.100 we see that 00:18:19.100 --> 00:18:19.680 they're very much 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:20.820 created in order 00:18:20.820 --> 00:18:22.620 to enjoy life 00:18:22.620 --> 00:18:23.880 with God 00:18:23.880 --> 00:18:24.920 in the garden 00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:25.299 of God. 00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:26.320 Made for the 00:18:26.320 --> 00:18:27.259 presence of God 00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:27.900 to enjoy 00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:29.180 knowing God. 00:18:29.860 --> 00:18:30.299 Sin 00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:31.440 turning their 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:32.059 back on God 00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:32.599 means they are 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:33.339 banished from the 00:18:33.339 --> 00:18:33.559 garden, 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:34.279 they're banished 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:34.919 from God's 00:18:34.919 --> 00:18:35.460 place. 00:18:35.819 --> 00:18:36.839 It's like a death 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:38.279 has occurred 00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:39.180 but they're 00:18:39.180 --> 00:18:39.839 banished with 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:40.359 the promise 00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:41.180 of restoration. 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:42.079 A saviour will 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:43.059 come who will 00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:44.059 fix this mess, 00:18:44.119 --> 00:18:45.119 who will restore 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:46.599 relationship. 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:48.339 Then you get 00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:48.700 to the book 00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:49.159 of Exodus 00:18:49.159 --> 00:18:49.839 and you find 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:50.940 God's chosen 00:18:50.940 --> 00:18:51.419 people and 00:18:51.419 --> 00:18:52.019 they're slaves 00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:52.419 in Egypt 00:18:52.419 --> 00:18:53.440 and God 00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:54.159 sends Moses 00:18:54.159 --> 00:18:54.740 and he comes 00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:55.440 and he's present 00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:56.500 and he acts 00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:57.419 in miraculous ways 00:18:57.419 --> 00:18:58.399 in order to 00:18:58.399 --> 00:18:59.139 rescue them 00:18:59.140 --> 00:18:59.900 not just as an 00:18:59.900 --> 00:19:00.960 end in itself 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:01.700 but so that they 00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:02.400 might become 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:03.300 the people of God. 00:19:04.100 --> 00:19:04.600 And you get 00:19:04.600 --> 00:19:05.140 these wonderful 00:19:05.140 --> 00:19:05.540 pictures, 00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:05.960 you get them 00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:07.180 following God, 00:19:07.280 --> 00:19:07.800 the pillar of 00:19:07.800 --> 00:19:09.280 cloud by day, 00:19:09.340 --> 00:19:09.820 the pillar of 00:19:09.820 --> 00:19:10.740 fire by night. 00:19:10.900 --> 00:19:11.480 They've got the 00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:12.280 ark of God, 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:13.540 God's throne 00:19:13.540 --> 00:19:14.900 with them. 00:19:15.360 --> 00:19:15.960 They have the 00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:16.700 tabernacle, 00:19:17.140 --> 00:19:18.300 God's address 00:19:18.300 --> 00:19:19.180 on the earth 00:19:19.180 --> 00:19:20.020 in the middle 00:19:20.020 --> 00:19:21.240 of their community. 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:22.540 God has saved 00:19:22.540 --> 00:19:23.100 them to be 00:19:23.100 --> 00:19:24.460 present with them 00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:25.900 to bring them 00:19:25.900 --> 00:19:26.860 joy, 00:19:27.080 --> 00:19:27.700 to bring them 00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:28.380 ultimately to 00:19:28.380 --> 00:19:28.900 the promised 00:19:28.900 --> 00:19:29.360 land where 00:19:29.360 --> 00:19:30.019 God promised 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:30.660 once again 00:19:30.660 --> 00:19:31.700 to live 00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:32.039 with his 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:32.299 people. 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:33.319 And if they 00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:33.640 would be 00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:34.279 obedient to 00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:34.460 God, 00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:34.759 they would 00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:35.440 know blessing 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:36.019 but they're 00:19:36.019 --> 00:19:36.880 disobedient 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:37.519 and that 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:38.019 leads so 00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:38.640 often to 00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:39.660 exile 00:19:39.660 --> 00:19:40.840 and to 00:19:40.840 --> 00:19:41.779 absence. 00:19:42.940 --> 00:19:43.140 And so 00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:43.480 there's this 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:44.220 longing in 00:19:44.220 --> 00:19:44.519 the Old 00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:45.700 Testament for 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:46.319 God and his 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:46.900 people to be 00:19:46.900 --> 00:19:47.460 together and 00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:48.360 then there's 00:19:48.360 --> 00:19:48.799 the promise 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:49.360 of Jesus 00:19:49.360 --> 00:19:49.700 coming. 00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:51.620 Jesus who's 00:19:51.620 --> 00:19:52.299 announced as 00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:53.120 Emmanuel, 00:19:53.860 --> 00:19:54.539 the God 00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:55.420 who is 00:19:55.420 --> 00:19:56.299 with us. 00:19:56.299 --> 00:19:56.740 And here we 00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:57.420 see the 00:19:57.420 --> 00:19:58.059 grace of 00:19:58.059 --> 00:19:58.480 God as 00:19:58.480 --> 00:19:59.160 God comes 00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:00.039 down to 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:00.680 dwell, 00:20:00.839 --> 00:20:01.460 to live 00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:02.660 among his 00:20:02.660 --> 00:20:03.160 people. 00:20:04.460 --> 00:20:05.359 And salvation 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:06.940 is a restoring 00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:07.480 of that 00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:08.160 relationship, 00:20:08.339 --> 00:20:08.819 bringing us 00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:09.380 back into 00:20:09.380 --> 00:20:09.859 the presence 00:20:09.859 --> 00:20:10.420 of God. 00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:11.779 We see that 00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:12.539 really clearly 00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:13.599 when Jesus 00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:14.180 is on the 00:20:14.180 --> 00:20:14.740 cross and 00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:15.359 there's a 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:16.799 thief beside 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:17.180 him, 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.180 saying to 00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:19.019 Lord when 00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:19.900 you remember 00:20:19.900 --> 00:20:20.460 me when you 00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:20.960 come into 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:21.500 your kingdom. 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:22.319 And Jesus 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:22.940 turns to him 00:20:22.940 --> 00:20:23.240 and says 00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:23.960 today you 00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:24.559 will be 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:25.440 with me 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:26.980 in paradise. 00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:27.960 With 00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:29.679 Jesus is 00:20:29.679 --> 00:20:30.039 what makes 00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:30.539 paradise, 00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:31.039 paradise. 00:20:31.399 --> 00:20:31.859 And that's 00:20:31.859 --> 00:20:32.299 the picture 00:20:32.299 --> 00:20:32.759 as we get 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:33.319 to the end 00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:33.759 of the Bible. 00:20:33.919 --> 00:20:34.379 Revelation 00:20:34.379 --> 00:20:35.720 21, you 00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:36.019 get this 00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:37.019 new creation 00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:38.220 picture and 00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:39.559 God dwelling 00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:40.000 with his 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:41.220 people forever 00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:42.740 is the end 00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:43.460 of the story. 00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:44.339 That's the 00:20:44.339 --> 00:20:45.119 great hope 00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:46.179 of the Bible. 00:20:46.379 --> 00:20:47.099 God's great 00:20:47.099 --> 00:20:48.879 gift is 00:20:48.879 --> 00:20:49.559 himself. 00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:51.759 And so 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.299 Jonah's 00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:52.779 hope for 00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:54.519 mercy rests 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:55.480 in God 00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:56.279 being present 00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:56.919 with him 00:20:56.919 --> 00:20:57.500 and for him. 00:20:57.579 --> 00:20:58.039 So we see 00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:58.579 the language 00:20:58.579 --> 00:20:59.399 in verse 4 00:20:59.399 --> 00:21:00.339 said despite 00:21:00.339 --> 00:21:01.440 being banished 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:02.419 yet I look 00:21:02.419 --> 00:21:03.119 again towards 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:03.599 your holy 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:04.119 temple. 00:21:04.919 --> 00:21:05.539 Verse 7 00:21:05.539 --> 00:21:06.419 When my life 00:21:06.419 --> 00:21:06.919 was ebbing 00:21:06.919 --> 00:21:07.339 away I 00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:08.099 remembered you 00:21:08.099 --> 00:21:08.700 Lord and my 00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:09.579 prayer rose to 00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:10.319 you to your 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:10.899 holy temple. 00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:11.379 Why the 00:21:11.379 --> 00:21:11.700 temple? 00:21:11.819 --> 00:21:12.460 Because that's 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:13.039 where God 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:13.519 is. 00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:14.440 That's where 00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:15.579 God is present, 00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:16.039 where God 00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:17.279 accepts sacrifices, 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:17.799 where God 00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:19.539 hears prayer. 00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:21.240 And so the 00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:22.119 mercy of God 00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:22.740 in Jonah's 00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:23.259 life is that 00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:24.019 God comes to 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:24.720 be present 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:26.440 to save 00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:26.799 him. 00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:28.339 And what we 00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:29.000 discover as we 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:29.379 look at the 00:21:29.379 --> 00:21:30.139 Bible is it's 00:21:30.139 --> 00:21:30.619 God being 00:21:30.619 --> 00:21:31.180 present. 00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:32.359 That's how we 00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:32.859 are saved. 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:33.559 God coming 00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:34.159 down to us 00:21:34.159 --> 00:21:34.639 is how we 00:21:34.639 --> 00:21:34.960 are saved. 00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:35.619 And that's 00:21:35.619 --> 00:21:36.519 also why we 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:36.960 are saved. 00:21:37.639 --> 00:21:38.480 The goal of 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.159 our salvation 00:21:39.159 --> 00:21:40.039 is that we 00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:40.359 would be 00:21:40.359 --> 00:21:41.579 present with 00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:42.519 God. 00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:43.960 The goal of 00:21:43.960 --> 00:21:44.460 Christianity 00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:45.420 isn't simply 00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:46.559 that our lives 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.079 would change 00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:47.420 and get a 00:21:47.420 --> 00:21:47.700 little bit 00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:48.119 better. 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:49.480 Though they 00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:50.940 will, it's 00:21:50.940 --> 00:21:51.720 not simply 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:53.220 moral improvement, 00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:53.819 though as the 00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:54.620 spirit comes to 00:21:54.620 --> 00:21:55.319 reside in us, 00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:56.039 change will 00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:56.579 come. 00:21:57.900 --> 00:21:59.000 The goal of 00:21:59.000 --> 00:21:59.940 Christianity is 00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:00.380 that we would 00:22:00.380 --> 00:22:01.799 know and enjoy 00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:03.640 God forever 00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:05.539 with him. 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:07.500 Nothing less. 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.180 That's what we're 00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:09.259 being offered. 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:10.460 And the story of 00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:11.720 Jesus reminds us 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:12.039 of that. 00:22:12.180 --> 00:22:12.740 Jesus, who 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:14.920 eternally enjoyed 00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:15.779 fellowship with 00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:16.400 his father, 00:22:16.819 --> 00:22:17.940 experiences that 00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:18.500 sense of 00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:20.380 absence on 00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:21.160 the cross. 00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:22.240 My God, my 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:23.200 God, why have 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:23.900 you forsaken 00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:24.160 me? 00:22:24.420 --> 00:22:26.220 So that we 00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:27.000 might never 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:28.120 have that 00:22:28.120 --> 00:22:28.660 experience. 00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:29.240 So we might 00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:30.240 know and 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:31.640 enjoy God's 00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:33.440 presence forever. 00:22:35.320 --> 00:22:36.160 God is the 00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:36.539 gospel. 00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:37.240 He's our 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:38.340 great hope. 00:22:38.380 --> 00:22:38.640 And we're 00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:39.200 reminded of 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:40.120 that in the 00:22:40.120 --> 00:22:41.200 story of 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:41.759 Jonah. 00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:43.240 Further, 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:44.940 Jonah reminds 00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:46.019 us in his 00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:46.980 prayer of 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:48.360 the grace 00:22:48.360 --> 00:22:49.559 of God. 00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:50.799 Verse 8, 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:52.000 those who 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:52.779 cling to 00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:54.180 worthless idols 00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:56.240 forfeit the 00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:57.700 grace that 00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:58.640 could be 00:22:58.640 --> 00:22:59.380 theirs. 00:22:59.380 --> 00:23:00.539 Now, we're 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:01.460 in the middle 00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:02.039 of the sea 00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:02.539 here as 00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.360 Jonah prays. 00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:04.220 So picture 00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:05.580 a ship 00:23:05.580 --> 00:23:07.779 battered by 00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:09.320 a storm that 00:23:09.320 --> 00:23:10.100 begins to 00:23:10.100 --> 00:23:10.759 break up, 00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:11.440 begins to 00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:11.880 sink. 00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:12.880 Crew, 00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:14.400 sailors begin 00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:14.920 to go 00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:15.540 overboard. 00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:16.220 What's their 00:23:16.220 --> 00:23:17.100 hope of 00:23:17.100 --> 00:23:17.720 salvation? 00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:18.240 Where does 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:19.020 that salvation 00:23:19.020 --> 00:23:20.080 rest? 00:23:20.820 --> 00:23:21.740 Primarily on 00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:22.820 clinging initially 00:23:22.820 --> 00:23:23.480 to something 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:23.960 that's going to 00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:24.320 keep them 00:23:24.320 --> 00:23:24.900 afloat. 00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:26.320 And here is 00:23:26.320 --> 00:23:27.020 Jonah in 00:23:27.020 --> 00:23:27.740 his prayer 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:29.260 reflecting on 00:23:29.260 --> 00:23:30.100 the importance 00:23:30.100 --> 00:23:31.380 of choosing 00:23:31.380 --> 00:23:32.380 the right God 00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:33.120 to cling 00:23:33.120 --> 00:23:33.940 on to 00:23:33.940 --> 00:23:35.720 for salvation, 00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:37.040 for hell. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:38.680 And this is 00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:39.180 something that 00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:40.580 runs a kind 00:23:40.580 --> 00:23:41.500 of counter to 00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.160 our culture 00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:42.700 because we 00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:43.279 are taught, 00:23:43.360 --> 00:23:44.000 the messages 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:44.460 that we hear 00:23:44.460 --> 00:23:45.100 so often are 00:23:45.100 --> 00:23:45.640 taught to be 00:23:45.640 --> 00:23:47.040 self-sufficient, 00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:48.660 to be all 00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:49.180 that we can 00:23:49.180 --> 00:23:50.360 be, to rely 00:23:50.360 --> 00:23:50.820 on our own 00:23:50.820 --> 00:23:52.060 natural resources. 00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:53.779 And so that 00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:54.420 can often be 00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:55.000 our tendency. 00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.259 I'll place my 00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:56.759 hope in my 00:23:56.759 --> 00:23:57.720 own gifts and 00:23:57.720 --> 00:23:59.279 abilities, my 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:00.240 financial reserves, 00:24:00.320 --> 00:24:01.000 even the family 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.660 or the friends 00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:02.240 that God has 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:03.160 put around me. 00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:04.300 And we need 00:24:04.300 --> 00:24:04.820 to recognize 00:24:04.820 --> 00:24:05.320 that those are 00:24:05.320 --> 00:24:05.860 all a gift 00:24:05.860 --> 00:24:07.320 from God and 00:24:07.320 --> 00:24:07.960 absolutely can 00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:08.800 give us strength 00:24:08.800 --> 00:24:09.620 and help when 00:24:09.620 --> 00:24:10.580 we face a crisis. 00:24:10.579 --> 00:24:12.000 But ultimately, 00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.439 as Jonah 00:24:13.439 --> 00:24:14.299 presents us 00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:15.299 here, God 00:24:15.299 --> 00:24:16.559 himself is 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:17.480 the only one 00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:18.399 to cling to 00:24:18.399 --> 00:24:19.480 who can give 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:20.319 us help both 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:22.159 in life and 00:24:22.159 --> 00:24:22.919 in death 00:24:22.919 --> 00:24:24.539 and beyond 00:24:24.539 --> 00:24:25.759 death. 00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:28.399 Jonah says 00:24:28.399 --> 00:24:29.339 to cling to 00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:29.899 an idol 00:24:29.899 --> 00:24:31.179 is to 00:24:31.179 --> 00:24:31.539 miss 00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:32.099 grace. 00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:35.419 If we make 00:24:35.419 --> 00:24:36.319 something or 00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:37.319 someone else 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:38.299 rather than 00:24:38.299 --> 00:24:38.919 the true God, 00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:40.200 the center of 00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:40.560 our life, 00:24:40.620 --> 00:24:41.100 the thing that 00:24:41.100 --> 00:24:42.060 we place our 00:24:42.060 --> 00:24:42.500 hopes and 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:42.940 dreams on, 00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:43.740 we'll miss 00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:45.360 the salvation 00:24:45.360 --> 00:24:46.039 of God. 00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:47.340 We'll miss 00:24:47.340 --> 00:24:48.240 this free 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:48.940 offer of his 00:24:48.940 --> 00:24:49.800 love and his 00:24:49.800 --> 00:24:50.840 mercy extended 00:24:50.840 --> 00:24:51.560 to us in 00:24:51.560 --> 00:24:51.940 Jesus. 00:24:53.840 --> 00:24:54.240 And Jonah 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:55.100 appreciates that 00:24:55.100 --> 00:24:55.620 as he looks 00:24:55.620 --> 00:24:56.100 around. 00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:57.600 Maybe thinking 00:24:57.600 --> 00:24:58.039 about some 00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:58.460 people in 00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:59.320 Israel who 00:24:59.320 --> 00:24:59.920 turned away 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:00.980 from the true 00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:01.400 God to 00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:02.080 worship idols. 00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:02.920 Certainly 00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:03.560 thinking about 00:25:03.560 --> 00:25:04.000 the pagan 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:04.779 nations all 00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:05.500 around Israel 00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:06.360 who are 00:25:06.360 --> 00:25:07.019 worshiping 00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:07.759 idols. 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:08.099 and he 00:25:08.099 --> 00:25:09.039 understands 00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:11.019 that in 00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:11.440 the end 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:12.059 their hope 00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:12.839 is futile 00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:13.299 because it's 00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:13.819 not in 00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:14.400 the true 00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:15.220 God. 00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:15.859 This God 00:25:15.859 --> 00:25:17.039 who reveals 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:17.779 his character 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.240 to his 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:18.500 people. 00:25:18.599 --> 00:25:19.119 For example 00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:19.599 in Exodus 00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:20.619 34 is a 00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:20.980 God who 00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:22.440 is compassionate 00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:23.920 and gracious, 00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:25.480 slow to 00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:25.920 anger, 00:25:26.339 --> 00:25:27.299 abounding in 00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:28.299 love and 00:25:28.299 --> 00:25:29.160 faithfulness. 00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:29.940 God who 00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:30.579 shows his 00:25:30.579 --> 00:25:31.240 grace in 00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:31.960 sending his 00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:32.640 own son 00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:33.799 Jesus to 00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:34.839 be our 00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:35.480 substitute. 00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:35.980 He 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:39.660 can be 00:25:39.660 --> 00:25:40.099 helpful for 00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:40.339 us to 00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:41.339 reflect on 00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:43.299 the question 00:25:43.299 --> 00:25:43.819 that Jonah's 00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:44.420 prayer poses 00:25:44.420 --> 00:25:44.759 to us. 00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:45.420 Who is it 00:25:45.420 --> 00:25:45.920 or what is 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:46.339 it that we 00:25:46.339 --> 00:25:47.140 cling to 00:25:47.140 --> 00:25:48.819 in a storm, 00:25:48.900 --> 00:25:49.460 in a crisis 00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:50.119 in our lives? 00:25:50.180 --> 00:25:50.619 Where do we 00:25:50.619 --> 00:25:51.799 automatically go? 00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:53.379 Is it the 00:25:53.379 --> 00:25:54.319 God of grace 00:25:54.319 --> 00:25:55.019 and mercy 00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:56.539 or is it 00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:57.200 to someone 00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:58.680 or something 00:25:58.680 --> 00:25:59.740 else? 00:25:59.740 --> 00:25:59.880 God? 00:26:01.880 --> 00:26:02.400 Now we 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:02.779 saw this 00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.200 last week 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:03.700 in Jonah's 00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:03.920 story. 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:04.380 We see it 00:26:04.380 --> 00:26:04.779 again here. 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:05.359 There's a 00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:05.859 point of 00:26:05.859 --> 00:26:07.519 tension in 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.220 his story. 00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:08.980 There's a 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:09.500 disconnect 00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:10.660 between what 00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:11.200 he knows 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:11.720 and how 00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.079 he lives. 00:26:12.140 --> 00:26:12.339 So he 00:26:12.339 --> 00:26:13.059 just said 00:26:13.059 --> 00:26:14.680 here that 00:26:14.680 --> 00:26:15.099 the only 00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:15.740 place to 00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:16.400 find hope 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:17.640 is in 00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:18.579 the God 00:26:18.579 --> 00:26:18.839 of the 00:26:18.839 --> 00:26:19.140 Bible. 00:26:20.900 --> 00:26:21.539 That he 00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:22.140 appreciates 00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:22.819 grace and 00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:24.019 mercy for 00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.480 himself. 00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:24.799 He 00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.359 recognizes 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:25.960 that that's 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:26.759 life-giving. 00:26:27.640 --> 00:26:28.039 But what we 00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:28.539 see in his 00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:29.299 story is how 00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:30.180 slow he 00:26:30.180 --> 00:26:31.500 is to 00:26:31.500 --> 00:26:32.220 extend that 00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:32.839 grace and 00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:33.539 mercy to 00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:33.899 others, 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:35.220 particularly to 00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:35.619 the people 00:26:35.619 --> 00:26:36.240 in Nineveh. 00:26:36.899 --> 00:26:37.700 Even, and 00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.039 when we get 00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:38.460 there a couple 00:26:38.460 --> 00:26:38.740 of weeks, 00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:39.259 he delivers 00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:39.960 the message, 00:26:40.440 --> 00:26:40.920 the people 00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:41.460 turn to 00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:41.879 God in 00:26:41.879 --> 00:26:42.359 repentance, 00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:43.579 and their 00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:44.019 city is 00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:44.240 saved. 00:26:44.339 --> 00:26:44.659 Jonah is 00:26:44.659 --> 00:26:45.319 miserable 00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:46.440 because he 00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:46.899 doesn't want 00:26:46.899 --> 00:26:47.500 his enemies 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.960 to enjoy the 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:49.500 same mercy 00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:50.019 and grace 00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:50.359 that he 00:26:50.359 --> 00:26:50.960 has found. 00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:52.740 There's a 00:26:52.740 --> 00:26:53.480 gap between 00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:54.299 what he 00:26:54.299 --> 00:26:55.859 believes and 00:26:55.859 --> 00:26:56.200 how he 00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:56.659 lives. 00:26:57.099 --> 00:26:57.319 I think 00:26:57.319 --> 00:26:57.559 that's a 00:26:57.559 --> 00:26:58.039 challenge for 00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:58.279 us as 00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:58.599 Christians. 00:26:59.879 --> 00:27:00.279 So something 00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:00.720 for us to 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.159 think about 00:27:01.159 --> 00:27:01.480 as a 00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:01.759 church, 00:27:01.859 --> 00:27:02.139 are we, 00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:03.019 as those 00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:03.359 who have 00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:03.980 received 00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:05.099 grace from 00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:06.339 God and 00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:06.659 the Lord 00:27:06.659 --> 00:27:07.220 Jesus the 00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:07.399 Savior, 00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:07.779 are we 00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.460 extending 00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:10.119 grace and 00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:10.879 forgiveness and 00:27:10.879 --> 00:27:11.339 mercy and 00:27:11.339 --> 00:27:11.879 kindness to 00:27:11.879 --> 00:27:12.359 others? 00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:14.159 Do we pray 00:27:14.159 --> 00:27:14.819 and speak and 00:27:14.819 --> 00:27:15.319 act so that 00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:15.859 others might 00:27:15.859 --> 00:27:16.359 know that 00:27:16.359 --> 00:27:16.980 grace in 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:17.579 Jesus for 00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:18.179 themselves? 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:19.220 Would 00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:19.819 people come 00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:20.759 into our 00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:21.539 church gatherings 00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:22.139 or where we 00:27:22.139 --> 00:27:23.099 meet together 00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:23.480 and think, 00:27:23.639 --> 00:27:24.039 here are the 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:24.519 people who 00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:25.480 are full of 00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:27.480 grace and 00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:28.240 love? 00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:30.599 The last 00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:31.819 thing that I 00:27:31.819 --> 00:27:32.539 want us to 00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:33.660 note is that 00:27:33.660 --> 00:27:34.700 in Jonah's 00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:35.519 experience having 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.759 reflected on the 00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.559 providence of 00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.339 God and the 00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:39.059 presence of 00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:39.559 God in his 00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:40.059 life and the 00:27:40.059 --> 00:27:40.559 grace of 00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:42.460 God, we 00:27:42.460 --> 00:27:43.019 see his 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:44.019 thankfulness in 00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:44.980 verse 9 to 00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:45.579 God. 00:27:45.579 --> 00:27:47.579 God, we 00:27:47.579 --> 00:27:48.279 have a song of 00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:49.119 thanksgiving 00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:50.639 will sacrifice 00:27:50.639 --> 00:27:51.339 to you. 00:27:51.879 --> 00:27:52.500 What I have 00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:53.679 vowed I will 00:27:53.679 --> 00:27:54.379 make good. 00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:55.799 Salvation 00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:57.099 comes from 00:27:57.099 --> 00:27:57.519 the Lord. 00:27:58.599 --> 00:27:58.919 Think of 00:27:58.919 --> 00:27:59.519 Jonah's 00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:00.179 shoes for a 00:28:00.179 --> 00:28:00.399 moment. 00:28:00.679 --> 00:28:01.179 You find 00:28:01.179 --> 00:28:01.699 yourself, you've 00:28:01.699 --> 00:28:02.460 just been thrown 00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:03.720 overboard, having 00:28:03.720 --> 00:28:04.480 faced a terrible 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.059 storm. 00:28:05.859 --> 00:28:07.399 You're sinking into 00:28:07.399 --> 00:28:08.079 the depths, you've 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:08.879 got seaweed wrapped 00:28:08.879 --> 00:28:09.679 around your head, 00:28:09.799 --> 00:28:10.519 you're near to 00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:11.539 drowning, and then 00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:12.079 you get swallowed 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:12.839 by a fish. 00:28:12.839 --> 00:28:14.019 And you find 00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:14.699 yourself in the 00:28:14.699 --> 00:28:15.579 darkness and the 00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:16.399 sting for three 00:28:16.399 --> 00:28:16.699 days. 00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:17.859 How would you be 00:28:17.859 --> 00:28:19.779 feeling at that 00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:20.359 moment? 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:23.699 It's wonderful to 00:28:23.699 --> 00:28:25.419 see that Jonah is 00:28:25.419 --> 00:28:26.399 full of 00:28:26.399 --> 00:28:27.379 thanksgiving. 00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:30.079 He sees in this 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:31.299 experience God's 00:28:31.299 --> 00:28:33.539 rescue despite his 00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:35.259 own disobedience. 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:36.839 He appreciates that 00:28:36.839 --> 00:28:37.699 God has shown 00:28:37.699 --> 00:28:39.639 mercy to him while 00:28:39.639 --> 00:28:40.740 he was on the run 00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.819 from God. 00:28:42.259 --> 00:28:42.759 And so we've got 00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.619 this language of 00:28:43.619 --> 00:28:44.920 offering sacrifices 00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:45.900 and vows. 00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:47.539 This is not a 00:28:47.539 --> 00:28:48.420 one-time thing. 00:28:48.879 --> 00:28:49.700 He's saying to 00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:50.920 God, in view of 00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:51.619 what you have done 00:28:51.619 --> 00:28:52.559 for me, I want my 00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:53.980 life to be patterned 00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:56.160 on thankfulness. 00:28:56.379 --> 00:28:57.240 Because you have 00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:58.339 saved me, I want my 00:28:58.339 --> 00:28:59.599 life to be full of 00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:01.299 thanksgiving. 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:03.140 Because in God's 00:29:03.140 --> 00:29:03.879 providence, he'd 00:29:03.879 --> 00:29:05.500 receive mercy and 00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:07.779 not just judgment. 00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:09.640 He has discovered 00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:10.599 the presence of God 00:29:10.599 --> 00:29:11.339 is this hope and 00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:11.879 salvation. 00:29:11.880 --> 00:29:14.120 He's received the 00:29:14.120 --> 00:29:15.300 grace of God as a 00:29:15.300 --> 00:29:16.380 gift he didn't 00:29:16.380 --> 00:29:17.020 deserve but 00:29:17.020 --> 00:29:19.380 gratefully receives. 00:29:20.040 --> 00:29:21.340 The point is this, 00:29:21.420 --> 00:29:23.240 God's mercy in 00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:24.260 giving us Jesus to 00:29:24.260 --> 00:29:25.220 be our Savior should 00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:26.000 lead us to live 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:27.220 lives marked by 00:29:27.220 --> 00:29:28.660 thankfulness. 00:29:29.820 --> 00:29:31.420 As Paul says in 00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:34.000 Romans 12, I urge 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:35.920 you in view of 00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:38.200 God's mercy to 00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:39.880 offer your bodies as 00:29:39.880 --> 00:29:41.300 living sacrifices. 00:29:41.300 --> 00:29:44.180 Holy and pleasing to 00:29:44.180 --> 00:29:44.520 God. 00:29:45.260 --> 00:29:46.960 This is your spiritual 00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:48.920 act of worship. 00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:51.460 As we reflect on what 00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:53.260 God has done for us in 00:29:53.260 --> 00:29:54.540 Jesus, we recognize he's 00:29:54.540 --> 00:29:56.260 done everything to save 00:29:56.260 --> 00:29:57.540 us from ourselves and 00:29:57.540 --> 00:29:59.600 from our sin and from 00:29:59.600 --> 00:30:01.580 eternal judgment that we 00:30:01.580 --> 00:30:02.560 deserve. 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:04.819 that he invites us to 00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:05.859 come to him to receive 00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:07.599 forgiveness and mercy and 00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:09.179 love and salvation for 00:30:09.179 --> 00:30:11.480 now and forever and 00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:13.579 in light of that, in 00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:14.559 light of all that Jesus 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:15.440 has done for us. 00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:18.519 Let's pray that our lives 00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:20.500 will be marked by this 00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:22.319 kind of thanksgiving. 00:30:22.899 --> 00:30:25.399 That we'd reflect on the 00:30:25.399 --> 00:30:26.599 cross and the 00:30:26.599 --> 00:30:28.359 resurrection and think how 00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:30.299 that should transform our 00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:32.460 lives and our attitudes. 00:30:32.639 --> 00:30:33.680 That with God's help, 00:30:34.299 --> 00:30:35.659 Jonah's response in verse 00:30:35.659 --> 00:30:38.039 9 would be ours too.