WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.099 Good morning. Today reading is on the book of Jonah and is on page 928. We are reading Jonah 2 and 3. 00:00:13.679 --> 00:00:22.039 ! Now the Lord provide a huge fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. 00:00:22.039 --> 00:00:27.280 From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the Lord, his God, and he said, 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:36.500 In my distress, I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the rail of the dead, I called for help, and he listened to my cry. 00:00:37.179 --> 00:00:49.340 You heard me into the very heart of the sea, and currents swore about me. All your waves and breakers swept over me. 00:00:49.340 --> 00:00:57.760 I said, I've been banished from your sight, yet I will look again toward your holy temple. 00:00:57.759 --> 00:01:07.120 The engulfing water threatened me. The deep surrounded me. Seaweed was wrapped around my head. 00:01:07.900 --> 00:01:15.000 To the root of the mountain, I sunk down. The earth beneath buried me in the forever. 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:29.079 But you, Lord, my God, brought my life up from the pit. When my life was ebbing away, I remember you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. 00:01:29.939 --> 00:01:35.920 Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God's love for them. 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:41.219 But I, with shout of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. 00:01:42.680 --> 00:01:48.359 What I have vowed, I will make good. I will say, salvation come from the Lord. 00:01:49.180 --> 00:01:54.320 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah unto dry lands. 00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:59.299 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time. 00:01:59.520 --> 00:02:04.500 Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I gave you. 00:02:04.500 --> 00:02:08.919 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:15.340 Now Nineveh was a very large city. It took three days to go through it. 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:20.280 Jonah began by going a day journey into the city, proclaiming, 00:02:20.740 --> 00:02:23.780 Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown. 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:27.379 The Ninevites believed God. 00:02:27.379 --> 00:02:35.060 A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 00:02:35.699 --> 00:02:43.019 When Jonah's warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off Israel's robe, 00:02:43.519 --> 00:02:47.560 covered himself with sackcloth, and sat down in the dust. 00:02:48.180 --> 00:02:51.120 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh. 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:54.420 By the decree of the king and his noble. 00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:59.319 Do not let people or animal, herd or flock, taste anything. 00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:02.240 Do not let them eat or drink. 00:03:02.980 --> 00:03:06.280 But let people and animal be covered with sackcloth. 00:03:06.939 --> 00:03:09.420 Let everyone call urgently on God. 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:13.740 Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 00:03:13.740 --> 00:03:15.200 Who knows? 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:24.760 God may yet relent and wish compassion turned from his fierce anger so that we will not perish. 00:03:25.760 --> 00:03:34.120 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:39.340 he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had treated. 00:03:39.980 --> 00:03:40.280 Amen. 00:03:42.740 --> 00:03:43.660 Great. Thank you. 00:03:43.740 --> 00:03:45.800 Alexandra, let's pray as we come to God's word. 00:03:45.860 --> 00:03:46.480 Let's pray together. 00:03:52.480 --> 00:03:56.500 Heavenly Father, we are so very conscious of your greatness and your glory. 00:03:58.640 --> 00:04:03.900 You are the God who dwells in unapproachable light who no one has ever seen or can see. 00:04:03.900 --> 00:04:08.379 And yet we come now to listen to your word. 00:04:08.379 --> 00:04:10.560 To think on you. 00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:14.060 To ponder what our response to you should be. 00:04:14.060 --> 00:04:24.879 So we pray that with a right sense of humility, you would give us ears to hear what you're saying to us from your word by your spirit. 00:04:25.839 --> 00:04:27.819 Help me to preach clearly and faithfully. 00:04:27.939 --> 00:04:32.959 Help us all, we pray, to listen and to respond in obedience and faith. 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:34.279 In Jesus' name. 00:04:34.279 --> 00:04:35.519 Amen. 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:35.719 Amen. 00:04:38.199 --> 00:04:44.339 Let's begin looking at Jonah 2 and 3 by having a quick scan through the story. 00:04:44.579 --> 00:04:46.659 You might be very familiar with the story of Jonah. 00:04:46.660 --> 00:04:53.800 But if you were here last week, you will know that Jonah was sent to the Assyrian city of Nineveh. 00:04:54.180 --> 00:04:59.560 Andrew told you last week that it was a terrible, terrible place. 00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:03.540 And so Jonah's response was to go in the opposite direction. 00:05:04.680 --> 00:05:11.699 In the Hebrew, it's emphasized, Jonah chapter 1 verse 2, God asks Jonah to go up to Nineveh. 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:16.879 And instead, he goes down to Joppa to find a boat to Tarshish. 00:05:17.500 --> 00:05:24.699 He runs from God in disobedience rather than walking with God in obedience. 00:05:24.699 --> 00:05:31.579 Now, as you might expect, and as you found last week, running from God did not work out for Jonah, 00:05:31.659 --> 00:05:33.899 as it doesn't for anybody who tries it. 00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:39.800 And God sends a storm, a great wind on the sea, as it's put in chapter 1 verse 4, 00:05:40.360 --> 00:05:47.860 so bad that the sailors who Jonah is with end up throwing Jonah overboard to save themselves. 00:05:47.860 --> 00:05:54.939 And they're not effectively sacrificing Jonah for their own salvation, his life for their life. 00:05:55.420 --> 00:05:58.160 They throw Jonah into the chaos of the sea. 00:05:58.520 --> 00:06:03.620 I was listening to catching up with the sermons as I was driving back from the Lake District yesterday. 00:06:04.400 --> 00:06:09.080 And I think it was Yannick who pointed out to you that sea is chaos in the Bible. 00:06:09.240 --> 00:06:12.100 And Jonah is thrown into the midst of the chaos. 00:06:12.100 --> 00:06:15.980 But that is not the end of the story. 00:06:16.420 --> 00:06:23.000 Because when all appears lost, God rescues Jonah by sending a giant fish to swallow him whole. 00:06:23.939 --> 00:06:26.640 And that's where we find Jonah at the beginning of chapter 2, 00:06:26.760 --> 00:06:30.040 in the belly of the fish that God sent to save him. 00:06:30.760 --> 00:06:35.460 And chapter 2 verse 1 tells you that there in the belly of the fish, 00:06:35.520 --> 00:06:39.600 from inside the fish, Jonah prays, prays. 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:43.700 Now, I don't know when Alexandra read it, whether you noticed, 00:06:43.860 --> 00:06:50.040 but much of what Jonah prays would sound familiar to you if you've read much of the Psalms. 00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:53.980 Jonah here basically picks up his book of Psalms. 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:56.780 We don't really, because he probably didn't have it on him in the belly of the fish. 00:06:56.860 --> 00:06:59.540 And for sure, the fish had not swallowed the book of Psalms. 00:06:59.620 --> 00:07:02.939 But anyway, he is remembering the book of Psalms. 00:07:02.939 --> 00:07:06.600 And he is praying prayers lifted directly from the Psalms. 00:07:06.600 --> 00:07:12.680 So Jonah is sort of imagining himself hurled down to the depths like the Psalmist. 00:07:13.180 --> 00:07:17.120 But the way it's laid out, Jonah really sounds a little rich praying like this. 00:07:17.460 --> 00:07:20.400 Notice he quotes Psalm 42 about being in the deep, 00:07:20.840 --> 00:07:23.480 and the waves and the breakers sweeping over him. 00:07:24.200 --> 00:07:25.980 But when you actually read Psalm 42, 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:31.560 that the Psalmist in Psalm 42 is looking for and longing for God. 00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:33.620 Psalm 42 starts with, 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:37.360 As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you. 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:41.259 And then the Psalmist is sent trouble instead. 00:07:42.500 --> 00:07:46.379 And so Psalm 42 is the prayer of an earnest God seeker 00:07:46.379 --> 00:07:50.079 who has found themselves in the midst of dryness and struggle, 00:07:50.899 --> 00:07:53.139 which really is the opposite of Jonah's story, isn't it? 00:07:54.139 --> 00:07:58.000 Jonah has not been panting after God like a deer panting for water. 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:02.920 Instead, he is running from God and basically throws himself into the sea. 00:08:04.060 --> 00:08:06.379 Now, that perhaps explains why in verse 5, 00:08:06.439 --> 00:08:11.740 he has to use his own words to say that he's tangled in seaweed and ready to drown. 00:08:12.220 --> 00:08:15.000 None of the Psalmists ran from God quite like Jonah did. 00:08:15.899 --> 00:08:18.199 But despite his awkward use of Psalm 42, 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:21.420 God mercifully doesn't leave Jonah in the belly of the fish. 00:08:21.500 --> 00:08:24.019 Instead, after three days and three nights, 00:08:24.019 --> 00:08:25.879 according to chapter 1, verse 17, 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:28.419 the fish vomits Jonah up. 00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:30.979 So that when in chapter 3, verse 1, 00:08:31.079 --> 00:08:31.959 he's told again, 00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:33.000 Go to Nineveh. 00:08:33.439 --> 00:08:35.100 This time he goes. 00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:37.039 So you can contrast, can't you, 00:08:37.100 --> 00:08:38.340 the beginning of chapter 1, 00:08:38.620 --> 00:08:40.679 which begins with Jonah's disobedience, 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:42.779 with chapter 3, verse 3, 00:08:42.899 --> 00:08:45.480 which begins with Jonah's obedience. 00:08:45.879 --> 00:08:48.039 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord, 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:49.340 chapter 3, verse 3. 00:08:49.340 --> 00:08:54.899 Now, preaching to this city of Nineveh is no mean task. 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:55.860 It's a big city. 00:08:56.040 --> 00:08:58.200 It takes three days to walk through it. 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:00.560 And so Jonah does just that. 00:09:00.680 --> 00:09:02.440 He does it with a very brief sermon. 00:09:03.019 --> 00:09:05.300 It's only five words in the original Hebrew. 00:09:05.460 --> 00:09:07.160 It's there at the end of verse 4. 00:09:07.660 --> 00:09:10.720 40 more days and Nineveh will be overthrown. 00:09:11.780 --> 00:09:14.220 Now, I don't know if you've ever been to preaching class, 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:16.500 but that isn't a brilliant sermon. 00:09:16.580 --> 00:09:18.060 It's not really very persuasive. 00:09:18.059 --> 00:09:19.579 He has no illustrations. 00:09:20.139 --> 00:09:21.259 There are no parables. 00:09:21.459 --> 00:09:23.099 There are no examples of what they're doing wrong. 00:09:23.379 --> 00:09:26.119 It doesn't really seem as if Jonah's trying very hard 00:09:26.119 --> 00:09:27.119 to persuade anybody. 00:09:27.459 --> 00:09:29.879 He's like the guy with the sandwich board on 00:09:29.879 --> 00:09:30.699 that says, you know, 00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:32.500 repent or perish. 00:09:34.019 --> 00:09:35.619 He's probably looking more for a fight 00:09:35.619 --> 00:09:36.739 than he is looking for fruit. 00:09:37.379 --> 00:09:39.739 Yet remarkably, Jonah's five-word sermon 00:09:39.739 --> 00:09:41.399 is incredibly effective. 00:09:42.439 --> 00:09:44.039 And from the king on his throne 00:09:44.039 --> 00:09:45.479 to the peasant in the field, 00:09:45.899 --> 00:09:47.319 the Ninevites repent. 00:09:48.120 --> 00:09:49.460 They proclaim a fast. 00:09:49.860 --> 00:09:51.180 They put on sackcloth. 00:09:51.540 --> 00:09:54.000 They turn from their evil ways and their violence. 00:09:54.460 --> 00:09:55.720 And at the end of verse 8, 00:09:55.780 --> 00:09:57.340 are pleading with God to relent 00:09:57.340 --> 00:09:58.500 and turn from his judgment. 00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:00.440 It's an incredible turnaround. 00:10:01.379 --> 00:10:03.560 And it's met with the mercy of God 00:10:03.560 --> 00:10:05.360 who verse 10 says this, 00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:07.500 when God saw what they did 00:10:07.500 --> 00:10:09.600 and how they turned from their evil ways, 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:12.480 he relented and did not bring on them 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:14.240 the destruction he had threatened. 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:18.180 Now, that's not quite the end of the story. 00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:19.860 Nathan is going to finish it off 00:10:19.860 --> 00:10:20.940 in a sermon at the end of August. 00:10:21.060 --> 00:10:23.620 But what are we to think about the story so far? 00:10:24.180 --> 00:10:26.220 What do you think the story is about? 00:10:27.159 --> 00:10:29.259 What is the big idea? 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:32.139 Well, if you jump forward in your Bibles, 00:10:32.220 --> 00:10:34.659 we're given a massive hint by Jesus himself 00:10:34.659 --> 00:10:36.960 because Jesus picks up this story, 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:37.680 these chapters, 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:39.620 in Matthew chapter 12. 00:10:39.620 --> 00:10:41.460 So if you've got a Bible, 00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:42.600 you might want to turn with me 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:45.320 to Matthew chapter 12 and verse 39. 00:10:45.659 --> 00:10:48.639 It's on page 978. 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:50.440 978. 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:52.919 Matthew chapter 12, verse 39. 00:10:53.960 --> 00:10:56.700 Let me read to you these verses. 00:10:57.460 --> 00:10:59.100 Let's pick it up in verse 39. 00:10:59.100 --> 00:11:05.120 Jesus, speaking to the scribes and the Pharisees, 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:06.240 he answered, 00:11:07.019 --> 00:11:11.360 a wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign, 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:13.360 but none will be given it 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:15.639 except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:19.820 For as Jonah was three days and three nights 00:11:19.820 --> 00:11:21.500 in the belly of a huge fish, 00:11:21.960 --> 00:11:24.600 so the son of man will be three days 00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:27.180 and three nights in the heart of the earth. 00:11:27.179 --> 00:11:30.559 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:34.019 with this generation and condemn it, 00:11:34.599 --> 00:11:37.019 for they repented at the preaching of Jonah 00:11:37.019 --> 00:11:41.839 and now something greater than Jonah is here. 00:11:44.279 --> 00:11:46.399 Notice what Jesus is saying here. 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:48.579 He reads Jonah two and three 00:11:48.579 --> 00:11:50.979 and speaks of it to the scribes and the Pharisees 00:11:50.979 --> 00:11:52.299 and he says, doesn't he effectively, 00:11:52.459 --> 00:11:55.259 listen, I'm like Jonah, just better than Jonah. 00:11:55.259 --> 00:11:57.919 And there is a judgment coming, 00:11:58.039 --> 00:12:00.740 just like there was a judgment coming on the Ninevites. 00:12:01.620 --> 00:12:03.899 And you too also need to repent, 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:05.759 just like the Ninevites did. 00:12:06.419 --> 00:12:08.159 So let's just pick up those three points 00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:09.960 and use them to walk back through this story. 00:12:10.700 --> 00:12:13.700 Let's firstly think about Jesus being better than Jonah. 00:12:14.259 --> 00:12:15.840 Jesus is better than Jonah. 00:12:17.379 --> 00:12:19.200 Now, we don't have loads of time 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:20.659 to get into all the detail of it, 00:12:20.659 --> 00:12:22.259 but really, as I said earlier, 00:12:22.259 --> 00:12:25.059 you could summarize the book of Jonah 00:12:25.059 --> 00:12:28.139 by being remarkable fruit from a terrible preacher. 00:12:29.019 --> 00:12:31.600 So not only is Jonah reluctant at the start, 00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:33.559 running the way and ending up in the belly of a fish, 00:12:33.779 --> 00:12:35.659 but also chapter four will show you 00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:38.139 that despite eventually going to Nineveh, 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:39.860 he hasn't really changed at all. 00:12:40.679 --> 00:12:43.039 Three days in the fish and praying like a psalmist 00:12:43.039 --> 00:12:45.319 all seems to be very skin deep for Jonah, 00:12:46.019 --> 00:12:48.279 who ends up in as big a mess as he starts with. 00:12:48.279 --> 00:12:50.439 And then even in chapter three, 00:12:50.539 --> 00:12:51.759 the writer wants you to notice 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:52.939 that his preaching is rubbish. 00:12:53.079 --> 00:12:56.379 This five-word sermon is obviously a summary of what he said. 00:12:56.439 --> 00:12:57.819 I'm sure he said more than that. 00:12:58.079 --> 00:13:00.379 But the way it's written is just underlining 00:13:00.379 --> 00:13:03.139 this lack of conviction or compassion from Jonah. 00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:04.199 He doesn't care. 00:13:04.759 --> 00:13:05.299 He doesn't care. 00:13:06.079 --> 00:13:07.860 In fact, I think he's quite keen on the idea 00:13:07.860 --> 00:13:08.860 of them being destroyed. 00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:12.220 And yet there's something about the message 00:13:12.220 --> 00:13:14.899 spoken by a guy who probably looked quite rough. 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:17.899 I think if you've been in the acidic belly of a fish 00:13:17.899 --> 00:13:18.600 for three days, 00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:21.579 you probably look a bit rough as you come out. 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:25.579 There's something remarkable about this rough-looking guy 00:13:25.579 --> 00:13:26.699 preaching for three days 00:13:26.699 --> 00:13:29.159 that did a work on the hearts of the Ninevites. 00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:31.699 Now contrast that to Jesus. 00:13:33.399 --> 00:13:37.059 You know that the darkness and half-heartedness of Jonah 00:13:37.059 --> 00:13:40.460 makes the brightness and whole-heartedness of Jesus 00:13:40.460 --> 00:13:41.720 shine even more brightly. 00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:43.860 Think about it. 00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:49.940 Jesus, the preacher, did not run when he was sent. 00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:51.800 He came willingly. 00:13:52.800 --> 00:13:54.879 And he wasn't just leaving the relative safety 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:57.139 of the nation of Israel for the wickedness of Nineveh. 00:13:57.360 --> 00:13:59.680 He was leaving the perfection of heaven 00:13:59.680 --> 00:14:02.200 for the brokenness of this world. 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:06.580 And he wasn't just visiting for a three-day preaching tour. 00:14:06.820 --> 00:14:09.800 He was putting on weak human flesh, 00:14:10.180 --> 00:14:12.060 becoming one of us, 00:14:12.059 --> 00:14:19.779 taking 30 years to live, walk, talk, eat. 00:14:19.779 --> 00:14:25.919 And Jesus didn't die as a sacrifice for his own sins 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:27.919 to calm the storm that resulted, 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:32.159 but really he came and sacrificed himself for the sin of others. 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:37.459 He was not three days dead in a fish. 00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:42.059 But as Matthew 12 points out, he was three days dead in the earth. 00:14:42.059 --> 00:14:44.199 And Jesus rises, 00:14:44.199 --> 00:14:46.199 and Jesus rises, not bleached by stomach acid, 00:14:46.199 --> 00:14:49.219 but with wounds on his hands and his feet, 00:14:49.659 --> 00:14:52.779 marks from the sacrifice that he's made for our sin. 00:14:53.099 --> 00:14:56.199 And he preaches not a five-word sermon of condemnation, 00:14:56.579 --> 00:14:57.739 hoping that we don't listen, 00:14:58.079 --> 00:15:03.579 but a whole Bible full of compassion and love and grace and persuasive mercy, 00:15:03.580 --> 00:15:07.040 pleading with us to listen and not refuse him, 00:15:08.800 --> 00:15:11.139 saying to us that if we refuse to listen to him, 00:15:11.220 --> 00:15:12.960 we'll be worse off than the Ninevites. 00:15:15.800 --> 00:15:19.940 Now, of course, the point of all this is that we should listen to Jesus. 00:15:21.080 --> 00:15:22.759 If Nineveh listened to Jonah, 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:25.200 then the priests and the scribes, 00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:26.620 so the Pharisees and the scribes, 00:15:26.660 --> 00:15:28.080 and you and I this morning, 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:33.360 we should listen to Jesus even more than the Ninevites listened to Jonah. 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:37.600 Let's just be really clear about this so that we know what's going on. 00:15:37.660 --> 00:15:38.680 You know, don't you, 00:15:39.040 --> 00:15:42.660 that when you read your Bible 00:15:42.660 --> 00:15:47.000 or when you listen to the Bible taught faithfully and preached faithfully, 00:15:47.400 --> 00:15:50.100 it is Jesus' voice that you're hearing. 00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:53.440 These words, my words this morning, are his words, 00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:55.500 not because I'm special or better than anybody, 00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:58.659 but because these words are from his book. 00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:02.799 It's a book that's not just about Jesus, 00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:05.120 but it is from Jesus. 00:16:06.340 --> 00:16:08.200 It's an extraordinary claim, isn't it? 00:16:08.220 --> 00:16:11.000 And I can't prove it to you in a way that would fully convince you, 00:16:11.059 --> 00:16:12.500 I'm sure, if you don't yet believe it. 00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:14.899 But really, all the evidence points this way. 00:16:15.620 --> 00:16:18.539 The Bible itself is written over thousands of years 00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:21.620 by multiple different authors from a diverse range of backgrounds 00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:26.720 on the most controversial and contested subject in all of life. 00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:30.299 And yet they agree with one another. 00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:31.279 Why? 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:35.980 Well, because God is the author of the scriptures. 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:38.620 Jesus is speaking through the Bible. 00:16:39.899 --> 00:16:41.980 One voice, one story, 00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:44.779 one promise of salvation in Jesus Christ. 00:16:44.779 --> 00:16:47.319 So the story of his death and resurrection 00:16:47.319 --> 00:16:52.519 is modeled 800 years before he comes in the life of Jonah. 00:16:53.740 --> 00:16:58.419 And so we get to listen to Jesus as his word is opened 00:16:58.419 --> 00:17:00.199 and as it's taught. 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:03.639 Jesus walks off the pages of the Bible. 00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:05.359 He calls out to us, 00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:07.480 listen to me, he says. 00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:11.740 I have an urgent message for all of you to hear. 00:17:11.740 --> 00:17:14.579 That's the first point. 00:17:14.660 --> 00:17:17.200 Jesus is like Jonah, only much, much better. 00:17:17.339 --> 00:17:18.480 And we get to hear him. 00:17:19.099 --> 00:17:21.620 Secondly, then notice the similarity in their message. 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:25.819 Both Jesus and Jonah say judgment is coming. 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:29.400 If you're still in Matthew 12, look down at verse 41. 00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:33.099 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment 00:17:33.099 --> 00:17:35.660 with this generation and condemn it. 00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:38.359 For they repented at the preaching of Jonah 00:17:38.359 --> 00:17:41.299 and now something greater than Jonah is here. 00:17:42.620 --> 00:17:43.779 Notice Jesus' point. 00:17:44.120 --> 00:17:46.259 The judgment that Nineveh avoided 00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:49.359 is not, he says, the only judgment. 00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:52.240 There is another judgment to come. 00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:54.519 And in this coming judgment, 00:17:54.819 --> 00:17:58.240 these 8th century BC Ninevites 00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:02.240 will stand alongside these 1st century scribes 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:05.120 and they will condemn them 00:18:05.120 --> 00:18:06.819 because they repented 00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:09.880 and the Pharisees and the scribes didn't. 00:18:09.880 --> 00:18:14.240 Condemnation will be received, won't it, 00:18:14.300 --> 00:18:16.420 for all those who do not listen 00:18:16.420 --> 00:18:18.240 to the warning of God's messenger. 00:18:19.340 --> 00:18:20.720 The Ninevites listened to Jonah. 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:22.860 The Pharisees did not listen to Jesus. 00:18:23.820 --> 00:18:26.220 The Ninevites believed in judgment for themselves. 00:18:26.620 --> 00:18:27.860 The Pharisees did not. 00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:30.800 And this is really the heart of all this. 00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:32.360 Okay, so the book of Jonah 00:18:32.360 --> 00:18:34.320 is really a book about repentance. 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:34.720 Repentance. 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:37.700 It's about turning from our sin 00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:39.679 and turning to God. 00:18:40.159 --> 00:18:42.519 Turning is all over these chapters. 00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:46.000 You'll notice that we see it in Jonah. 00:18:46.139 --> 00:18:48.220 He turns from running from God 00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:50.059 to now going back to Nineveh 00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:51.059 where he was supposed to. 00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:53.460 But we learn that his repentance is skin deep. 00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:56.220 And then we see true repentance 00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:57.980 in the Ninevites. 00:18:59.019 --> 00:19:00.480 Turning back to God. 00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:02.940 And what's really clear 00:19:02.940 --> 00:19:06.400 is that genuine turning, 00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:09.340 genuine repentance happens 00:19:09.340 --> 00:19:13.019 when we listen to the warning of future judgment. 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:15.420 Perhaps you could put it this way. 00:19:15.900 --> 00:19:20.460 Real repentance is always thoroughly persuaded 00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.660 of future judgment. 00:19:22.299 --> 00:19:23.340 Put it negatively. 00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:26.799 If you are not persuaded of future judgment, 00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:29.960 you will not repent properly now. 00:19:30.539 --> 00:19:33.240 If you do not hear the warning, 00:19:33.840 --> 00:19:35.660 if you do not believe the warning, 00:19:35.840 --> 00:19:37.180 you will not repent. 00:19:37.380 --> 00:19:37.980 Not truly. 00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:41.079 You see, there might be all sorts of reasons this morning 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:42.299 why you might be sat there thinking, 00:19:42.660 --> 00:19:43.960 do you know what I could really do 00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:45.819 with turning my life around a bit? 00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:48.019 You know, you might be persuaded 00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:49.640 that your life would be a bit happier, 00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:50.759 a bit more pleasurable 00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:53.519 if you made a bit more moral effort, 00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:56.420 if you spent a bit more time with the kids, 00:19:56.500 --> 00:20:00.500 or if you kind of dialed down your social media use, 00:20:00.839 --> 00:20:03.599 if you try to spend more time in the real world. 00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:04.720 Let me tell you, 00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:05.960 like two weeks in the countryside 00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:07.299 where mobile reception is dodgy, 00:20:07.379 --> 00:20:08.460 it's brilliant for you, right? 00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:10.200 You come back a new person. 00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:11.440 What are we doing? 00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:13.640 And maybe you're persuaded of that. 00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:15.120 You might be persuaded, 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:15.620 do you know what, 00:20:15.620 --> 00:20:17.400 I just think actually my life would be better 00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:20.720 if I made a regular effort to go to church. 00:20:21.860 --> 00:20:24.259 I really think I'd be better 00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:26.120 if I was free from this addiction 00:20:26.120 --> 00:20:26.880 or that addiction, 00:20:27.120 --> 00:20:29.380 if I could break from my troubled past. 00:20:29.380 --> 00:20:32.460 And all that is great as far as it goes, 00:20:32.580 --> 00:20:33.740 but none of them on their own 00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:35.480 will lead to biblical repentance. 00:20:36.600 --> 00:20:37.500 Biblical repentance, 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:38.900 the kind of repentance you see 00:20:38.900 --> 00:20:40.540 modeled by the Ninevites, 00:20:41.300 --> 00:20:42.160 the kind of repentance 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:44.300 that the Lord Jesus is calling us to here 00:20:44.300 --> 00:20:45.820 is thoroughly persuaded 00:20:45.820 --> 00:20:47.800 that without God's mercy, 00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:49.040 it's not that it's going to be 00:20:49.040 --> 00:20:50.860 a little bit worse, 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:53.920 but that all will be lost. 00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:56.360 Biblical repentance 00:20:56.360 --> 00:20:58.720 starts with the conviction, 00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.220 doesn't it? 00:20:59.240 --> 00:21:01.000 That each one of us in this room 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:03.559 will find ourselves one day 00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:06.539 standing before God as judge 00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:08.259 and he will not care 00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:09.559 and will not ask you, 00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:10.700 have you been true to yourself? 00:21:11.579 --> 00:21:12.819 Did you try your best? 00:21:13.360 --> 00:21:14.680 Did you go to church? 00:21:15.299 --> 00:21:16.900 He won't, he can't tolerate, 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:18.420 can he, even the smallest 00:21:18.420 --> 00:21:19.980 and slightest immorality 00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:23.700 and still be a good, pure, holy God, 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:25.960 the kind of God that we all need. 00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:28.900 And so every unrighteous thought, 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.680 every immoral action, 00:21:30.840 --> 00:21:31.960 every selfish desire, 00:21:32.100 --> 00:21:32.940 every wicked deed 00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:33.819 will be condemned 00:21:33.819 --> 00:21:35.740 along with the guilty party. 00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:36.799 And you and I, 00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:37.940 we might not be the worst people 00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:38.539 that we know, 00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:41.200 but we're not the perfect people 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:42.240 that we need to be. 00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:44.480 And so Jonah's message, 00:21:44.620 --> 00:21:45.400 Jesus' message, 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.259 stands as a warning, 00:21:46.340 --> 00:21:46.600 doesn't it? 00:21:46.660 --> 00:21:47.640 40 more days, 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:49.180 maybe 40 more years, 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:51.220 maybe 40 more minutes, 00:21:51.840 --> 00:21:52.460 who knows? 00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:53.539 Whatever it is, 00:21:53.860 --> 00:21:55.079 the time is coming 00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:57.539 when judgment will be here 00:21:57.539 --> 00:22:00.920 and sin will be overthrown forever. 00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:04.720 And you might think, 00:22:04.840 --> 00:22:05.600 well, goodness, 00:22:05.779 --> 00:22:05.880 really, 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:07.400 is that really what Jesus says? 00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:08.620 Is that really his message? 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:10.539 No, I can see that, 00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:12.340 I see that Jonah preached 00:22:12.340 --> 00:22:13.559 this kind of turn or burn 00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:14.000 kind of message, 00:22:14.100 --> 00:22:15.000 but was that really 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.940 what Jesus said? 00:22:16.579 --> 00:22:17.759 Didn't Jesus say, 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:18.539 do to others 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.680 as you would have them do to you? 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:20.700 Well, he did say that, yes, 00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:22.259 but he warned of judgment 00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:23.580 more than anybody else. 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:25.680 Let me just read to you 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:27.400 a snapshot of Jesus' warnings 00:22:27.400 --> 00:22:28.299 from Matthew's gospel. 00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:29.220 You don't have to turn to them, 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:30.279 I'll just read them out to you 00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:31.580 so you can get a sense 00:22:31.580 --> 00:22:32.480 of Jesus' preaching. 00:22:32.840 --> 00:22:34.000 Matthew chapter 5, 00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:34.860 verse 22. 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:37.299 I tell you that anyone 00:22:37.299 --> 00:22:38.059 who is angry 00:22:38.059 --> 00:22:39.140 with a brother or sister 00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:40.960 will be subject to judgment. 00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:43.340 Again, anyone who says 00:22:43.340 --> 00:22:44.380 to his brother or sister, 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:44.880 Raka, 00:22:45.019 --> 00:22:46.180 is answerable to the court, 00:22:46.180 --> 00:22:47.440 and anyone who says, 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:48.180 you fool, 00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:49.220 will be in danger 00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:51.059 of the fire of hell. 00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:53.420 Matthew 13, 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.160 verse 39. 00:22:55.100 --> 00:22:56.039 This is how it will be 00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:57.140 at the end of the age. 00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:58.579 The angels will come 00:22:58.579 --> 00:22:59.559 and separate the wicked 00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:00.240 from the righteous 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:01.220 and throw them 00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:02.480 into the blazing furnace 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:04.019 where there will be weeping 00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:05.039 and gnashing of teeth. 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:06.519 Have you understood 00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:07.500 all these things, 00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:08.440 Jesus asked. 00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:11.059 Matthew 18, 00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:11.860 verse 8. 00:23:11.940 --> 00:23:13.059 If your hand causes, 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:14.740 or your foot causes you 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:15.180 to stumble, 00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:15.779 cut it off 00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:16.640 and throw it away. 00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:18.020 It is better 00:23:18.020 --> 00:23:19.700 for you to enter life 00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:20.840 maimed or crippled 00:23:20.840 --> 00:23:21.900 than to have two hands 00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:22.720 and two feet 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:23.360 and be thrown 00:23:23.360 --> 00:23:24.540 into eternal fire. 00:23:25.380 --> 00:23:26.620 If your eye causes you 00:23:26.620 --> 00:23:27.040 to stumble, 00:23:27.280 --> 00:23:27.900 gouge it out 00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:28.680 and throw it away. 00:23:29.020 --> 00:23:30.080 It is better for you 00:23:30.080 --> 00:23:30.940 to enter life 00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:31.920 with one eye 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:33.400 than to have two eyes 00:23:33.400 --> 00:23:33.900 and be thrown 00:23:33.900 --> 00:23:34.980 into the fire of hell. 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:37.340 Matthew 24, 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.140 verse 50. 00:23:39.580 --> 00:23:40.460 The master 00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:41.400 of that servant 00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:42.360 will come on a day 00:23:42.360 --> 00:23:43.580 when he does not expect him, 00:23:43.660 --> 00:23:44.980 an hour when he's not aware of, 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:46.079 he will cut him to pieces 00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:47.079 and assign him a place 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:47.860 with the hypocrites 00:23:47.860 --> 00:23:49.339 where there will be weeping 00:23:49.339 --> 00:23:50.240 and gnashing of teeth. 00:23:51.380 --> 00:23:52.220 Matthew 25, 00:23:52.299 --> 00:23:52.880 verse 41. 00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:53.880 He will say to those 00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:54.360 on his left, 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.240 depart from me, 00:23:55.779 --> 00:23:56.620 you who are cursed 00:23:56.620 --> 00:23:57.680 into the eternal fire, 00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:58.620 prepared for the devil 00:23:58.620 --> 00:23:59.279 and his angels. 00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:00.799 For I was hungry 00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:01.539 and you gave me 00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:02.339 nothing to eat. 00:24:02.860 --> 00:24:03.640 I was thirsty, 00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:05.000 you gave me nothing to drink. 00:24:05.360 --> 00:24:06.440 I was a stranger 00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:07.839 and you did not invite me in. 00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:09.279 I needed clothes 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:10.400 and you did not clothe me. 00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:11.579 I was sick 00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:12.299 and in prison 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:13.740 and you did not look after me. 00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:19.180 Before we went away 00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:19.559 on holiday, 00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:20.500 I got to spend 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.660 about three days 00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:22.700 by myself. 00:24:23.120 --> 00:24:23.819 I've done it before 00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:24.380 just like that 00:24:24.380 --> 00:24:25.059 but I went away 00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:25.700 just me, 00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:27.220 a Bible, 00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:29.079 a couple of books, 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:30.380 a dog 00:24:30.380 --> 00:24:33.360 and I read through 00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:34.120 these passages 00:24:34.120 --> 00:24:35.839 and passages like them 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:38.920 and it struck me 00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:40.200 with probably 00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:41.039 a greater clarity 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:41.500 than it has 00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.759 for a long, long time 00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:44.319 that so much 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:45.180 of my repentance 00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:46.220 is so weak 00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:47.000 and half-hearted 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:49.359 because my belief 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:50.799 and consciousness 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:51.859 of future judgment 00:24:51.859 --> 00:24:52.759 is so weak 00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:53.400 and half-hearted. 00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:57.359 That I don't 00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:58.640 spend the time 00:24:58.640 --> 00:25:00.480 turning to God 00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.319 and saying 00:25:01.319 --> 00:25:02.400 that I'm genuinely 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:03.099 sorry, 00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:05.200 owning my sin 00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:05.900 and my mess 00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:07.460 is because somewhere 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:08.019 in my heart 00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:09.319 I've persuaded myself 00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:09.759 that judgment 00:25:10.339 --> 00:25:10.980 is not coming. 00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:13.660 but Jesus 00:25:13.660 --> 00:25:14.400 is really clear 00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:16.120 and notice 00:25:16.120 --> 00:25:17.259 he's not only clear 00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:17.720 is he that 00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:19.000 hell is a reality. 00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:21.420 That's a part of it, 00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:21.680 right? 00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:23.500 But what we need to see 00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:24.259 is not just that 00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:25.200 hell is a reality. 00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:27.160 What we need to see 00:25:27.160 --> 00:25:28.519 is that hell 00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:29.839 is what I deserve. 00:25:31.299 --> 00:25:32.620 That should be 00:25:32.620 --> 00:25:33.360 my destiny. 00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:35.759 I deserve to be lost 00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:37.099 in the sea of chaos 00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:38.400 as Jonah pictures it. 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:39.920 You see this 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:40.480 in the Ninevites, 00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:40.779 don't you? 00:25:40.980 --> 00:25:41.680 They understood 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:42.559 not that judgment 00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:43.140 was coming 00:25:43.140 --> 00:25:43.779 in some sort 00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:44.500 of general sense 00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:45.099 but they understood 00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:46.440 it's coming for me. 00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:48.160 It's coming for us. 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:50.039 A specific 00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:51.440 our city 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:52.900 is going to be judged. 00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:54.420 Rich and poor. 00:25:54.779 --> 00:25:55.799 The king on the throne 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.440 and the servant 00:25:56.440 --> 00:25:57.220 washing the boots 00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:58.079 in the yard. 00:25:59.819 --> 00:26:00.839 So perhaps I can ask you 00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:01.860 if you've seen this. 00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:04.500 Maybe you wouldn't 00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:04.980 call yourself 00:26:04.980 --> 00:26:05.839 a Christian this morning. 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:06.680 Perhaps you're just 00:26:06.680 --> 00:26:07.279 trying to work out 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:08.200 what it's all about. 00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:09.660 Can I ask you 00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:10.600 do you see this? 00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:12.759 Has God granted you 00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.640 the eyes of faith 00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:15.180 to see this judgment 00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:15.980 and to believe 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.600 in its coming? 00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:18.940 You know, 00:26:19.460 --> 00:26:20.920 God opens our eyes 00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:22.279 as we listen 00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:23.000 to his word. 00:26:23.120 --> 00:26:24.580 So can I ask you 00:26:24.580 --> 00:26:25.259 to listen 00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:26.720 and to think about this? 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:28.540 Might you consider 00:26:28.540 --> 00:26:29.279 that the guilt 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:30.080 that you carry 00:26:30.080 --> 00:26:31.000 that you feel 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:31.920 in your kind of belly 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:32.840 when you've done 00:26:32.840 --> 00:26:33.380 something wrong 00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:34.360 is an echo 00:26:34.360 --> 00:26:35.560 of the righteousness 00:26:35.560 --> 00:26:36.420 of God 00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:37.580 who made you 00:26:37.580 --> 00:26:38.980 and that just 00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:39.600 as your thoughts 00:26:39.600 --> 00:26:40.200 and your actions 00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:40.820 condemn you 00:26:40.820 --> 00:26:41.720 in your own heart 00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:42.520 so they will be 00:26:42.520 --> 00:26:43.480 for a holy God. 00:26:44.920 --> 00:26:45.620 And if you're 00:26:45.620 --> 00:26:46.620 a Christian this morning 00:26:46.620 --> 00:26:48.420 don't lose sight 00:26:48.420 --> 00:26:49.020 of this. 00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:49.580 Of course 00:26:49.580 --> 00:26:50.340 the joy of the 00:26:50.340 --> 00:26:50.880 Christian life 00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:51.340 and we'll come 00:26:51.340 --> 00:26:51.760 and think about 00:26:51.760 --> 00:26:52.260 this in a moment 00:26:52.260 --> 00:26:52.820 is that we are 00:26:52.820 --> 00:26:53.800 free from fear 00:26:53.800 --> 00:26:54.580 of condemnation. 00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:56.220 Jesus is thrown 00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:57.120 into the sea 00:26:57.120 --> 00:26:57.760 of the chaos 00:26:57.760 --> 00:26:59.040 of hell for us 00:26:59.040 --> 00:27:00.500 to save us 00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:01.039 from our sin. 00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:02.500 He frees us 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:03.420 by his sacrifice. 00:27:03.619 --> 00:27:04.680 He pays for our judgment. 00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:05.680 It's not that we're 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:06.740 let off sin 00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:07.240 is it? 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:08.440 Rather that 00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:10.099 sin is already 00:27:10.099 --> 00:27:11.680 judged in Christ 00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:12.160 for us. 00:27:12.299 --> 00:27:13.559 It's already been paid. 00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:15.019 It can't be paid again 00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:16.880 and say that I'm free. 00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:19.380 And yet still 00:27:19.380 --> 00:27:20.500 the reality 00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.599 of our Christian lives 00:27:21.599 --> 00:27:22.700 must be 00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:24.660 that we are conscious 00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:26.140 that it is only 00:27:26.140 --> 00:27:27.359 the mercy of God 00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:28.079 that's done it 00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:29.119 for us. 00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:31.420 There is nothing 00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:32.359 in me that deserves 00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:32.900 this. 00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:34.880 I will stand 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:35.619 before the Lord 00:27:35.619 --> 00:27:38.240 and on that day 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:39.779 it will be 00:27:39.779 --> 00:27:41.000 Jesus' righteousness 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:41.880 alone that will be 00:27:41.880 --> 00:27:42.720 any hope for me. 00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:46.220 So Jesus is better 00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:46.740 than Jonah. 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:48.579 Judgment is real 00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:49.079 and coming 00:27:49.079 --> 00:27:51.180 and then the final 00:27:51.180 --> 00:27:51.700 point 00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:53.539 repentance is miraculous. 00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:54.920 Repentance is miraculous. 00:27:56.079 --> 00:27:56.700 I think the way 00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:57.700 the story is told 00:27:57.700 --> 00:27:59.019 is meant to just 00:27:59.019 --> 00:28:00.079 point this out to us 00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:01.279 over and over again. 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:02.379 The Ninevites' 00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:03.220 response to the 00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:03.960 preaching of Jonah 00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:05.000 is nothing short 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:05.699 of miraculous. 00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.619 You see that 00:28:07.619 --> 00:28:07.899 don't you? 00:28:07.939 --> 00:28:08.679 Because you cannot 00:28:08.679 --> 00:28:09.720 explain the Ninevites' 00:28:09.899 --> 00:28:11.019 response by the 00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:12.139 quality of Jonah's 00:28:12.139 --> 00:28:12.500 preaching. 00:28:13.199 --> 00:28:13.359 Yeah? 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:14.299 We've seen that. 00:28:14.859 --> 00:28:15.859 Nor can you explain 00:28:15.859 --> 00:28:16.519 their response 00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:17.539 by their heritage 00:28:17.539 --> 00:28:18.679 or their moral 00:28:18.679 --> 00:28:19.399 leanings. 00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:20.759 I listened to 00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:21.199 Andrew's sermon 00:28:21.199 --> 00:28:21.720 from last week 00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:22.419 and he pointed this 00:28:22.419 --> 00:28:23.319 out really helpfully 00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:23.919 didn't he? 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:24.899 That actually 00:28:24.899 --> 00:28:26.019 the Assyrian city 00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:26.619 of Nineveh 00:28:26.619 --> 00:28:27.919 was a city of blood. 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:29.120 But it was a 00:28:29.120 --> 00:28:29.980 terrible place. 00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:31.220 It was not that 00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:32.000 he went to a city 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:32.680 that had sort of 00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:33.680 kind of moral 00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:34.940 inclinations that 00:28:34.940 --> 00:28:35.580 were going to 00:28:35.580 --> 00:28:36.259 you know oh yeah 00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:37.100 that's a city that 00:28:37.100 --> 00:28:37.519 would definitely 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.259 turn to God. 00:28:38.620 --> 00:28:39.279 Not at all. 00:28:40.060 --> 00:28:40.940 Their heritage was 00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:41.660 wickedness and 00:28:41.660 --> 00:28:42.160 ruthlessness. 00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:43.100 No notion of a 00:28:43.100 --> 00:28:43.800 belief in God. 00:28:44.380 --> 00:28:45.300 Rather it seems as 00:28:45.300 --> 00:28:46.140 if this massive 00:28:46.140 --> 00:28:47.400 turnaround of heart 00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:48.740 was brought about 00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:49.660 by God. 00:28:50.600 --> 00:28:51.700 That God sends 00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:52.480 the warning of 00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:54.120 judgment for the 00:28:54.120 --> 00:28:55.640 purpose of turning 00:28:55.640 --> 00:28:56.380 the hearts of the 00:28:56.380 --> 00:28:57.180 Ninevites back to 00:28:57.180 --> 00:28:57.460 him. 00:28:58.140 --> 00:28:58.780 Performing that 00:28:58.780 --> 00:28:59.660 miracle in their 00:28:59.660 --> 00:29:00.300 hearts to bring 00:29:00.300 --> 00:29:00.780 repentance. 00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:02.460 And you see the 00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:03.460 miraculous nature of 00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:03.900 it in their 00:29:03.900 --> 00:29:04.720 thoroughness don't 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:04.860 you? 00:29:05.080 --> 00:29:06.200 The writer underlines 00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:07.040 this over and over 00:29:07.040 --> 00:29:07.840 showing how they 00:29:07.840 --> 00:29:09.080 extended their 00:29:09.080 --> 00:29:10.200 repentance even to 00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:10.960 the animals. 00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:13.200 The herds and the 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:13.759 flocks. 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.400 It's as if everyone 00:29:16.400 --> 00:29:17.360 and everything needed 00:29:17.360 --> 00:29:18.240 to change. 00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:20.460 I have no idea. 00:29:20.520 --> 00:29:20.980 You want to ask me 00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:21.140 later. 00:29:21.220 --> 00:29:21.640 I don't know. 00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:23.000 I have no idea how 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:24.580 you enforce a fast on 00:29:24.580 --> 00:29:25.100 a cow. 00:29:25.099 --> 00:29:25.619 Right? 00:29:26.639 --> 00:29:28.179 Or why you would do 00:29:28.179 --> 00:29:28.559 that. 00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:30.299 But I think the writer 00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:31.299 records that because 00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:32.159 he's just saying to 00:29:32.159 --> 00:29:34.219 you look how thorough 00:29:34.219 --> 00:29:35.759 their repentance is. 00:29:35.959 --> 00:29:37.099 Look how deep this 00:29:37.099 --> 00:29:37.439 goes. 00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:39.419 It goes right down to 00:29:39.419 --> 00:29:40.379 the cattle in the 00:29:40.379 --> 00:29:40.679 field. 00:29:41.139 --> 00:29:42.419 This is how serious 00:29:42.419 --> 00:29:43.559 they are about it. 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:47.059 But the other 00:29:47.059 --> 00:29:48.219 miraculous thing about 00:29:48.219 --> 00:29:49.119 it as well is that 00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:50.759 it's not just thorough 00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:51.899 but it also doesn't 00:29:51.899 --> 00:29:53.539 pull them from God 00:29:53.539 --> 00:29:53.899 does it? 00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:55.880 It draws them in 00:29:55.880 --> 00:29:56.880 towards God himself. 00:29:57.160 --> 00:29:57.759 It's remarkable 00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:58.140 isn't it? 00:29:58.400 --> 00:29:59.780 In normal circumstances 00:29:59.780 --> 00:30:01.019 we deal with the 00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:01.960 potential of judgment 00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:03.620 by running and 00:30:03.620 --> 00:30:04.019 hiding. 00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:04.620 Don't we? 00:30:06.300 --> 00:30:07.440 So you run 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:10.019 from the police. 00:30:11.060 --> 00:30:11.200 Yeah? 00:30:11.780 --> 00:30:13.700 Not to them. 00:30:14.820 --> 00:30:16.759 We hide from the 00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:17.680 teacher the fact that 00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:18.280 we've not done the 00:30:18.280 --> 00:30:18.980 homework that we were 00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:19.540 meant to do. 00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:21.500 we don't walk up to 00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:22.240 them and tell them 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:22.579 do we? 00:30:23.940 --> 00:30:26.440 We cover over our 00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:26.960 sins. 00:30:27.339 --> 00:30:27.980 The things that we've 00:30:27.980 --> 00:30:28.359 done wrong. 00:30:28.460 --> 00:30:29.019 The things that we've 00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:30.299 broken at home from our 00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:31.539 flatmates or from our 00:30:31.539 --> 00:30:32.099 parents. 00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:33.859 Because we don't want 00:30:33.859 --> 00:30:34.819 them to discover it. 00:30:35.879 --> 00:30:37.839 You know we lie about 00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:39.059 what we really did when 00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:39.899 we are put under 00:30:39.899 --> 00:30:40.539 pressure because we 00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:41.500 don't want people to 00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:42.519 notice what we really 00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:42.779 did. 00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:45.399 But this miraculous 00:30:45.399 --> 00:30:46.339 repentance does the 00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:47.559 very opposite of that. 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:49.480 Despite it being God's 00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:50.619 judgment that is coming 00:30:50.619 --> 00:30:52.039 for them still the 00:30:52.039 --> 00:30:53.099 Ninevites don't run 00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:54.000 from God but they 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:55.859 turn to him for 00:30:55.859 --> 00:30:56.399 mercy. 00:30:57.779 --> 00:30:58.519 Wholeheartedly with 00:30:58.519 --> 00:30:59.819 fasting and sackcloth 00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:01.119 saying listen this is 00:31:01.119 --> 00:31:02.220 what we want more than 00:31:02.220 --> 00:31:03.220 we even want food. 00:31:03.339 --> 00:31:05.339 We want mercy from 00:31:05.339 --> 00:31:06.000 God himself. 00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:07.559 We're not going to 00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:08.160 cover up. 00:31:09.660 --> 00:31:10.519 We're going to lay 00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:11.879 ourselves bare before 00:31:11.879 --> 00:31:12.759 God and say God 00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:13.879 God will you show us 00:31:13.879 --> 00:31:14.460 mercy. 00:31:15.980 --> 00:31:17.059 And that's remarkable. 00:31:19.879 --> 00:31:20.799 I think the other way 00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:21.519 that the writer of 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.579 Jonah underlines this 00:31:22.579 --> 00:31:23.839 miraculous repentance is 00:31:23.839 --> 00:31:25.099 by contrasting it with 00:31:25.099 --> 00:31:26.480 the fakeness of Jonah's 00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:26.879 repentance. 00:31:28.359 --> 00:31:29.680 So notice Jonah has 00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:31.180 this amazing experience 00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:31.960 of the fish. 00:31:32.940 --> 00:31:34.619 He's not just warned of 00:31:34.619 --> 00:31:35.339 future judgment. 00:31:36.140 --> 00:31:36.859 He if you like has 00:31:36.859 --> 00:31:38.799 gotten to taste future 00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:40.599 judgment in the sea 00:31:40.599 --> 00:31:42.299 water and then in the 00:31:42.299 --> 00:31:42.740 fish. 00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:42.859 fish. 00:31:43.579 --> 00:31:45.180 And God speaks to him 00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:45.640 directly. 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:48.240 Jonah knows his Bible. 00:31:48.500 --> 00:31:49.759 He clearly knows it well 00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:51.039 enough to be quoting it 00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:52.500 back even under the 00:31:52.500 --> 00:31:54.000 pressure of being inside 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:54.680 a fish. 00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:59.019 And yet still despite all 00:31:59.019 --> 00:32:01.000 of that he is reluctantly 00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:02.160 obedient at the beginning 00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:02.920 of chapter three. 00:32:03.319 --> 00:32:04.680 He is not really repentant 00:32:04.680 --> 00:32:06.079 and he ends the story in a 00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:07.099 worse mess than he was at 00:32:07.099 --> 00:32:08.519 the beginning where really 00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:10.079 he hates the idea that God 00:32:10.079 --> 00:32:11.180 is merciful to people. 00:32:13.940 --> 00:32:15.660 And so this is the sting 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:16.859 isn't it of Jesus mini 00:32:16.859 --> 00:32:18.079 sermon on Jonah two and 00:32:18.079 --> 00:32:18.420 three. 00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:20.420 That it is be it is 00:32:20.420 --> 00:32:23.539 possible for us to be so 00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:25.500 dressed up in Christian 00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:30.379 language that we fail to 00:32:30.379 --> 00:32:31.299 repent properly. 00:32:31.299 --> 00:32:35.519 the very first point of the 00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:37.899 Christian life to turn to 00:32:37.899 --> 00:32:40.480 God and own our sin and 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:41.319 say we're sorry. 00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:44.819 So perhaps you pray the 00:32:44.819 --> 00:32:45.500 Psalms. 00:32:46.279 --> 00:32:46.960 Maybe you know your Bible 00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:47.539 really well. 00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:49.599 Maybe you sing the songs. 00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:53.879 But if you do not confess 00:32:53.879 --> 00:32:56.259 your sin and own it before 00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:56.859 the Lord. 00:32:56.859 --> 00:32:59.959 miraculously repenting. 00:33:00.979 --> 00:33:02.779 You have not repented. 00:33:05.459 --> 00:33:06.639 You know perhaps you preach 00:33:06.639 --> 00:33:07.639 the gospel to others. 00:33:07.959 --> 00:33:08.979 Maybe you're known as a 00:33:08.979 --> 00:33:10.079 Christian but you don't 00:33:10.079 --> 00:33:11.299 believe it for yourself. 00:33:12.619 --> 00:33:13.939 Well don't be like a Jonah. 00:33:14.799 --> 00:33:15.759 Be like an Ninevite. 00:33:17.099 --> 00:33:18.179 Let me ask you. 00:33:19.099 --> 00:33:20.619 Have you repented like that? 00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:23.240 Now because we've seen that 00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:24.339 repentance is miraculous. 00:33:24.959 --> 00:33:25.699 We need to ask. 00:33:25.700 --> 00:33:27.460 It's not so much have you 00:33:27.460 --> 00:33:29.360 generated inside yourself 00:33:29.360 --> 00:33:31.559 enough sorrow and guilt at 00:33:31.559 --> 00:33:33.100 your sin that you feel like 00:33:33.100 --> 00:33:33.319 this. 00:33:33.580 --> 00:33:34.779 It's not that is it? 00:33:35.740 --> 00:33:37.039 It's have you received 00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:38.420 repentance from God? 00:33:39.620 --> 00:33:40.880 Have you said to God please 00:33:40.880 --> 00:33:41.920 give me a heart like this 00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:42.500 for my sake? 00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:46.480 Please Lord help me to see 00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:47.519 who you are and what you're 00:33:47.519 --> 00:33:47.980 like. 00:33:49.080 --> 00:33:50.539 Have we responded to the 00:33:50.539 --> 00:33:52.279 warnings of judgment with an 00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:53.600 earnest turning to God. 00:33:54.120 --> 00:33:55.319 Living in this ongoing 00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:56.799 dependence on God's mercy. 00:33:58.980 --> 00:33:59.659 You know perhaps you come to 00:33:59.659 --> 00:34:00.720 church each week and you 00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:02.659 think well we have that weird 00:34:02.659 --> 00:34:04.579 prayer of confession don't we 00:34:04.579 --> 00:34:06.179 in the beginning of our 00:34:06.179 --> 00:34:06.439 service. 00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:07.960 Why would we do that? 00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:09.099 Why not mix it up a bit? 00:34:09.659 --> 00:34:11.380 I once had a church leader who 00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:12.519 worked with me in another 00:34:12.519 --> 00:34:13.420 church not in this one. 00:34:13.779 --> 00:34:15.019 He would say why don't we mix 00:34:15.019 --> 00:34:15.699 it up a bit Steve? 00:34:15.759 --> 00:34:16.539 Why don't we put the sermon 00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:17.860 people come late to church 00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:18.440 don't they all the time? 00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:19.519 If we put the sermon at the 00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:20.619 beginning there'll be so miffed 00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:21.480 that they missed the sermon. 00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:22.780 They might come on early next 00:34:22.780 --> 00:34:23.119 time. 00:34:23.659 --> 00:34:24.480 Why don't we do that? 00:34:24.940 --> 00:34:26.880 Well we don't do that because 00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:28.579 our very instinct as Christians 00:34:28.579 --> 00:34:30.760 as we walk into the worship of 00:34:30.760 --> 00:34:32.179 God and are called by him to 00:34:32.179 --> 00:34:34.059 worship him is to go Lord we're 00:34:34.059 --> 00:34:34.800 not worthy. 00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:37.460 We fall at your knees in 00:34:37.460 --> 00:34:39.139 repentance and trust in your 00:34:39.139 --> 00:34:39.920 mercy again. 00:34:40.679 --> 00:34:41.480 Please forgive us. 00:34:41.559 --> 00:34:42.539 Please show us mercy. 00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:45.260 That's what Christians do. 00:34:46.500 --> 00:34:47.699 The Christian life is really the 00:34:47.699 --> 00:34:49.900 ongoing recognition that in 00:34:49.900 --> 00:34:51.619 every conceivable way there is 00:34:51.619 --> 00:34:53.700 nothing that I could do or have 00:34:53.700 --> 00:34:55.579 done or will do that could earn 00:34:55.579 --> 00:34:56.820 what I really need from the 00:34:56.820 --> 00:34:58.680 Lord which is his mercy and his 00:34:58.680 --> 00:34:59.139 grace. 00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:01.240 And so it is the instinct of 00:35:01.240 --> 00:35:02.500 every believer to throw 00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:03.880 themselves not on their efforts 00:35:03.880 --> 00:35:04.980 or their goodness but on the 00:35:04.980 --> 00:35:05.660 mercy of God. 00:35:06.160 --> 00:35:07.380 Mercy found at the cross of 00:35:07.380 --> 00:35:08.200 Jesus Christ. 00:35:10.880 --> 00:35:12.340 One of the books I read while I 00:35:12.340 --> 00:35:13.400 was away was a book on 00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:14.480 repentance by a guy called 00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:15.160 Chris Brawns. 00:35:15.240 --> 00:35:16.099 It's a brilliant book. 00:35:16.160 --> 00:35:17.180 I'd recommend it to all of you 00:35:17.180 --> 00:35:18.840 if you want to know what the 00:35:18.840 --> 00:35:19.760 book is you can come and ask me 00:35:19.760 --> 00:35:20.240 afterwards. 00:35:21.360 --> 00:35:22.820 And one thing that he points out 00:35:22.820 --> 00:35:24.600 over and over again is that 00:35:24.600 --> 00:35:27.300 repentance is not simply sorrow 00:35:27.300 --> 00:35:28.120 at your sin. 00:35:29.380 --> 00:35:30.820 Everyone is sad aren't they at the 00:35:30.820 --> 00:35:31.780 things that they've done wrong. 00:35:32.720 --> 00:35:35.360 But genuine repentance is sorry 00:35:35.360 --> 00:35:38.800 for sin but it also rejoices in 00:35:38.800 --> 00:35:39.580 God's mercy. 00:35:40.080 --> 00:35:40.220 Right? 00:35:41.000 --> 00:35:42.580 You see this at the end of Jonah. 00:35:42.640 --> 00:35:43.560 I'm going to steal a bit from 00:35:43.560 --> 00:35:44.980 Nathan's sermon but Nathan's on 00:35:44.980 --> 00:35:45.560 camp this week. 00:35:45.600 --> 00:35:46.140 He doesn't know. 00:35:46.220 --> 00:35:46.720 He won't know. 00:35:47.200 --> 00:35:48.860 And I'll ask for his 00:35:48.860 --> 00:35:49.200 forgiveness. 00:35:51.019 --> 00:35:52.460 Jonah is miserable at the end of 00:35:52.460 --> 00:35:53.660 the story and wants to die. 00:35:53.980 --> 00:35:54.140 Right? 00:35:54.240 --> 00:35:55.559 That's how Jonah ends up. 00:35:55.680 --> 00:35:57.440 Why is Jonah miserable and 00:35:57.440 --> 00:35:58.260 wanting to die? 00:35:58.700 --> 00:35:59.960 Because he does not repent. 00:36:01.260 --> 00:36:03.720 The Ninevites end up rejoicing. 00:36:04.260 --> 00:36:04.599 Why? 00:36:05.220 --> 00:36:08.140 Because they repented and they 00:36:08.140 --> 00:36:09.640 enjoyed the mercy of God. 00:36:10.840 --> 00:36:13.480 And so for us repentance is what's 00:36:13.480 --> 00:36:15.320 needed because mercy is what is on 00:36:15.320 --> 00:36:15.640 offer. 00:36:16.440 --> 00:36:18.340 And by definition you cannot earn 00:36:18.340 --> 00:36:18.640 mercy. 00:36:18.780 --> 00:36:20.160 You have to receive it. 00:36:20.840 --> 00:36:23.100 And so we repent and we're not 00:36:23.100 --> 00:36:25.720 only sorrowful for our sin but we 00:36:25.720 --> 00:36:28.080 are rejoicing in the mercy of God. 00:36:28.280 --> 00:36:31.200 Because if you turn to him you find 00:36:31.200 --> 00:36:33.240 that he is this merciful God. 00:36:33.640 --> 00:36:36.100 He is this gracious loving God who 00:36:36.100 --> 00:36:39.019 sent his son to this world to preach 00:36:39.019 --> 00:36:40.820 this gospel of mercy, grace and 00:36:40.820 --> 00:36:41.180 forgiveness. 00:36:41.660 --> 00:36:43.300 He was dead. 00:36:43.300 --> 00:36:45.100 He's now alive. 00:36:45.400 --> 00:36:47.500 He's paid for our judgment that we 00:36:47.500 --> 00:36:50.080 might receive mercy and grace. 00:36:50.660 --> 00:36:53.160 And for you to know that, for you to 00:36:53.160 --> 00:36:56.300 be full of that kind of joy, you must 00:36:56.300 --> 00:36:59.060 repent with a miraculous repentance 00:36:59.060 --> 00:37:02.260 that sees future judgment, sees that 00:37:02.260 --> 00:37:04.539 Jesus is better than Jonah and puts 00:37:04.539 --> 00:37:06.200 its trust in him. 00:37:06.720 --> 00:37:08.680 Let me pray and then we'll come and 00:37:08.680 --> 00:37:09.539 sing in response. 00:37:09.539 --> 00:37:15.219 Perhaps we'll just take a moment, just 00:37:15.219 --> 00:37:16.920 a moment of quiet in our own hearts 00:37:16.920 --> 00:37:19.539 as we respond to God's word. 00:37:19.539 --> 00:37:19.539 00:37:19.539 --> 00:37:19.539 00:37:19.539 --> 00:37:19.539 00:37:19.539 --> 00:37:19.539 00:37:19.539 --> 00:37:19.539 00:37:19.539 --> 00:37:19.539 00:37:19.539 --> 00:37:19.539 00:37:19.539 --> 00:37:19.539 00:37:19.539 --> 00:37:19.539 00:37:19.539 --> 00:37:19.539 00:37:19.539 --> 00:37:19.539 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:39.699 00:37:39.699 --> 00:38:09.679 Thank you. 00:38:09.699 --> 00:38:25.579 Father, we turn to you in repentance. We know that we deserve your judgment. We know that there is nothing in us that deserves your mercy or your grace. 00:38:25.579 --> 00:38:37.480 We know, Lord, that there's no point hiding from you or running from you because you know us, you see us, you know all about us. 00:38:37.480 --> 00:38:49.719 And so we turn to you in repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that he took our sin upon himself and died on the cross. 00:38:49.719 --> 00:39:03.779 That as we turn to you in repentance, we don't turn just in a vague hope that you might be merciful, but in confidence that you love to show mercy in the Lord Jesus to repentant sinners. 00:39:03.780 --> 00:39:12.980 So we pray that this miracle of repentance would go on and on in our hearts, that we would find ourselves turning to you and trusting in you day by day. 00:39:14.080 --> 00:39:22.140 And pray, please, Lord, that you might continue to do that work for your glory and for our good. In Jesus' name. Amen. 00:39:22.139 --> 00:39:22.319 Amen.