Jesus is Better Than Jonah

Typology is one of the ways we behold the glory of the Gospel of Christ in all of the Scriptures. The Old Testament is full of 'types' of Christ and His work. Most notably King David and the Exodus. Jesus Himself tells us that we can learn about Him from Jonah. He tells the people challenging Him for a sign that no sign will be given except the sign of Jonah. He warned His listeners that the men of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now someone better than Jonah is here.

So is Jonah a 'type' of Christ? Sort of. Jonah might be better understood as an 'anti-type,' and it's against his dark backdrop that Christ shines all the brighter. If Jesus is the sweetest, brightest character in Scripture, and obviously, He is, then Jonah is certainly the opposite of that.

Jonah comes across as an inveterate racist. He hides his faith from the pagan sailors and stamps his foot when Nineveh is saved. Jesus comes to bring the gentiles in. In Christ there is no race or creed or colour.

Jonah refused to go to Nineveh. God called him east and he tried to run west. He is determined that Israel will keep the blessing of knowing the living God to themselves. Jesus comes to give life to any who will have Him.

Jonah disobeyed, and complained and pouted. Jesus brings us the heart of His Father. Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God, the exact imprint of His nature. Jonah couldn't have been further from the Father's outgoing heartbeat, Jesus is that heartbeat.

Jonah is more concerned about his plant than about those who don't know God. Jesus is so concerned that He, the Son of God, was born in a stable to bring them in.

Jonah was angry enough to die because things didn't go his way. Jesus did die, laying down His life for the glory of God, and the benefit of His people.

Jesus is better than Jonah, thank God!