Home Why Pocket Bible About Richard
 
 

February 6, 2012

The sign of the prophet Jonah

'A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth' (Matthew 12:39,40)

Yes, Jesus points his critics to one 'sign' only; his saving death - and subsequent Resurrection. This 'sign of the prophet Jonah' is big enough to meet our deepest needs for all time.

Some have argued that if Jesus was crucified on a Friday and only rose 'on the third day', then he was manifestly not in the grave for 'three days and three nights'. The Bible, they claim, is inaccurate.

But all that is unnecessary. In Jewish measuring, even a portion of a day (however small) was to be counted as a full 'day and a night'. Thus the Jewish Queen Esther could declare a period of fasting for three days and nights (Esther 4:16), when in fact she ended the fast 'on the third day' (Esther 5:1). There is no problem.

The only problem occurs if we refuse to accept this vital 'sign' of Christ's sacrificial death, and neglect to act on it for our own salvation.

--ooOoo--