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The Sign of Jonah

In most Christian circles, the Sign of Jonah is used to make charts and graphs showing on which day Yeshua died. On a Thursday? On a Wednesday? Or on Friday? I won't speculate on timelines, but I do want to dive into the "Sign of the Prophet Jonah".

"Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." Matthew 21:10-13

We assume that the Sign of Jonah equates to Yeshua being in the grave for a specific amount of time. But maybe it was something else...

The Sign Given to the Faithful

Over 12 witnesses are given to us through the scriptures that Yeshua will (and did) rise on the third day.

...and on the third day be raised. Mathew 16:21
...and God raised him on the third day. Acts 10:40
...and on the third day rise from the dead. Luke 24:46
...and on the third day rise. Luke 24:7
...and after three days rise again. Mark 3:31
...and on the third day be raised. Luke 9:22
...and he will be raised on the third day. Matthew 20:19
...and on the third day he will rise. Luke 18.33
...and after three days he will rise. Mark 10:34
...and when he is killed, after three days he will rise. Mark 9:31
...and the third day I finish my course. Luke 13:32
...and he will be raised on the third day. Matthew 17:23

It's impossible to reconcile this with a "Three days and three nights in the grave" sign of Jonah. What then is the sign of Jonah given to Jerusalem?

No Sign Given for Jerusalem

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"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Matthew 23:37

Yeshua says no sign will be given specifically to the "wicked generation", except the sign of the prophet Jonah. More than that, He was speaking to the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem.

Matthew 15:1 "Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem..."

These are the same scribes and Pharisees who address Yeshua earlier:

"Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." Matthew 12:38-39

The Belly of the Fish, The Worship of D-gon

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Jonah entered Nineveh (the belly of d-gon), was recognized as a prophet, preached repentance, warned that the city will be overturned and they repented.

Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey to cross. On the first day of his walk, Jonah set out into the city and proclaimed, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!” And the Ninevites believed God. Jonah 3:3-5

Nineveh was famous for it's D-gon worshiping. In the known world, Ninevah was the Great Fish, and Jonah was in the belly, preaching repentance. And the Great City believed Jonah and repented.

The Heart of the Earth, Center of the World

To capture spoil and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places which are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired cattle and goods, who live at the center of the world.’ Ezekiel 38:12

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Just like the prophet Jonah, Yeshua entered the city of Jerusalem, (the heart of the earth), was recognized as a prophet, preached repentance... but they did not believe.

When Jesus had entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds replied, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” Then [the following day] Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” Matthew 21:10-13

One Greater Than Jonah

After overturning the tables in the Temple, Yeshua said to the fig tree "May you never bear fruit again" Unlike Nineveh, Jerusalem did not believe God, putting on sackcloth and ashes.

As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation. The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here. Luke 11:29-30,32

Many Signs Were Given, But Not Accepted

The Son of Man performed many signs and miracles, yet the scribes and the Pharisees did not accept them. Therefore, Yeshua acknowledged that those signs (for the faithful) were not for them. The only sign for them was the "Sign of Jonah": When the Son of Man enters Jerusalem, believe and repent like Nineveh did. But we read:

Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him. John 12:37

Three Days and Three Nights

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 12:40

If Yeshua entered Jerusalem on the 10th of Nisan as the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:3), and was hung on a tree on the 14th (preparation day), that leaves three days and three nights preaching in Jerusalem (Matthew 21:12 - 26:1).

10 day/night - Entered Jerusalem and healed the blind and lame
11 day/night - Cursed the fig tree and cleansed the Temple
12 day/night - Fig tree is withered and Yeshua is betrayed

When Yeshua Finished

On the evening of the 12th day, He completed His sign to the scribes and Pharisees.

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, He told His disciples, “You know that the Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” Matthew 26:1

They had rejected the sign of Jonah and determined hand over the Son of Man to be crucified.

The Signs for Believers

It's our job as believers to receive the signs given to us, that the Son of Man has come and fulfilled the mission completely. Just as John the Baptist recieved the message about the signs to the faithful:

John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent two of his disciples to ask Him, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?” Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.” Matthew 11:2-6

May we be like John the Baptist and recieve the signs for the faithful... including that the dead are raised. Even the Son of Man was raised. On the third day!

@ironshield

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Benjamin Turner: God fearer. Rooted in Messiah. Husband of @lturner. Father of four wonderful children. The guy behind the camera. Steemit enthusiast.

Bless the Most High!