I have been teaching through the gospel of Matthew to some folks from church. This past Lord’s Day, we were in chapter 8 of Matthew where Jesus calms the storm in verses 23-27 of Matthew 8. A storm had arisen on the sea and Jesus’ disciples grew afraid because they, though experienced anglers and sailors, witnessed the Messiah asleep in the vessel. They were so afraid, in fact, that they woke Jesus, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing” (Mt 8:25, ESV).

Because all of Scripture coheres, God’s people should recognize the pattern from Jonah. When even the pagan sailors were fearful of perishing due to a storm at sea, the same story in microcosm occurred:

¹¹ Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. ¹² He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.” ¹³ Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. ¹⁴ Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.” ¹⁵ So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. ¹⁶ Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.

A Great Fish Swallows Jonah

¹⁷ And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights (Jonah 1:11-17, ESV).

The same principle, you see: the gospel–a truth-telling prophet with a message of repentance towards God and faith in his Messenger.

Jonah was an imperfect messenger, of course, but Jesus wasn’t and isn’t. Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and nights, and was saved and resurrected upon the land.

Christ was three days and nights in the tomb, but was raised bodily from the grave, and showed himself to hundreds via eyewitness testimony.

The gospel, folks, the gospel. Right there in Jonah. He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the church.