Big Fish, Bigger Mercy

“Big Truth” Of The Week

God’s people should reflect the mercy of their God.

This week, we’re going to start to look at the book of Jonah through a story called “Big Fish, Bigger Mercy.” Sometimes when we think about the account of Jonah, we can misplace the hero of the story. Jonah may be the main character, but he’s not a hero. He pouted, disobeyed, and chose to follow his fears rather than follow God’s plan for his life. Being one of the most famous stories of the Old Testament, it’s no secret that Jonah was swallowed up by a great fish and he repented and obeyed God by going to Nineveh and preaching to the people who all then also repented and followed God. But did Jonah really obey? Did he really repent? Even his “sermon” (“forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned”) is only 5 words in Hebrew. In his half-hearted obedience, he pouted. And then, in verse 4, he pouted even more. He cared more about his comfort than anything else, and he was bitter that God would choose to save people like the Ninevites.

So, in this short 4 chapter book, if Jonah the prophet isn’t the hero, who is? Is it the whale? The sailors? The Ninevites? We want our students to know that in this story, and in our stories, God is the real hero. He can do so much with the little that we have to offer. He could do it all without us, but even so, he chooses to use us to build his kingdom and to write us into his story.

Check Out The Video For Yourself

From The Biggest Story here’s our Gospel Connection:
Even though Jonah was the pouting prophet, Jesus used his story to point to
his own death and resurrection.

The scribes and Pharisees shouted at Jesus. “Show us a sign that you are the Messiah!” Jesus had already shown lots of signs. He had cleansed a leper, healed a paralyzed man, and given sight to the blind. He had even raised the dead to life! What kind of sign were they looking for? They wanted a supernatural sign—like water turning to blood. Jesus replied to them, “Only people with no faith want a special sign like that. I will only give you one sure sign that I am the Messiah. Just as Jonah was three days in the belly of the great fish, so will I will be three days in a tomb” (see Matt. 12:39–40). What do you think he is talking about? Yes, he’s talking about his death—and resurrection. On Friday he died. That night (day one) and the whole day after (day two) his body was buried. Then, on day three, he rose from the grave!

But Jesus didn’t choose the story of Jonah just because the number of days matched. He chose the story because it was all about God’s mercy for sinners who repent. Jesus’s death and resurrection are the signs that prove he is the Son whom God sent to save us from our sins and the punishment of death. Anyone who trusts in Jesus—disobedient prophets or wicked enemies—can be saved.