Andy Nagahara
Easter Sunday
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The sign of the connection (Matthew 12:38-41)
Acquired by Henry Walters with the Massarenti Collection, 1902
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. (Matthew 28:1-6a)
Introduction: The sign of the prophet Jonah is the sign of the connection between Jesus and us
Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.” He answered, “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. The men of Nineveh will stand up 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. (Matthew 12:38-41)
prophet Jonah being thrown into the Sea, catacombe di Priscilla (Paleochristian art before V c. photo by Wilpert, Joseph. Die Malereien der Katakomben Roms, 1903)
Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him. But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:15-17)
And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. (Jonah 2:10)
1. The sign of the Resurrection of Jesus and us
“O LORD, please do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O LORD, have done as you pleased.” (Jonah 1:14)
2. The sign of the triumph of Jesus and us
6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God.
7 “When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.
8 “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
9 But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD.”(Jonah 2:6-9)
3. The sign of the ministry of Jesus and us
Summary
There are some prophecies about the Resurrection of Jesus in the Old Testament. When Jesus prophesied his Crucifixion and Resurrection, he quoted the passages from Jonah. The sign of the prophet Jonah connects us with Jesus firmly. By the resurrection of Jesus, we were no longer distant from Jesus, but have been changed new with him – the ones who won sin and death with him, and those who work for the kingdom of God together with him.
For Discussion
1) What are the points of similarity (difference) between Jesus and Jonah?
2) What is the sign of the connection?