Published With Thanksgiving

“Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites so will the Child of Humanity be one to this generation. …The people of Nineveh will rise up in judgment over this generation and condemn them; because, they changed their hearts after hearing Jonah’s proclamation. And, look, one greater than Jonah is here” (Luke 11.30, 32).

Jonah was the guy who was swallowed by a fish, was taken into the depths, and reappeared three days later. His story was Jesus’ story. Jesus was swallowed up by death, taken into its dark depths only to reappear three days later.

At least, that’s what I was always told.

If it’s been a while, let me briefly retell Jonah’s story. It’s short. Jonah was a man to whom the Holy One comes one day and tells to go to the city of Nineveh. He’s to tell them about the judgment of God that’s soon to befall them. But Jonah goes in the opposite direction, prompting the need for a storm and a fish to bring him back and set his feet on a path to the city.

Jonah prophesies to the people of Nineveh, and they actually listen to him, they mourn for their sins in hopes of receiving mercy, which they receive. Despite the words given to Jonah, the city remains standing, untouched and redeemed.

The story takes on a greater significance when you find out that Nineveh wasn’t the sort of place anyone wanted God to spare. They were, to put it simply, the enemy. And everyone, not just Jonah, would have been happy to see them ground to dust. Jonah, then, is a story about the love of God, the desire of the Holy One to have everyone turn and cultivate a relationship with the Divine. Even the people we don’t like very much.

Makes you wonder if the fish part of the story is what Jesus was talking about.

Today and for the next fifty days, we celebrate the implications of this amazing moment. We rejoice that death has been rendered powerless, we proclaim that Jesus is alive, and that love has the final say.

But I wonder if there’s not something more we are expected to do. I wonder, in this moment, if Jesus was pointing us to a different “sign” in Jonah—the revelation that redemption is for all people and not just the ones we think deserve it.

It’s a difficult message. It means that God isn’t on anyone’s side but on everyone’s side. Jesus, it seems, isn’t interested in “owning” anyone but being with everyone. It might even imply that we, like the people of Nineveh, have to undergo a change of heart.

Outside the gates of Nineveh, Jonah built himself a little shelter and sat down to pout. This was the reason he’d run off in the opposite direction. He knew this was how it would turn out. He knew God would be merciful to those with which he disagreed.

I wonder if this, too, was what Jesus had in mind in referring to Jonah—the desire within us to prefer judgment to salvation, revenge to regeneration. Perhaps to lead us to the question with which the book ends. God asks, shouldn’t I have this kind of abundant mercy?

And do we want any part in it?

Anointed One, Hell-Harrower, Death-defeater, you are alive, and in that living you have given me the hope of life not just in some world-to-come but right now—a life of love, grace, and compassion. But I don’t know if I’m ready, quite yet, to live into the world of your dreams. I’m not sure I’m ready to seek mercy, forgiveness, grace for everyone. So, in these next fifty days, help me to leave my place outside the city where I want to pout in the shade, and instead walk in the light with you.