Friday, February 5, 2016
Jonah 1:17 And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
IT HAPPENED!!!
Yes, Jonah was actually in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. And, yes, he actually was spit out alive unto dry land. It happened just as the Bible says it happened. It's all very clear just by reading the book of Jonah, and from words of Jesus recorded in the Gospels (cf. Matthew 12:39, 41; Luke 11:29-32).
The whole incredible event, however, pre-figures something even more incredible: "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Matthew 12:40).
Jonah in the belly of the fish for three days is a type (or picture) of Jesus' resurrection on Easter Sunday. Sadly, many churches and pastors who deny the historical fact of Jonah in the belly of the fish also deny the historical reality of Jesus' resurrection. They claim that both things, along with many other Bible events, are mere myths. How terribly sad! How destructive to the faith of those who sit at their feet and listen to such damning lies!
Our faith in not built on myths, but on things that actually happened. Jesus really was born of a virgin. Jesus actually lived a sinless life for each and every sinner. Jesus suffered death and hell on a Roman cross to make full and final payment for the sin of the whole world. And Jesus did indeed rise bodily on the Third Day after He died and was placed in the garden tomb.
Jesus' flesh and blood resurrection means we can be sure of our forgiveness. In fact without His resurrection our faith would be worthless, and we would still be caught in the death trap of our sins. Without Jesus rising to life we would have zero hope of our own resurrection and life forever in heaven.
"But now Christ is risen from the dead ... [He] was raised because of our justification ... [Because He truly rose] Death is swallowed up in victory ... [And so] we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body ... thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ ..." (1 Corinthians 15:20; Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:54; Philippians 3:20; 1 Corinthians 15:28).
Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed!
