27 MARCH

THE SIGN OF JONAH

“For just 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)

As Jonah was thrown out into the sea and was swallowed by the great fish–for his disobedience–so was Jesus thrown into the arms of the same crowd that hailed Him King a few days earlier. He was buried in the heart of the earth for three days. And just as the fish threw up Jonah to fulfil his assignment, so the earth “threw” Jesus up to fulfil His.

It was for the same reason–disobedience–that Jesus died and was buried; but not His disobedience, for He never sinned. He took upon Him the sins and disobedience of man. And being there from the beginning of creation–in fact all things were made by Him–He took on the sins of the first man, Adam, to the last man living when He will come again as the victorious Judge. At that time, He will take His own to that beautiful heavenly kingdom through the streets of gold and gates of pearl.

Wow! No price is too much to pay to be there! By His grace, I will be there! How about you?

The “world” of Nineveh was saved from destruction through the preaching of Jonah. Someone greater than Jonah is here now. Are you part of the present world that will be saved through the sacrifice of Jesus? Many Christians fast during the Lenten period, or with their church/denominations, denying themselves food, with some abstaining from certain habits, practices and vices, and many praying more than usual.

But the question is, what happens after the fast? Is the same grace of God no longer available to sustain the abstinence from sin for a lifetime and cultivating a more fervent prayer life? From Good Friday to Easter Sunday, we commemorate the death to resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He obeyed even up to His death on the cross. Are we living in obedience to our assignment?

ACTION: Sing this chorus: Will I be ready when the Lord shall come? Oh yes, I will be ready; I will be ready when The Lord shall come!

PRAYER. Lord, give me grace to be ever mindful of your imminent return.