The Sign of Jonah: A Warning for Every Generation

March 12, 2025 - Wednesday of the First Week in Lent

Luke 11:29-32

Most of us are familiar with the story of Jonah—the reluctant prophet who resisted God's call to preach to his people’s enemies. As he himself admits, he knew that God was merciful, and the moment the Ninevites repented, God would forgive them. That was precisely what Jonah feared.

Among all the prophets of Israel, Jonah was the most successful. Most prophets preached to their own people—Israel and Judah—warning them that if they did not change their ways, destruction and exile would follow. Tragically, these warnings went unheeded. The Northern Kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians in 722 BC, and the Southern Kingdom of Judah was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC.

Jonah, however, was sent not to Israel, but to Nineveh—the very heart of Assyria, Israel’s archenemy. His message was stark: “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4). But the city was not destroyed. Unlike Israel and Judah, which ignored their prophets, the Ninevites listened. They repented, and God spared them.

History Repeats Itself

Yet history was about to repeat itself. Jesus, like the prophets before him, came preaching repentance to his own people. But once again, the majority rejected him. They chose Barabbas over Jesus, the way of the Zealots over the way of Christ, violence over love. That fateful choice led to a disastrous rebellion against Rome, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple in 70 AD. If only they had heeded Jesus’ warning, things could have been different.

Meanwhile, the Gentiles—like the Ninevites before them—were more receptive. Across the Roman Empire, small communities of believers, led by Jewish apostles of Christ, began to flourish. Without violence, without weapons, their way of life eventually transformed the mighty Roman Empire itself.

A Sign for Every Generation

Jesus’ life and message remain a sign for every generation. But do we recognize it? Do we heed it? Or do we, like the people of Jesus’ time, demand more signs as an excuse to avoid real change?

The Ninevites, the Queen of Sheba, and the early Gentile believers stand before us as examples of conversion. They listened to the message of the Scriptures and acted. The question remains: Will we?