The Sign of Jonah and the End Times

Why the Resurrection is the greatest sign of all

Jesus Christ is coming back again! The signs all around us—multiplying and converging as never before—remind us of that fact. And that means we could be hurtled into eternity in the blink of an eye. 

Sometimes we might find ourselves hoping that all of the scary headlines about earthquakes, pandemics, globalization, and rumors of war will convince people that God’s Word is true. They will be so persuaded by the prophetic signs coming together all around them that they will turn to Jesus for salvation.

But I’m not sure that fulfilled prophecies or dramatic signs and wonders like that will really cut it with a skeptical world.

It was Jesus Himself, when He walked this earth, who coined the phrase “signs of the times.” It happened in a dust-up with the usual suspects—the religious leaders of His day. Here is how it went:

Some Pharisees and Sadducees badgered him again, pressing him to prove himself to them. He told them, “You have a saying that goes, ‘Red sky at night, sailor’s delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning.’ You find it easy enough to forecast the weather—why can’t you read the signs of the times? An evil and wanton generation is always wanting signs and wonders. The only sign you’ll get is the Jonah sign.” Then he spun around and walked away.—Matthew 16:1-4 (The Message)

In essence, Jesus says to these faithless, cynical religious leaders, “I won’t show you any more signs. You’ve seen more than enough. But there will be one last sign I will give you, and you can take it or leave it. It will be the sign of the prophet Jonah.” 

He knew they had no intention of believing in the first place. He also knew they would close their eyes to His last and greatest sign: dying for the sins of the world, being buried in the earth for three days, and then rising again. Just as Jonah was swallowed up by the great fish, and resurfaced three days later, so Jesus would be swallowed by death. But death would never be able hold Him. After three days, He would come out of that tomb, alive forever.