Words of Grace

By Rev. Mahlon Nevel

The prophet Jonah was sent to the city of Nineveh to warn the people of coming judgment, His message to them was: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4).

When the people heard the preaching of Jonah, they believed God and repented. The King also turned to the Lord and proclaimed a fast.

God saw from heaven how they turned from their evil ways. He did not do to them what he warned. In stead, he showed his great mercy and forgave them.

The Jews of Jesus’ day held Jonah in high esteem. They thought of him as one of the greatest prophets of all time. But they refused to honor Jesus, even accusing him of being a false prophet!

Because of their unbelief, he said that the people of Nineveh would rise up in judgment with their generation. They were under Condemnation because they would not repent. Nineveh repented when Jonah preached to them, and as Jesus said “a greater than Jonah is here” (Matthew 12:41).

Jesus also pointed out that the world was so impressed with the wisdom of Solomon. The queen of the south came from far away to hear his wisdom but “a greater than Solomon is here “ (V.42). The Lord Jesus is not just Great. He is the Greatest!