The “sign of Jonah” is mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke in reference to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees that no sign would be given except the sign of the prophet Jonah (Matthew 12:38-39, 16:4; Luke 11:29-30). This has been interpreted as a prophecy by Jesus that He would spend three days and three nights in the grave before being resurrected, similar to how Jonah spent three days and nights in the belly of the great fish (Jonah 1:17). Here is a detailed look at the sign of Jonah and its significance.
The account of Jonah
The Old Testament book of Jonah records the account of the prophet Jonah, who was called by God to go to the city of Nineveh and preach repentance. However, Jonah resisted God’s call and got on a ship headed in the opposite direction. God sent a great storm that threatened to break apart the ship. When the sailors figured out that Jonah was fleeing from God, they threw him overboard at his request. Jonah was then swallowed by a great fish and spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish (Jonah 1:17). While inside the fish, Jonah prayed to God for deliverance, repenting of his disobedience. After the three days, the fish vomited Jonah onto dry land (Jonah 2:10). Jonah then obeyed God and preached to the people of Nineveh, who repented.
The story of Jonah has several parallels to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jonah’s time in the belly of the fish was a figurative “death” and “burial” that led to Jonah’s “resurrection” onto dry land. Jesus used this story as a parallel to His own death, burial, and resurrection.
Jesus’ predictions of His death and resurrection
Jesus predicted His death and resurrection multiple times during His earthly ministry:
- Matthew 12:40 – “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 16:21 – “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
- Matthew 17:22-23 – “As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.’ And they were greatly distressed.”
- Matthew 20:18-19 – “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
In these passages, Jesus specifically stated that He would spend three days in the grave before being resurrected, just as Jonah spent three days in the belly of the fish. His disciples did not understand these predictions at first (Matthew 16:22; Luke 18:34). But after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, they looked back and understood that He had fulfilled His own prophecy (Luke 24:6-8).
Jesus’ response to the religious leaders’ demands for a sign
In Matthew 12, some of the scribes and Pharisees demanded that Jesus show them a sign to prove His authority. But Jesus responded:
Matthew 12:39-40 – “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet 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.”
Jesus was saying that the only sign He would give them was the sign of Jonah – His death, burial, and resurrection. Similarly, in Matthew 16, Jesus again predicted His death and resurrection. When the Pharisees and Sadducees tested Him by demanding a sign from heaven, Jesus replied:
Matthew 16:4 – “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.”
Once more, Jesus was saying that His resurrection after three days in the grave would be the ultimate proof of who He claimed to be – the Messiah and Son of God. The “sign of Jonah” was Jesus’ way of predicting His victorious resurrection.
The fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy
Jesus’ prophecies about the sign of Jonah were remarkably fulfilled when He was crucified and buried, then rose from the dead on the third day.
Jesus was crucified and buried on a Friday afternoon. His body laid in the tomb all day Friday (day 1), Saturday (day 2), and early Sunday morning (day 3). Very early on Sunday morning, Jesus rose from the dead, just as He had foretold multiple times. This fulfilled His own prophecy about spending three days and nights in the grave before being resurrected (Matthew 12:40).
Jesus’ resurrection on the third day confirmed that He was the Messiah, the Son of God, with power over sin and death. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and reminded them that He had predicted these events ahead of time (Luke 24:6-8, 44-48). The “sign of Jonah” was Jesus’ ultimate credential that demonstrated His authority and power over death.
Why is the “sign of Jonah” significant?
There are several important reasons why the sign of Jonah is significant:
- It proves Jesus’ power over death – By rising from the grave after three days, Jesus demonstrated His authority over sin, death and judgment. Just as Jonah emerged alive after three days in the fish, Jesus emerged from the tomb in resurrection life, proving He is the Son of God (Romans 1:4).
- It validates Jesus’ Messianic claims – The Pharisees wanted proof that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus pointed to the sign of Jonah as the ultimate authentication of His claims. His resurrection was the “sign” that He truly is the Christ.
- It gives hope for our resurrection – 1 Corinthians 15:20 says Jesus has been “raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” His resurrection guarantees the future resurrection of all who believe in Him. The sign of Jonah provides hope for our own victory over death.
- It launched the early Christian movement – Belief in Jesus’ resurrection emboldened the timid disciples and transformed them into bold witnesses. The sign of Jonah was the backbone of the apostles’ preaching after Pentecost (Acts 2:29-32). It fueled the unstoppable growth of early Christianity.
In summary, the sign of Jonah was a pivotal prophecy by Jesus that He would suffer, die, and rise again on the third day. This miraculous event verified Jesus’ authority and launched a movement that would turn the world upside down.
Other key points about the sign of Jonah
- Jesus rebuked those who demanded signs from Him (Matthew 12:39; 16:4), because their hearts were hard and unbelieving. The resurrection should create faith, not merely satisfy curiosity.
- Some people falsely claim a contradiction between Matthew 12:40 (“three days and three nights”) and the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion timetable. But Jewish idiomatic language allowed for partial days and nights to be reckoned as whole days and nights.
- The scribes and Pharisees wanted Jesus to perform signs and wonders to prove Himself. But Jesus pointed to His ultimate sign – the resurrection. This sign requires faith rather than sight.
- Jonah’s “resurrection” from the fish foreshadowed Christ’s resurrection. Jesus is greater than Jonah, so His miraculous sign is greater. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus accomplished salvation for the whole world.
Conclusion
The sign of Jonah was a key prophecy by Jesus that He would die and rise again after three days, just as Jonah emerged alive from the fish’s belly. Jesus staked His entire mission on this sign. When it came to pass, it validated His Messianic identity and demonstrated His power over death. This extraordinary event launched Christianity and serves as a foundation for the hope of our own future resurrection. The fulfillment of Jesus’ words about the sign of Jonah authenticate His life, message and divine Sonship.