RBWords

     Jesus calls attention to the repentance of the people of Nineveh at the preaching of Jonah in contrast to the reception he [Jesus] was receiving.  This is not the only time Jesus mentions Jonah in the gospels.  He also uses the example of Jonah in the belly of the whale to predict his own resurrection.  So, Jonah well enough known to the audience to serve as a prophetic reference.

     Jesus probably did not need to mention that Jonah was not a very cooperative prophet at first.  He tried to run away from God.  After being thrown overboard from his escape ship and being swallowed by the "whale" and spit up on the beach, he finally gave up resistance.  After he preached in Nineveh, the city repented!  He stands out as one of the few Old Testament prophetic figures that experienced any success. [Perhaps this is why many scripture scholars believe the Book of Jonah is a story and not history.]  The irony is that he is disappointed in his success because he thought success would be the destruction of Nineveh, not its salvation!  God scolds him over his sulking.

     I think there are several good lessons here.  First of all, if God wants our cooperation, God can be persistent in getting it!  Second, we should be grateful for any success we experience in our preaching, and third, not try to dtermine in advance what success really means!  I think some folks really want to see sinners destroyed or punished rather than saved!  I think Jesus offers us a better model even as he gives Jonah some good press!  AMEN