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MATTHEW 12:41

"GREATER THAN JONAH"

Intro: Certain of the scribes and Pharisees had just asked Jesus for a sign, some kind of
       proof. You wonder what they wanted more.

I. JESUS CONFIRMED THREE EVENTS.
        A. Bible critics feel compelled to challenge the accuracy. Biblical Infidelism.
        B. When Jesus speaks of an event as happening, I believe it happened. I'll take His
           authority.
        C. The story of Jonah and the whale.
                1. Infidels had a hard time with that one.
                        a. Their concept of God too limited.
                        b. Can man prepare a great fish (so to speak. that will carry a crew
                           under water for many days?
                        c. Would it help you if it said God prepared a great submarine?
                2. The reference by Jesus confirms the story as historical fact.
        D. His own resurrection after three days.
                1. This was the only further sign to be given.
                2. It was the sign that convinced the disciples.
        E. The final resurrection and judgment.
                1. You cannot, you will not, escape the judgment of God.
                2. Facts are not determined by your belief.
                        a. Facts are facts whether you believe them or not.
                        b. 2+2=4.

II. MEN OF NINEVEH SHALL RISE WITH THIS GENERATION AND CONDEMN  IT.
        A. Well might they condemn it.
                1. They had only one prophet, Jonah.
                        a. He hated them.
                        b. He only preached because he was forced to.
                        c. He had no desire to see them saved.
                2. He had only one message, judgment.
                        a. "Yet forty days and comes destruction."
                        b. No offer of grace.
                        c. No mention of forgiveness.
                3. Yet they repented, from the greatest to the least.
                        a. "Who can tell?"

III. A GREATER THAN JONAH IS HERE.
        A. Jesus was ministering in love.
                1. How many times we read, "And Jesus had compassion on them."
                2. He is touched by our weaknesses.
        B. His message was of God's love.
                1. Full of hope.
                2. Promise of forgiveness.
        C. His words were confirmed by signs and miracles.
                1. He said, "Don't worry about what you are going to eat, your Father knows
                   what you need."
                        a. Then the disciples came to him worried about how to feed the
                           multitude.
                        b. He had them sit in groups of fifty.
                2. He said, "Your heavenly Father cares," and He healed their sick.
        D. Jonah offered to the people of Nineveh none of these things.

IV. WELL MIGHT THE MEN OF NINEVEH CONDEMN THIS GENERATION.
        A. You have a wide choice of prophets.
                1. They come in all sizes and shapes.
                2. Don't like the way this one looks, can go down the street.
        B. A message of hope.
                1. We declare to you the love of God.
                2. We assure you of forgiveness if you will repent and believe.