Parallels between Jesus and Jonah – The Sign of Jonah

The Storm on the Sea:

Jesus and Jonah traveled by boat – Matthew 8:23/Jonah 1:3

A great storm arose on the sea powerful enough to wreck the boat – Matthew 8:24/Jonah 1:4

Jesus and Jonah were asleep in the boat when the storm struck the boat – Matthew 8:24/Jonah 1:5

The other people in the boat were afraid that the boat would sink. They woke Jesus and Jonah from their sleep so that they would be saved from perishing – Matthew 8:25/Jonah 1:6

The Trial:

Jesus and Jonah at their “trial” were asked about their occupation; where they came from; and what was their nationality – John 18:33, 37, 19.9, Luke 23.6/Jonah 1:8

The people conducting their “trial” asked them what they had done - John 18:35/Jonah 1:10 

The people conducting their “trial” became afraid - John 19:8/Jonah 1:10

The people conducting their “trial” were urged to cast them out – John 19:6/Jonah 1:12 

The people conducting their “trial” strove hard against a “storm” of protest to find an alternative to avoid casting them out – Matthew 27:15-18, 20-23, Mark 15:06-14, Luke 23:13-23, John 18:38-40/Jonah 1:13

The people conducting their “trial” did not want to be held responsible for shedding innocent blood - Matthew 27:24/ Jonah 1:14

After failing to find any other alternative, the people conducting their trial acquiesced to casting them out – Luke 23:24-25/Jonah 1:15

When they were cast out a great fish appeared – Luke 23:45/Jonah 1:17 Note: According to Luke 23:45, when Jesus was on the cross the sun “failed” or was “eclipsed.” A natural solar eclipse can’t occur during a full moon because the moon is on the wrong side of the earth at that time. Since Passover occurs during a full moon, then the sun was supernaturally eclipsed or darkened when Jesus was on the cross. During an eclipse of the sun by the moon, the two celestial bodies form two overlapping circles in the sky. Ancient mathematicians referred to the area between two overlapping circles as “the fish.” As shown in the picture below, the area between two overlapping circles resembles the body of a fish:

The Sacrifice:

Jesus and Jonah were vicariously sacrificed – Ephesians 5:2, Hebrews 7:27, 9:26, 10:12/Jonah 1:12-15

Burial:

Both Jesus and Jonah were in the grave for three days – Matthew 27:63/Jonah 1:17

There was a wrapping around their heads while they were in the grave – John 20:7/Jonah 2:5

Their bodies were preserved from corruption while they were in the grave – Acts 13:37/Jonah 2:6

Return from the grave:

After three days, Jesus and Jonah returned from their graves alive and continued their ministries a second time for another forty days – Acts 1:3/Jonah 3:1-4

J. Clontz – Editor of the Comprehensive New Testament