Introduction:

Yesterday I read a report from a man who had observed a portion of a battle taking place in an open field near him. He did not name the battle, the place or even the war. It could have a battle of the Civil War or of the Revolutionary War, or of some other military conflict. That is really unimportant. But what he said is very important.

He saw a cannon fired at a line of men, who, as soon as they heard the shot, fell flat down on the ground, thereby escaping death. The ordnance fired sailed directly over them. What mighty, great, effectual armor they employed to defend themselves!—They fell flat down before the enemy!

That which gave those men notice of imminent danger was the sound of the blast as the powder ignited. What mercy that the blast was heard before the volley reached its target!

Now, listen to me. The Lord God almighty, in like manner, warns before he wounds. He sounds alarm before he assails in wrath. He blows the trumpet before he charges with the sword of his justice. He alarms before he slays. How often you have heard the igniting of his cannon. Oh, be wise! Fall flat down on the ground before the Lord God against whom you have sinned, whose wrath you have provoked, and sue for mercy. Fall down before him that his wrath may pass over you! Fall down before him. You have no other armor. Fall! Fall! Fall down before him now!

(Luke 11:29,30,32) "And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. (30) For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. … (32) The men of Nineveh shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here."

(Luke 11:29-30) "And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. (30) For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation."

Faith believes God Only unbelief seeks, looks for, or depends upon signs and evidences.. Those in our Lord’s day and those like them in our day who make signs, evidences, and proofs, (be such signs matters of science, logic, emotions, or miracles), the basis of faith will perish in unbelief, even if they profess to believe. Faith stands upon the Word of God alone.

I call you this night to repentance and faith in Christ. The basis of my appeal is the Word of God alone. I have no argument with which to persuade you, but the gospel. I have no sign to give you, no miracle to perform, no evidence to convince, nothing but the naked gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ. Will you hear me? God help you to hear and believe unto the saving of your soul. Oh, Holy Spirit, come now and cause sinners to hear and believe to good news, for Christ’s sake!

• The wrath of God is upon you!
• There is righteousness, redemption, grace and salvation for sinners in Christ.
• God almighty has promised life eternal, free salvation, to every sinner who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ!
• Outside Christ, without Christ there is no salvation, no grace, no mercy, and no hope.

This is what the sign of Jonah declares. – "Salvation is of the Lord!" I know you are as familiar with those words as I am. How we rejoice to hear them! How we rejoice to proclaim them! But how is Jonah a sign of this blessed gospel?

(Psalms 88:1-7) "O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: (2) Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; (3) For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. (4) I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength: (5) Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand. (6) Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. (7) Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah."

• "Father, forgive them!"
• "Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise!"
• "It is finished!"

(Luke 11:32) "The men of Nineveh shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here."

Like the Jews in our Lord’s day, you have been favored with the great privilege of hearing the gospel. Yet, like them, you harden your heart and cry, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Are not the men of Nineveh irrefutable witnesses against you? Are they not true witnesses against your soul, condemning your obstinate unbelief? Indeed they are!

A. The men of Nineveh repented, and turned to God, though they only heard one message from one prophet.

• They had none of the privileges and opportunities we enjoy.
• Nineveh heard only one prophet; and he not much of one.
• Nineveh heard that prophet only once; and in that one sermon there was no indication of care, concern, or compassion.
• Nineveh had heard no word of glad tidings, but only the thunder of the law and the threat of wrath.
• Yet Nineveh’s obedience to the Word of God was immediate, universal, practical, and acceptable, so that the city was spared.

• He declared no promise of pardon.
• He made no mention repentance.
• He proclaimed no word of grace.
• He only preached hellfire and brimstone, and seemed to do so with gladness!—"Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown."—His message began and ended with judgment, wrath, and terror.

The difference between the Ninevites and you who believe not is simple. They believed what God said, though there was no grace in what he said to them. Believing God’s Word, they found themselves in desperate need. Therefore, they made the message of doom a message of hope. They took Jonah’s dreadful message as an indication that since God gave them forty days, the might be willing to spare them altogether.

Some of you who hear my voice, on the other hand, hear the glorious gospel of rich, free, full salvation, grace abounding, mercy multiplied, and life eternal, with hardhearted, stubborn rebellion and unbelief.

C. The men of Nineveh repented, and turned to God, though Jonah offered them no hope.

(Jonah 3:9) "Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?"

III. This is what I want you to see. "Behold, A greater than Jonah is here!" Oh, may God give you eyes to see him.

• A Greater Man!
• A Greater Prophet!
• A Greater Resurrection!
• A Greater Message!

A Greater Mission! – "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners! – The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost! – I am come that they might have life! – He that believeth on me shall never die!"

"Come, humble sinner, in whose breast

A thousand thoughts revolve,

Come with your guilt and fear oppressed,

And make this last resolve

‘I’ll go to Jesus, though my sin

Hath like a mountain rose;

I know His courts I’ll enter in,

Whatever may oppose.

Prostrate I’ll lie before His throne,

And there my guilt confess;

I’ll tell Him I’m a wretch undone,

Without His sovereign grace.

I’ll to the gracious King approach,

Whose scepter pardon gives;

Perhaps He may command my touch,

And then the suppliant lives!

Perhaps He will admit my plea,

Perhaps will hear my prayer;

But if I perish, I will pray,

And perish only there.

I can but perish if I go,

I am resolved to try;

For if I stay away, I know,

I must forever die.

But, if I die with mercy sought,

When I the King have tried,

This were to die (Delightful thought!)

As sinner never died.’"

Edmund Jones

• What God will do?
• If God will be gracious?
• If I might yet find mercy?
• What God’s purpose is?
• If God might be pleased to save me, even me?

Come now, my friend, poor, despairing soul. Throw yourself into the arms of the Son of God.

(Jonah 3:9) "Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?"

(Isaiah 25:9) "And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."