Matthew 12:38-41 King James Version (KJV)
38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
WHAT IS THE SIGN OF THE PROPHET JONAS THEN?
Who is Jonas? We mostly hear the story of a prophet eaten by a huge fish on Sunday School at church but the Bible's Old Testament in the book of Jonah records the account of a prophet who tried to run away from God's calling. But just because he tried to run away from God's purpose to his life doesn't mean Jonas hated God. In fact the book of Jonah clearly states that Jonas love God above all else. What he hates is the mission that God had ordered him to do.
But what does the life of Jonas tell us and even Jesus Christ Himself said that there shall no sign be given but the sign of the prophet Jonas? If we try to see through Jonas reluctance and being named as the "run-away prophet" or the "reluctant prophet" there is a clear message Christ was and is telling us about His chosen few.
The Sign of Jonas:
Jonas was eaten by a huge fish and stayed in the belly of that fish for 3 days and 3 nights yet he was ALIVE.
Jesus was crucified and was buried in the heart of the earth for 3 days and three nights and is resurrected and ALIVE
If we try to see the sign of Jonas is LIFE beyond death and death has no power over us in Christ Jesus. That is why Jesus said: "Behold I have overcome the world" to give a message that if you are in Christ there shall no more death and death is totally ineffective.
Jesus also states that the men of Nineveh rises to judge the wicked and adulterous generation. These men of Nineveh are a simple parable Christ said to emphasize that the repentant heart of the people of Nineveh during Jonas time is the one repentant heart Jesus seeks and not the so called overly rated church goers and church leaders who may have become a Pharisees Like Attitude.
Looking back at the life of the Prophet Jonas, he was a famous prophet not because of great miracles he did nor visions nor prophecy. He was famous because he tried to run away from God's calling. Looking it into our life, how many times did we tried to run away from God's calling and mission order to us? Are we gonna continue this kind of "the great escape" thing to run away from God? But the good thing about this life of Jonas and the running away scheme is that, Jonas and YOU as well is the perfect example of Jesus parable of the Prodigal Son.
So? Will you run away still and wait for your three days and three nights momentary death before you realize God is calling you? Or will you listen to God's calling NOW???