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As we explored in Tuesday's reading, many significant events in the Bible take place over a period of three days. When the religious leaders ask Jesus for a sign, he refers to the sign of Jonah—who was in a giant fish for three days (Jonah 1:17). We tend to focus on the first and last days of each account (Jonah being swallowed and spit out, Jesus dying and rising), and miss the power of the middle day: The presence of abandonment and death sets the stage for reconciliation and resurrection.

Key Study Passages:

Matthew 12:38-42; Jonah 2

1. Why do you think Jesus refuses to give the religious leaders an immediate miraculous sign (v. 39)? (See also Matt. 16:1-12; Mark 6:1-6; John 2:13-22.)
2. In Matthew 12:40, why does Jesus compare his death, burial, and resurrection to Jonah's metaphorical death, burial, and resurrection from the fish?
3. How does reading Jonah 2 mirror and shed light on what Jesus must have experienced in death? (See also Mark 15:34; Ps. 22.)
4. What have you learned about Jesus' loving sacrifice from reflecting on Holy Saturday this week?

Spend Time in Prayer: Thank God for his merciful provision in the sacrifice of his Son; thank him that he understands our suffering and death because he himself experienced it.

Matthew 12:38-42

The Sign of Jonah

38 One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority."

39 But Jesus replied, "Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.

41 "The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent. 42 The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen.

Jonah 2

Jonah's Prayer

2 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. 2 He said,

"I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble,
and he answered me.
I called to you from the land of the dead,
and Lord, you heard me!
3 You threw me into the ocean depths,
and I sank down to the heart of the sea.
I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves.
4 Then I said, 'O Lord, you have driven me from your presence.
Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.'

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Prayer for the Week

Jesus, let this week's readings sink deep into my heart and give me a fresh perspective and new appreciation for your death, burial, and resurrection on my behalf.

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