Hi friends, let’s circle back to yesterday’s video regarding the Sea of Galilee. If you watched the entire thing, perhaps you were intrigued, as I was, by Dr Postell’s commentary (beginning at the 15:45 mark) on the correlation between two Biblical storms mentioned in Jonah 1 and Mark 4.

Often, Scripture gives us pictures (or “types”) of Jesus in the character of others. For example, in the account of Abraham’s sacrifice of his son, Isaac, we derive a wonderful picture of God the Father’s sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, for our salvation. In that sense, Abraham is a “type” of God the Father, and Isaac of Christ the Son.

When I first heard Dr Postell’s commentary about the two storms, I thought he was describing Jonah as a type of Christ, which didn’t seem to be an accurate analogy. So, I studied through Jonah 1 and Mark 4 to see for myself. Indeed, Jonah is NOT a picture of the character of Christ, and when I went back to the video, I found that Dr Postell made that point clear…I just missed it before!

My misunderstanding didn’t erase the nuggets of gold to be mined from those two passages, though. Similarities include:

• A life-threatening storm arose in each account.
• Key characters (Jonah and Jesus) were somehow able to sleep in the midst of the storm.
• Both were awakened by somewhat frantic groups of men.
• Each was asked whether or not they had any concern for the safety of others in the boat.
• In each account, AFTER the storms ceased, those aboard the vessels “feared exceedingly!”
• Wonder and worship ensued.

What is the difference between the two accounts? Jonah was thrown overboard, and Jesus calmed the sea!

Undoubtedly, those in each scenario feared for their lives in the midst of the storm. But why exceedingly great fear after the fact? Could it be a different kind of fear overtook them? God’s Word commands us to fear the Lord. Does that mean we fear Him as those who are fearful for their lives in the midst of the storm? Or does that mean we so revere God that we honor and worship Him as the only One capable of calming the storms of life? Big difference…and I think we all know the answer!

Now, put on your Hebrew glasses and consider the account of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee from a Jewish perspective. Those in the boat with Him were Jews and would have been very acquainted with Old Testament history, including Jonah. Perhaps they harkened back to that great storm in Jonah’s day. They knew Jonah didn’t calm that storm, but Jonah’s God did! So, they wonder:

“Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
~Mark 4:41

Jonah 1 answered that question for them! Who could command the wind and sea? Only God…and Jesus did it right before their very eyes! In doing so, Jesus proclaimed to be God!

So, is Jonah a type of Christ? By no means! But Jesus and Jonah’s God are one!