The Sign of the Prophet Jonah # 6

The New Thing Which is Old

We have already seen that Jonah's dilemma - purely a mental one - was the result of an innovation on the part of the Lord Jehovah is here breaking into the life of Israel and sending Jonah out to minister to the heathen, the Gentiles. For this Jonah had no precedent, nothing like it had happened before. There had been many references made to the Gentiles, but nothing as to a direct saving ministry to them. The Gentiles were at this time locked up in a reign of death. Israel was locked up in tradition, formalism, declension, exclusiveness, and religious pride.

Nineveth was the most renowned city of heathendom then on the earth. There would be no meaning in preaching a coming judgment to the people of Nineveh if repentance - and thereby salvation - was not possible.

This all being so contrary to all that Jonah knew would make him very careful for his reputation: to say nothing of the peril to Israel's interests that the saving of Nineveh would mean. He does not seem to have revolted from preaching the judgment, but from the mercy of God if they repented (John 4:2). But what did this signify in the mind of God? Was God doing really a new thing? Was this something in the nature of a vagary or new idea with the Lord? No, surely not!

There Is Nothing New with the Lord

He is always working backward to a plan fully outlined before the world was. Everything that is a new phase or aspect with us is only a step backward with Him to that "purpose which He purposed in Christ before the world was." Jonah, like all others of those ages moved in the dark. According to the purity of their spirit, the measure of their faith, the completeness of their obedience, they sensed or had revealed to them that some great future development would complete and vindicate their life and work; they knew that they were not living for their own age only, but in those "other ages" the mystery was not made known, although so constantly intimated, suggested and prefigured.

If Jonah was the sign in the matter of death, burial, and resurrection, the issue is clearly seen to be "that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs" (Ephesians 3:6).

Surely it is not difficult to see that with the resurrection of Christ of which Jonah was a type, the Church comes into view (John 12:24).

Thus we see - 

The Church's Constitution

"Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to Thee among the Gentiles and sing unto Thy name.

And again He saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles; with His people,

And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and laud Him, all ye people.

And again, Isaiah saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and He that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him shall the Gentiles trust" (Romans 15:8-12).

"How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ); which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel; whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 3:3-9).

"Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:26, 27).

The words of scripture speak for themselves, and little need be added. A glance at their context will make quite clear that the Church is constituted by resurrection union with the Lord Jesus.

~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 7)