Rebellion Meets Grace — the Story of the Prophet JonahSample

"Go and preach"

When the big fish had vomited Jonah out upon the beach, God repeated his commission to go to Nineveh and tell the people there that God’s judgment would come. Although Jonah had been extremely rebellious, God did not give up on him as a prophet. Neither did He give up on his plan to warn the Ninevites. He just told Jonah for the second time to go there. This time, Jonah obeyed. He called out: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” The Bible text does not disclose whether this was all that Jonah said. Just warning of God’s judgment without calling people to repentance and pointing them to the possibility of forgiveness, would be a rather one-sided and minimalist message. But at least Jonah did what God had commanded him to do.

Christians actually have a similar commission. When Jesus was about to leave the earth after his resurrection, He gave his disciples some final instructions. He told them: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). I think this commission is still valid for all who believe in Jesus Christ — not just for apostles or prophets.

How can you “go and make disciples”? Are you longing to obey this commission, or are you trying to escape it, like Jonah did?