Caught in the Storm: Jonah and Jesus

Our lives have storms. Whether they be personal, financial, emotional, spiritual, or of any
other category, our lives have storms. Some just seem to occur, some are brought on by others,
and some, if not most, are of our own creation. Our lives have storms. The way we face them
tells a lot about our Christian character.
Two men of the Bible faced literal storms in their lives. These two stories, of Jonah and
Jesus, are probably the best known stories of storms at sea in recorded history. There are
similarities and differences between these two stories. In some aspects Jonah is displayed as a
type of Christ while Jesus is displayed as the true Christ.
Jonahs storm was of his own creation. It was brought about by his willing disobedience
to God: But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord (Jonah 1:3a).
What was he fleeing from? Oddly enough, he was fleeing from Gods commands to call sinners
to repentance: arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is
come before me (Jonah 1:2). If Jonah would have had his way then the souls in Nineveh would
have not heard Gods call to repentance, at least not from Jonah.
Jesus storm was also of His own creation simply because He is God. Yet the storm of
Jesus was not about punishment but about testing, testing the faith of his disciples. Why test
them? The twelve disciples had been witnesses to the physical, mental, and spiritual healing
power of Christ. They had heard His sermons and discourses. They had answered His call to
follow Him. All had been going pretty well. How would they react when it was not?
There is one striking difference and one huge similarity between the two stories at this
point. Jonah is the only man of God in his boat while every man in Jesus boat is a man of God.
The similarity? Both Jonah and Jesus were asleep during the storms!
Stepping back from the two main characters it is interesting to view how the other men
on the boats reacted to the storms. The men in the storm with Jonah reacted as unbelievers, and
some believers, are apt to do: then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his
god (Jonah 1:5a). In times of desperation and fear these men reached out to false gods for
salvation. When this did not work, they awoke Jonah and told him to call on his God. It is not
recorded whether he did or did not call on God. These men reacted out of fear.
Turning to the boar full of disciples one would hope for a better reaction, but one would
be disappointed. The disciples did reach out to God, in fact directly face to face with Jesus, but
they were motivated by fear, by self-preservation. And his disciples came to him, and awoke
him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish (Matthew 8:25). And they awake him, and say unto him,
Master, carest not that we perish? (Mark 4:38b). And they came to him, and awoke him,
saying, Master, master, we perish (Luke 8:24a). The response of the disciples is the same in
each book: they run to God in their time of need. However, their actions are not based on faith.
These men did not want to die. Their reaction was out of fear.
On Jonahs boat the crew questioned Jonah as to who he was. His response: I am an
Hebrew; I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, which had made the sea and the dry land (Jonah
1:9). Jonah confessed to the sailors as to why he was being punished. He then told them to throw

him over the side (Jonah 1:12). The crew ignored Jonahs request and continued to row toward
shore. They had moved from putting their faith in their gods to putting their faith in themselves.
Neither one worked.
Back in the boat with Jesus the disciples find themselves being questioned, or more
essentially, chastised by the Lord. Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith? (Matthew 8: 26).
Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith? (Mark 4:40). Where is your faith?
(Luke 8:25). Jesus had tested the faith of the men closest to him, those in continuous contact with
him on a daily basis. These twelves disciples had their faith tested and came up wanting just like
the rest of us.
The crew aboard Jonahs boat came to the realization that just as their calls to their gods
did not work, neither did their attempt to row to land against the storm. The crew beseeched God
not to lay innocent blood upon them and tossed Jonah over the side. The sea then ceased from
her raging (Jonah 1:15). Once Jonah was gone all was calm then the men feared the Lord
exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord and made vows (Jonah 1:16). The crew of
unbelievers became believers.
After pointing out the disciples lack of faith, Jesus arose and rebuked the winds and the
sea; and there was a great calm (Matthew 8:26b). Just the very words of Jesus, Peace, be still,
(Mark 4:39) and the storm immediately ceased. Matthew and Mark both described it as a great
calm. Once the disciples had finished observing the power of Christ they were full of questions,
questions they only asked each other. But the men marveled, saying, what manner of man is
this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! (Matthew 8:27). And they feared exceedingly,
and said one to another, what manner of man is this, that even the winds and sea obey him?
(Mark 4:41). And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, what manner of man is
this! For he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him (Luke 8:25). Jesus
rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith then performed a miracle over nature that helped to
strengthen their faith.
The account of Jonah in the storm displays a type of Christ. We do not see this in the
beginning when he is being disobedient, but it comes to the surface near the end. It is at the point
when Jonah urges the sailors to toss him overboard. Jonah becomes willing to sacrifice his own
life to save a ship full of unbelievers. Christ sacrificed himself to save a world full.
Jesus stayed in his boat. He showed that through the power of his very words that all that
follow him would be safe and saved. It is the Word that saves us.
Two men. Two boats. Two Storms. Two crews. One message: it is the power of Christ
that saves. Jonah left the boat, those onboard were led to believe, and Jonah spent three days in
the belly of a fish signifying how Christ would spend three days in the tomb. And just like Jesus,
Jonah came forth after three days and led Nineveh to repentance. Jesus sacrifice would come
after that specific storm in which the power of his words to save had been awesomely displayed.
Jesus sacrificed occurred during the great storm of mankinds descent into sin. When Jesus left
the tomb it was to lead the entire world to repentance and salvation.
Our lives have storms. Sometimes we can control them, sometimes we cant. But we can
always control how we respond to them. Storms are coming. Are you ready?