Jonah and the New Testament

The New Testament, of course, proclaims that Gentiles can come to God and be part of the covenant people. Jesus Christ was sent to the world, and not just to Israel (see John 1:6-14).

Jesus himself compared & contrasted His ministry with the ministry of Jonah (Matthew 12; Luke 11). He was asked for a miraculous sign, and in response He said that He would be 3 days & 3 nights in the earth; He compared this with Jonah's stay in the belly of the fish. His reference was to the time between His crucifixion & His resurrection (Luke 24:46). He is "greater than Jonah," however, because while Jonah reluctantly preached to save a city against his will, Jesus freely gave up His life to save many. --Dillard & Longman