Sunday Morning - April 7, 1996
Text: Luke 11:29-30 "And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
30. For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation."
Jonah 1:2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me."
Genesis 10:9-11 "He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod... 10. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, ... 11. Out of that land went forth Asshur [to Assyria], and builded Nineveh, ..."
Nineveh, the capital of the ancient Assyrian Empire, was noted for its cruelty and violence (Jonah 3:8). This is confirmed by the ancient records found there. Under the preaching of Jonah in the eighth century BC, the city and king had turned to God (Jonah 3:3 - 10). But in the time of Nahum, a century or more later, the city had wholly departed from God. The message of Nahum, therefore, though given perhaps a generation before the destruction of the city, is not a call to repentance but an unrelieved warning of judgment (1:9; 3:10). Such is the way of God; light rejected brings destruction.
NINEVEH: Its remains are represented by two mounds named Quyundjiq "Many Sheep" and Nebi Yunus "The Prophet Jonah."
Jonah 3:3-5 "So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey. 4. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. 5. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them."
Jonah 3:9-10 "Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? 10. And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not."
Nahum 1:1-2 "The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. 2. God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies."
Luke 3:7 "Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?"
Mark 13:1-2 "And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! 2. And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."
Mark 14:58 "We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands."
Mark 16:7 "But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you."
Matthew 28:10 "Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me."
Acts 4:33 "And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all."
Acts 8:14 "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:"
Acts 8:40 "But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea."
Acts 9:30 "Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus."
Acts 10:1 "There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,"
Acts 10:20 "Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them."
Acts 10:23 "...Peter went away with them,...."
Jonah 3:10-4:1 "And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. 4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry [jealous]."
Acts 4:2 "Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead."
Acts 5:17 "Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,"
Romans 10:19 "But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you."
Romans 11:11 "I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy."
1 Peter 2:8-10 "And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10. Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."
Luke 21:20-24 "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."
Matthew 28:16 "Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a [THE] mountain where Jesus had appointed them."
The Place The traditional site is Mount Tabor in lower Galilee, but it is not a high mountain (only 1,850 feet) and was probably fortified and inaccessible in Jesus' day. Much more likely is Mount Hermon (9,100 feet) to the north of Caesarea Philippi.
In Galilee and near Caesarea Philippi.
Matthew 16:13 "When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" Matthew 17:1 "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,"