Jonah 3:1-10
1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2 ”Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people ofNineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.
10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.
Mark 1:14-20
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and thekingdom ofGod has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
Conversation
- This morning we want to think about two readings chosen for today.
- We have heard two very different stories about very different people being called to do God’s work.
- In the Gospel which I read the writer uses the word “immediately” to describe what the Peter, Andrew, James, and John do. What is that?
- What immediately happens when Jonah is called by God? What is Jonah called to do? What do you think about his running instead of do what God wants?
- Why does he run away? (Ninevehis the capital of Assyria…and is located in modern dayIran) (As it was then Assyria continues to be a sworn enemy of Israel)
Sermon
Cities exist mainly because many people like living there. There are lots of reasons for them wanting to live in the city. Job opportunities for various vocations are numerous in the city. Education opportunities in schools, technical colleges, and universities abound in the city. And as anyone know who needs health-care specialists… they are located there. Of course with the Coscos, Super-stores, and all the other big box stores shopping choices are so much more numerous. We have just barely made a dent in the advantages of city living.
But one advantage we…who live in villages…often don’t consider is invisibility. The best way to become invisible is to go away to a large city…where it is quite possible to hide in plain sight. In the city even neighbors who live close to each other…often don’t know each other. And frequently…don’t try to get to know them… Even when neighbors have a desire to implement positive changes in their community… they are most often ignored.
On the other hand people in small communities such as ours it is virtually impossible to become invisible. We know lots of things…about our neighbors near and far. We know what their children are doing and where they are living. We know their vehicles…and wave to them on the road or the street. We meet at the post office, the coffee shop, or the store. We are genuinely interested in their lives.
Of course much of our knowledge about our neighbors does not come directly from them. Frequently we learn it from other neighbors… at the coffee shop…at the store… or in casual conversation on the street. We learn when someone is sick or has fallen and have a chance to express our concern… We learn when their children have graduated… or have been married…or have become parents… In these encounter we learn good things…and we also things that the subject of the conversation would prefer we didn’t learn… We know their foolish or hasty decisions. In small communities…knowing our neighbors means we know them warts and all…
Today we have two distinct Biblical stories… One is located in a small fishing village… Jesus is calling his first disciples as he walks along the shores ofGalilee. It seems that he only has to invite them to follow and they do.
Immediately they left their nets and followed. Immediately he called them and they left their father Zebedee and followed him.
According to everything we know about small communities… it is safe to assume that the coffee shop would have been buzzing discussing the decision of Andrew and Simon and the sons of Zebedee…because they abandoned their fishing occupations and follow a stranger.
We know the story of Jonah and his response when God calls him to do a difficult job. His job in the big wicked city ofNineveh…is not to become invisible…although it would be preferable. Rather he is being called to proclaim God’s anger…over their wickedness. He is called to stand out in this foreign city…whose king is bent on destroying his own country. Jonah thought he could become invisible to the people ofNinevehand to God by running away. I think that most of us know the rest of the story about the storm …his three days in the belly of a big fish. After being spit out of the fish …God comes to him a second time…and this time Jonah proclaims the message God gives him… and then sits back and waits for God’s destruction to rain down on the city.
To Jonah’s dismay… When God saw what the citizens ofNinevehdid, how they turned from their evil ways, God’s mind is changed…the calamity and destruction does not fall on the city. Of course Jonah is not pleased…he wants to witness the annihilation of the enemy.
In Sunday School when we heard the story of Jonah…we were taught to shake our heads and wag our fingers. We were taught that he was bad because he doesn’t do what God wants…and immediately we took God’s side… We snickered when he is tossed overboard into the mouth of the big fish. And when he becomes angry with God we judged him and shook our heads.
When considering these old Bible stories we rarely consider how we would respond given similar situations. If Jesus came in person into our village and invited us to leave everything and follow as he invited the disciples… If God came in person to us and told us to proclaim God’s word in the capital city of modern dayIran… I wonder how we would respond. Most often when we consider such stories we focus on the people being called and how they react. We immediately think their response…is a statement about the strength of their faith…or lack of it.
However, when we focus on the ones being called… we usually forget to reflect on God and the purpose behind the call… God’s purpose is best described in the words of the Gospel according to Mark… Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God saying, “The kingdom of God has come near.” Jesus comes bringing good news… and he calls disciple for the purpose of spreading it.
When examining Jonah’s story considering God’s purpose of bringing good news… the whole story suddenly changes. It is no longer very much about Jonah at all. Rather it is about the people of Nineveh. They believed God; proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth… Even the powerful king showed his remorse. When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it. Both the people of the city and Jonah learned a very important lesson about God. They learned that God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing.
Similar to Jonah and similar to the disciples…we are also called. Similar to them we are called to spread the good news. We are called to proclaim the nearness of our God. Finally we are called to proclaim our God who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, ever-ready to forgive. Let us say; “Yes.” And let us follow wherever our God calls us. Thanks be to God.
