Sermon for Ash Wednesday Chapel

Jonah 3:1-10

+INJ+

We all know the beginning of Jonah's story. God said to Jonah, go to Nineveh and call the people of the great city to repent and turn away from their sins. But he was afraid for his own life; these were evil people. So, instead, Jonah attempts to turn away from God by climbing aboard a ship and sailing to Tarshish.  

So, the story goes, a big storm arises, Jonah is thrown into the sea, and he is swallowed up into the belly of a great fish. Jonah now dwells in the darkness of this fish's stomach for three days and nights.

What would you do in such a situation?

Jonah did the only thing he could; he called out to God in prayer. He asked God to deliver him from the grave of the fish. Jonah asked God to deliver him from his sin of disobedience or not listening to God's instruction.

When we sin, when we don’t use the words we should because we are afraid for our own lives, we must join Jonah in calling out to God, praying, and asking Him for forgiveness, trusting that our heavenly Father hears us and will deliver us from the grave of sin and death.

God heard Jonah’s prayer and told the fish to spit Jonah out upon the dry land.

Then today's reading says God spoke to Jonah a second time, saying, "Go to Nineveh and speak to them the word I give to you." And this time, Jonah listens and goes as God tells him, speaks God’s Word, and what happens? The people believed and turned from their evil. They repented of their sin.

In fact, the people of Nineveh, including their king, dressed in sackcloth, a very rough garment made of goat or camel hair. Wearing such a garment and sitting in ashes was an outward sign of mourning and repentance.

Today we begin the season of Lent, and we, too, placed ashes in the shape of the cross upon our foreheads and said, "Remember, O man that you are dust and to dust you shall return."

Today's ashes are also an outward sign that must remind us that, like the people of Nineveh, we must repent (to say we’re sorry) and mourn our sins.

The ashes also remind us that we will all die one day. But the cross upon your forehead reminds you are one redeemed by Christ the crucified!

That’s right, Jesus went to the cross, died for your sins, and was then placed in the belly of the earth. But on the third day, He rose again, so you would receive forgiveness for your sin and live with Him forever.

So, as we enter the season of Lent, take this message with you, always listen to and obey God’s Word. Always have the name of Jesus upon your lips.

When you find yourself walking away from God like Jonah, repent and know that God hears you and will forgive all your sin.

And because of Jesus, know that the grave will not keep your mortal body, but will spit out your mortal body on the last day, and you will abide with Christ Jesus, your Savior, forever and ever. Amen. +INJ+