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Khalid Nawaz recently wrote the following article and asked for it to be published here:
“Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” Jesus answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (The Holy Bible, Matthew Chapter 12)Christians attribute many types of signs for Jesus (as). For example they say Jesus (as) gave life to the dead persons, cured many disease of peoples, walked on water etc. However when a group of his opponents came towards his for witnessing any sign and stated their objective in a very polite way Jesus (as) told them that those wicked and adulterous people, who were demanding a sing from him, shall be given only one sign, the 'sign of the Prophet Jonah'. Then he (as) further told them that just like Jonah lived in the belly of huge fish for three days and night, so the Son of Man shall spend three days and nights in the heart of earth. We read in the bible a very clear description of the sign of the Jonah prophet. A short description is cited from Wikipedia:
“Jonah is also the central character in the Book of Jonah. Ordered by God to go to the city of Nineveh to prophesy against it "for their great wickedness is come up before me," Jonah seeks instead to flee from "the presence of the Lord" by going to Jaffa and sailing to Tarshish, which, geographically, is in the opposite direction. A huge storm arises and the sailors, realizing this is no ordinary storm, cast lots and learn that Jonah is to blame. Jonah admits this and states that if he is thrown overboard the storm will cease. The sailors try to dump as much cargo as possible before giving up, but feel forced to throw him overboard, at which point the sea calms. The inspired sailors then offer sacrifices to God. Jonah is miraculously saved by being swallowed by a large fish specially prepared by God where he spends three days and three nights. In chapter two, while in the great fish, Jonah prays to God in his affliction and commits to thanksgiving and to paying what he has vowed. God commands the fish to vomit Jonah out. The first time Jonah prays in the book is in the fish which is also the first time Jonah rejoices.” (wikipedia)We learn from above incident that God almighty saved the Jonah, against almost impossible odds. First he survived a sea-storm, then even when he was thrown into the sea he was not drowned, but instead was swallowed by a large fish, then whilst within the fish instead of dying he somehow survived. Had the fish vomited him out in the sea he would have drowned, but instead he was vomited back onto the shore and despite his weakness still somehow survived and this miracle is recorded in the Bible.
So, when Jesus (as) said that such a sign would be shown to wicked people, how and when was this prophecy fulfilled? A time came when Jesus' life was threatened. A case was filed against him and the judge Pontius Pilate order the crucifixion of the Jesus (as). Like Jonah (as) Jesus was in danger of losing his life. But as foretold earlie God utilized an intricate scheme to save him (as) from the death thus fulfilling the prophecy.
Accounts of the crucifixion
The earliest detailed historical narrative accounts of the death of Jesus are contained in the gospels. There are other more implicit references in the New Testament epistles. In the gospels, Jesus predicts his death in three separate episodes.
According to all four gospels, Jesus, carrying his cross, was brought to the "Place of a Skull" and crucified with two thieves, with the charge of claiming to be "King of the Jews", and the soldiers divided his clothes before he bowed his head and died. Following his death, Joseph of Arimathea requested the body from Pilate, which he then placed in a new garden tomb.Read more »*This blog is completely unofficial and in no way represents Islam Ahmadiyya or the views of anyone except the author themself.*