Jesus’ Resurrection: A Whale of a Tail?

“Without the resurrection, Jesus’ death becomes the heroic death of a noble martyr, the pathetic death of a madman,

or the execution of a fraud.” John MacArthur

  A South African photographer has a whale of a survival story — and the stunning photo to prove it. Rainer Schimpf, 51, had his own personal Jonah from the Bible moment when his head and torso were gobbled up by a whale while he was shooting footage of a sardine run off the coast of South Africa. “I held my breath and I was prepared, and that's the only thing I could do, I mean there was no other thing I could do. I mean, you can't fight a 15-ton animal,” said Schimpf. He found himself in the mouth of a Bryde’s whale, which can grow up to 55 feet long and weigh up to 30 tons. Thankfully, he was only trapped for about two seconds before the whale let him free. The incredible scene was captured by photographer Heinz Toperczer, who was in a nearby boat. A stunning photo shows the head and torso of Schimpf in the mouth of the whale off the coast of South Africa. 

  “I was just holding myself and bracing myself and calming myself down not to be panicked, and it worked out,” he said. “He spat me out and everybody’s happy.” His biggest fear was not being completely swallowed by the whale, but being pulled down into the deep ocean. A check of his body after the ordeal found that he didn’t even have a single bruise and was back in the water minutes later. Someone joked that Schimpf might be the first person since Jonah's biblical odyssey to enter the mouth of a whale and survive. “I showed (the photo) to my son, and he was impressed,” Schimpf said. “And you’ll never guess what his name is — Jonas.”

  In Matthew 12:39-41 Jesus said, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” No one can read that without understanding at once that it’s a prophecy of Jesus’ resurrection. The sign of Jonah is what’s called a “typical” prophecy. The experience that Jonah went through is a “type” of what Jesus would go through.

  As Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and nights and then was spit out, so the Son of Man – Jesus the Messiah – would be in the heart of the earth for three days and nights and then rise again. It was a prediction of Jesus’ coming death, burial, and resurrection. That would be the sign Jesus would give. But would they heed it? No. Jesus said in His account of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16, that if they would not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they still wouldn’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.

  It’s noteworthy that Jesus Himself affirms the veracity of the account of Jonah being swallowed by a big fish. If you have a problem believing the account about Jonah is true, you also have a problem with Jesus because He attested that it is true.

  When Jesus heard their request for a sign He must have been thinking, “How blind can you be? Haven’t you seen my miracles and heard my words?” He said, “You want a sign? Here’s your sign, the sign of Jonah.”

  What is the sign of Jonah? Just as Jonah spent three days in the dark, cold belly of a huge fish and was as good as dead, God miraculously delivered him after three days. The same thing happened to Jesus. He spent three days and three nights in a dark, cold tomb, but unlike Jonah, Jesus really died and God raised Jesus from the dead.

  Believing in the Resurrection of Jesus is a requirement for salvation. Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Why doesn’t the Bible say, “Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus walked on water; or believe in your heart that He fed the 5,000”? Because the resurrection of Jesus proves He’s more than some great teacher or just a martyr. He was and is God. He rose from the dead and is alive forevermore. Your salvation rises and falls on whether or not you truly believe Jesus died and was raised to life again.

  Some people are looking for proof, but they’re making the same mistake the disciple Thomas made. They want a sign. On that first Easter night Jesus appeared to the disciples but Thomas was gone. Jesus vanished and when Thomas showed up they told him about Jesus. He refused to believe. He said, “I have to see a sign. Unless I see the nail prints in His hands and place my hand in the hole in His side I won’t believe.” It’s why he’s called Doubting Thomas. A week later Jesus appeared and knew exactly what Thomas had said because He said, “Here, Thomas put your finger in the nail scars in My hands.” Thomas fell to His knees and said, “My Lord and my God!” Then, Jesus said something to Thomas and He said something about believers today…Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (John 20:29) Jesus was talking about Christians who believed in His resurrection by faith – blessed are those who have not seen, but believe.

  Do you recognize the sign of Jonah? Do you believe God raised Jesus from the dead? Jesus said that you’re blessed if you do. I hope that you’re not waiting on a sign from God. The sign that Jesus is the only Savior and our only hope is His empty tomb. It’s what we’re celebrating today – our Lord is alive! Is He your Savior? Is He alive in your heart and life?

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.