The True Heart of Evangelism

Written by: Andrew Friesen on 3/7/2009

When the average person on the street hears of the story of Jonah today they think of it as a fable, or liken it more to that old movie “Jaws” where that massive shark would viciously attack and eat people.  But even though Jonah was a prophet that lived about 800 years before Christ, I believe he was one of the greatest prophets who ever lived and communicates a very important message that speaks into our lives today.  

Not only did Jesus relate with Jonah more than any other prophet in the Bible, but He said in Matthew 12:39 “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.”   What was the sign of Jonah?  Jonah was the first prophet ever to carry the word of God outside of his own nation.  It’s amazing!  Imagine that before Jonah you will not even find one person in the entire Bible who ever preached the word of God to a different people group, even though God’s plan has always been to bless the whole world.  (See Genesis 12:2-3; Psalm 67)

God said to Jonah “Arise, go to Nineveh...” (Jonah 1:2).  Today Jesus says to us “Go into all the world...”  (Mark 16:15)

Jonah didn’t like his calling from God.  He chose, to run in the opposite direction only to find himself in one mess after another.  Finally, after being swallowed by a whale, he decided to pray to God.  That’s a good time to start.  To his surprise, the Lord heard his prayer and gave him a second chance.  Aren’t you glad God gives us second chances?

Jonah apparently preached with amazing results.  The Bible says that Nineveh repented and God spared that great city of 120 000 people.  “God relented from the disaster that He said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.” (Jonah 3:10)

However, after Jonah had grudgingly done what God told him to do, he found himself in a pool of selfpity and anger for the mercy God had shown towards Neneveh.   Jonah didn’t like God’s nature of mercy for people, he wanted to see the fire of judgement fall on the city of Niniveh.  After all, it was known for it’s many sins, wickedness, and was considered an enemy of Israel at that time.  Jonah said "Ah Lord was this not what I said when I was still in my country?  Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm."  (Jonah 4:2) Jonah wanted to preach fire and brimstone and see the judgement of God.  

John the Baptist did not even recognize who Jesus was when he came.  “When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"  Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.” (Mathew 11:2-6)

John preached on the judgement and wrath of God.  "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Luke 3:7) John must have thought to himself. “Good News?  The wrath of God?"  He found himself confused.

John the apostle was completely ‘out of sync’ when it came to understanding the nature of Christ.  When the Samaritans refused them accommodation, John said "“Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?"  But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.  For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.”" (Luke 9:55-56)

However, I think it is so beautiful how John the apostle discovered and encountered God.    “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.”  (Acts 8:5)  "Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 8:15).  What an awesome Jesus we have!  John went down to Samaria the second time, not to call down the fire of judgement, but the call down the fire of the Holy Spirit.  Praise God!  I can just imagine John hearing the news of Philip the evangelist preaching to the Samaritans and how they had received the gospel with signs and wonders.  I can see the fire of the Holy Spirit burning in his heart as he prays to the Lord.  “Oh Lord, forgive me, for now I understand that you are a God who loves and died for the sins of the whole world.  1 John 2:2 “For he is the propitiation not only for our sins, but also for the whole world.”  The true heart of evangelism is that the messenger is the message and the message is the messenger. A burning heart preaching a burning message to the whole world "Jesus Saves!"  Your thoughts? -Andrew