Introduction

Chapter 4 is the climax of Jonah’s story, as we see Jonah’s heart contrasted with God’s heart. Jonah wants to see Nineveh destroyed. God, by contrast, has compassion for the great city, and longs to pour out mercy. As we wrestle with the Jonah story, we’re meant to turn the mirror on ourselves, to ask: how do we view our city? Jesus, the anti-Jonah, is the incarnation of God’s compassion for the city. As we live in him, we too can be turned around into a people who experience deep compassion for our great city.