JC

 The line “Something greater than Jonah is here” comes from Gospel of Matthew 12:41 (and similarly in Gospel of Luke 11:32).

📖 The Full Context

In Matthew 12:41, Jesus Christ says:

“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.”

He is referring to Jonah, the prophet sent to preach repentance to the city of Nineveh (see Book of Jonah).

🔎 What Does “Greater Than Jonah” Mean?

1️⃣ Greater in Authority

Jonah was a prophet delivering God’s message.

Jesus is presenting Himself as more than a prophet — as the Son of God and the one with divine authority.

2️⃣ Greater in Message

Jonah preached repentance to Nineveh.

Jesus proclaims the arrival of the Kingdom of God and offers salvation.

3️⃣ Greater in Sign

Earlier in the passage, Jesus refers to the “sign of Jonah” — Jonah’s three days in the fish foreshadowing Jesus’ three days in the tomb before resurrection.

4️⃣ Greater in Response Expected

The people of Nineveh repented at Jonah’s preaching.

Jesus criticizes His own generation for failing to respond despite witnessing something far greater.

💡 The Core Point

Jesus is saying:

If Nineveh repented at the preaching of a reluctant prophet, how much more should people respond to the One who is greater than a prophet?

It is both a claim about His identity and a warning about spiritual hardness.

If you’d like, I can also explain how this connects to the “Sign of Jonah” or how different Christian traditions interpret this passage.