What was the connection of Jonah with the Calvary?

In Jonah 1:17, we read, “But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.”  Then in Matthew 12:40 we read, “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.”  Jesus was speaking with some Pharisees and teachers of the law who wanted proof that he was the Messiah.  Jesus answered that “a wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign!  But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.”  In other words, Jesus was not going to perform another miracle there for these Pharisees, or give any sort of miraculous sign just for show.  What he did was give an indication of what was going to happen to him, which was that he was going to die and be buried in a tomb for parts of three days.  

Jonah’s connection to Calvary was that his time in the belly of the fish was a picture of what was to come at the end of Jesus’ life.  Jesus used this as an illustration to show the Pharisees that he was indeed the Messiah, that he would die, be buried in a tomb, and rise on the third day.  Jonah in the fish represents Jesus in the grave.  Jonah being spat out onto dry land after his time in the fish represents Jesus’ resurrection.  Just as Jonah came out of the belly of the fish and was saved from death, so Jesus came out of the belly of the earth and was saved from death forevermore. Romans 6:9 reads, “For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.”  How wonderful it is that Jesus died and was raised for us all, so that we also might live again! As stated in 1 Corinthians 6:14, “By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.”

What is the reason for the failure of Absalom Failure and the Reason for the success of David?

The most basic answer to this is that the Lord was favoring David and not Absalom. So in order to answer this question more deeply, we must ask, “Why did God favor David and not Absalom?”

1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22 tell us that David was a “man after God’s own heart.” Although the scriptures record many of his failures and indicate that he was a man of war, his incredible humility is an example to us all. How many of us can boast a complete turnaround whenever our faults are pointed out to us? And yet David, even though he was king and in a position to ignore or even destroy any who disagreed with him, was completely changed when his sins were revealed to him. One famous example of this is in 2 Sam 12:13 after Nathan rebuked him over taking Bathsheba and having her husband Uriah killed. 

In contrast, Absalom was a man of idolatry. His mother was Maacah, the daughter of the king of Geshur (2 Samuel 3:3), which was a city-kingdom that the Israelites were supposed to conquer after the exodus but didn’t (Joshua 13:11-13). When he was banished from the kingdom, he returned to his mother’s homeland, where he most certainly immersed himself in more idolatry. He then planned a coup against the Lord’s anointed. Is it any wonder that God’s hand was against him?

To be even more specific, when David sinned and took Bathsheba, one of his punishments was prophesied in 2 Samuel 12:10-12, “…This is what the Lord says: Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you…” But then, after David repents, Nathan says in verse 13, “The Lord has taken away your sin, you are not going to die.” So this experience was given to David as a punishment for his sin, but because of the way he was quick to repent, David was not killed and the kingdom was not turned over to Absalom.

Furthermore, God had significant plans for David’s royal lineage, including Jesus, the seed of Abraham. Hence, God’s favor was with David, and not with the idolatrous Absalom who was attempting to destroy His plans.

Is baby dedication the same as baby baptism?

If we look at Scriptures relating to both ideas, we trust it will provide the answer.

What does the Bible say about baby dedication?

Exodus 13:2, "Sanctify unto me all the firstborn,"  and verse 18, "the firstborn males shall be the Lord's."   The firstborn were especially dedicated to God and his service.  Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Jerusalem for this purpose, Luke 2:22, 23, "…they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;  (As it is written in the law…, Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

1 Samuel 1:11, Hannah dedicated Samuel to the Lord even before he was born, in thankfulness that she could have a child, "And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD…if thou will…give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life."

Parents who dedicate their children to the Lord are saying that they are dedicating to Him the best they have – their children.  This desire encompasses giving their children an upbringing in which they will learn about God and Jesus. Child dedication is wise and noble.  The parents will nurture good character traits of honesty, kindness, and love in the children.  The children will be taught to appreciate and be thankful for God's blessings in their lives.

What does the Bible (New Testament) say about baptism? 

1) The Greek word "baptizmo" from which we get "baptism" means to be covered in water.  If this is done in a ceremony, it is only a symbol of the real baptism which is to be fully immersed in doing God's will after repenting of sin.

2)  Jesus explained what baptism means when he said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me," Matthew 16:24.  His followers gave up their own will to live a sacrificial life, as Jesus did. 

3) Paul says the same thing about baptism in Romans 6:3, 4, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? … so we…should walk in newness of life. Baptism means that the individual dedicates his entire life – all he has, hopes for, and all he is – to doing God's will, not his own will.  It is the death of his human will. 

Is baby baptism found in the Bible?  No.  Baptisms in the New Testament are adult baptisms. Jesus was dedicated by his parents as a baby, according to the Hebrew law, but was not baptized by John the Baptist until he was thirty years old.   Luke 3:21  "…Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, (verse 23), "…Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age…"

Is there a relationship between baby baptism and salvation?  No. Salvation is based on the recognition that the person is a sinner and that Jesus died for his sins. Upon these truths, the sinner accepts Jesus as his Savior and then dedicates his life to doing God’s will.