Billy Sticker compares Jonah and Jesus through the three days and three nights both spent in darkness. Jonah's symbolic death saved only himself; Jesus' literal death and resurrection saved everyone. Jonah prayed for his own deliverance. Jesus offers salvation for all.
We have Jonah for 3 days and 3 nights in the great fish, and then we have Jesus for 3 days and 3 nights, right? Then we have Jonah— it was his disobedience that led him there, but it was Jesus' obedience that led him to the cross. Metaphorically, Jonah was dead. Literally, Jesus died. Jonah was answering for his own sin. Jesus was answering for my sin, for our sin. Symbolically, Jonah was resurrected. Literally, Jesus was resurrected. Jonah, he called out for his salvation for himself. But Jesus is all of our salvation.
