Why is Jonah's experience relevant to understanding Christ's sacrifice?

Jonah's narrative serves as a typological precursor to Christ's redemptive work. As Jonah was cast into the sea to calm the storm, effectively representing a substitute that preserved the lives of those on the ship, Christ gave Himself as a substitute for sinners through His death on the cross. In Matthew 12:40, Jesus draws a parallel between His own death and Jonah's time in the belly of the fish, highlighting the depth of His sacrifice and the universal significance of His resurrection. Just as Jonah's ordeal was a sign of God's mercy and grace, so is Christ's death and resurrection, which provide redemption and reconciliation for all who believe. The urgency and necessity of recognizing Christ's sacrifice are paramount in sovereign grace theology, where it is emphasized that only through Him can we have eternal life.