How do we know Jesus is a greater than Jonah?

In Matthew 12:41, Jesus explicitly states that 'a greater than Jonah is here,' indicating that He embodies the fullness of God's redemptive story foretold in the Old Testament. While Jonah was used to deliver a message of impending judgment, Jesus is the fulfillment of that judgment through His own sacrifice on the cross. Unlike Jonah, who initially fled from God's command, Jesus willingly embraced the path of suffering to secure salvation for those who believe. The distinction highlights not only the prefigurement of Christ in the life of Jonah but also the comprehensive nature of Christ's atonement, which offers everlasting life to a multitude of sinners.