How do we know that Jonah is a type of Christ?

Jonah's being thrown into the sea represents a significant typological connection to Christ’s sacrificial death. The sailors' desperate situation and their need for salvation through Jonah’s sacrifice reveal a profound truth: just as Jonah willingly offered himself to calm the storm, Christ willingly gave His life as a ransom for many. This connection doesn't hold in every respect, as Jonah was a sinner while Christ was sinless, yet the act of substitutionary sacrifice is a key aspect of both figures. Jonah's self-offering leads to physical salvation for the sailors, just as Christ's ultimate sacrifice leads to spiritual salvation for all who believe. Both demonstrate the principle that at the heart of divine rescue lies sacrificial love.