How is Jonah a type of Christ?

In Matthew 12:40, Jesus references Jonah's three days and nights in the belly of the fish as a sign that parallels His own death and resurrection. Jonah’s descent into the depths serves as a typological precursor of Christ's descent into death, signifying the gravity of sin and the need for deliverance. Just as Jonah was swallowed by the fish and later emerged alive, Jesus bore the weight of our sins and rose victorious from the grave. This typological relationship emphasizes the comprehensive nature of Christ's redemptive work, as He fulfills what Jonah's experience merely foreshadowed. For believers, this link assures us that Christ has overcome not only physical death but also spiritual death, providing a pathway to eternal life for all who trust in Him.