One of my favorite details in the story of Elijah and the priests of Baal is how he taunts them, telling them to pray louder because maybe Baal is in the bathroom (or to be more exact, he used the literal phrase for defecation in Hebrew). Trash talk!
In 1 Kings 17.1-21.29, the story of Elijah and the drought, we see a contest about who is the true God. The outcome of the contest reveals the Glory of God, whose power through one prophet is much greater than the disproportionate number of the prophets of Baal. The presence of water is a sign that this is a composite text, because it occurs illogically within the framework of a severe drought. Water here, however, serves to amplify the effect of the demonstration of God's power and glory through the actions of his prophet Elijah.
Interestingly, Elijah instructs the people to "Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood." (1 Kings 18:33). Elijah instructs the people to do this same process again, and a third time. Elijah says "Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so that the people may know that you, O Lord, are God," (v37). The fire of the Lord is so powerful when God responds to Elijah's call, that it "even licked up the water that was in the trench" (v38).
In the NT, in the gospel of John, the first sign that reveals the Glory of Jesus and his close unity, oneness, with God, is the wedding at Cana. When the wine gives out "the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine'." (Jn 2:3). There is a lack of wine which was a very significant thing at a wedding of the time. There were six stone jars standing nearby for Jewish rites of purification. Jesus instructs the servants (people) to "Fill the jars with water." (v 7). He then says "'Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.' They took it." (vv 7-8). We know the rest of the story, how the steward called the bridegroom, and said how it was usual at weddings to serve the good stuff first and the poor quality wine later: "'But you have kept the good wine until now.' Jesus did this the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory;" (v11).
In conclusion, both the story of Elijah and the drought, and the Wedding at Cana are accounts that call people to Believe in God through His signs of His glory. Jesus "came as a witness to testify to the light that all might believe through him." (Jn 1:7), and glory of the Word, Jesus, is revealed at the miracle of the wedding of Cana. Both Elijah and Jesus involve the people in the revelation of god.
Here is the Catholic Encyclopedia on Jonah. I like this part:
Christ would have deceived them had He presented a mere fancy. He argues clearly that just as Jonah was in the whale's belly three days and three nights even so He will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. If, then, the stay of Jonah in the belly of the fish be only a fiction, the stay of Christ's body in the heart of the earth is only a fiction. If the men of Ninive will really not rise in judgment, neither will the Jews really rise. Christ contrasts fact with fact, not fancy with fancy, nor fancy with fact.
One of my favorite details in the story of Elijah and the priests of Baal is how he taunts them, telling them to pray louder because maybe Baal is in the bathroom (or to be more exact, he used the literal phrase for defecation in Hebrew). Trash talk!
In 1 Kings 17.1-21.29, the story of Elijah and the drought, we see a contest about who is the true God. The outcome of the contest reveals the Glory of God, whose power through one prophet is much greater than the disproportionate number of the prophets of Baal. The presence of water is a sign that this is a composite text, because it occurs illogically within the framework of a severe drought. Water here, however, serves to amplify the effect of the demonstration of God's power and glory through the actions of his prophet Elijah.
Interestingly, Elijah instructs the people to "Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood." (1 Kings 18:33). Elijah instructs the people to do this same process again, and a third time. Elijah says "Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so that the people may know that you, O Lord, are God," (v37). The fire of the Lord is so powerful when God responds to Elijah's call, that it "even licked up the water that was in the trench" (v38).
In the NT, in the gospel of John, the first sign that reveals the Glory of Jesus and his close unity, oneness, with God, is the wedding at Cana. When the wine gives out "the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine'." (Jn 2:3). There is a lack of wine which was a very significant thing at a wedding of the time. There were six stone jars standing nearby for Jewish rites of purification. Jesus instructs the servants (people) to "Fill the jars with water." (v 7). He then says "'Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.' They took it." (vv 7-8). We know the rest of the story, how the steward called the bridegroom, and said how it was usual at weddings to serve the good stuff first and the poor quality wine later: "'But you have kept the good wine until now.' Jesus did this the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory;" (v11).
In conclusion, both the story of Elijah and the drought, and the Wedding at Cana are accounts that call people to Believe in God through His signs of His glory. Jesus "came as a witness to testify to the light that all might believe through him." (Jn 1:7), and glory of the Word, Jesus, is revealed at the miracle of the wedding of Cana. Both Elijah and Jesus involve the people in the revelation of god.
Here is the Catholic Encyclopedia on Jonah. I like this part:
Christ would have deceived them had He presented a mere fancy. He argues clearly that just as Jonah was in the whale's belly three days and three nights even so He will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. If, then, the stay of Jonah in the belly of the fish be only a fiction, the stay of Christ's body in the heart of the earth is only a fiction. If the men of Ninive will really not rise in judgment, neither will the Jews really rise. Christ contrasts fact with fact, not fancy with fancy, nor fancy with fact.
https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08497b.htm
I thoroughly enjoy these follow-up question bonus episodes. Please keep it up (if time allows in your schedules).