It'd be fascinating to do a study about what this would look like in different cultures. Were this 21st century America, with the declining social trust we have in many places, I think Jonah might be immediately thrown into the sea. In this culture, however, the sailors know that Jonah is the cause of the storm, and he asks to be thrown into the sea... and yet the men row hard to try and save the ship. They do not want to throw Jonah into the sea, despite the fact that Jonah brought this upon them. They still want to save him, if possible.
Perhaps these men are the heroes of the story?
Notice heroic actions in the world around us. They're not often performed by people who are the center of attention, but are often done by those quietly laboring to make the world a better place. May we see their example and celebrate that, rather than the social media post of a celebrity that may or may not be worth our emulation and adulation. May we celebrate those who labor for others, and may we aspire to be the type of people who look a guilty person in the eye and do everything we can to save them, for that's exactly what Jesus Christ does for us.
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