How the Pinocchio Story is similar to the Gospel Message

Luke 11:29-32

New International Version (NIV)

The Sign of Jonah

29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.


Jesus said that he would give the "Sign of Jonah", and in another place he says just like Jonah was in the Belly of the Whale for 3 days, so he would be in the earth for 3 days.  I think the story of Pinocchio is a neat allegory for Christianity. Think about it.

In Pinocchio, Gepetto makes a puppet, but he doesn't just want a puppet, he wants a real boy.  So the Blue Fairy gives him freedom, and a conscience.

God created us, but created us in His image and likeness, so not like puppets, but with free will, and a conscience, guided by the Holy Spirit.

But Pinocchio abuses his freedom, get's caged, then turns partway into a donkey, and is lost to his father.

We abuse our free will, sin, get trapped in sin, make Jack-asses of ourselves, and get cut off from our Father.

The Father goes after the Son, but in the process he gets consumed by a whale.

God comes for us, but in the process he gets killed, as in the sign of Jonah.
The Blue Fairy prompts Pinocchio to seek his Father, appearing as a white dove with a crown.

The Holy Spirit also appears like a dove, and prompts us to seek after God.

Once Pinocchio gets swallowed by the whale and escapes, he is restored, and then made into a real boy, by the Blue Fairy.

Only once we enter into the death and resurrection of Christ can God complete the good work begun in us by letting the Holy Spirit sanctify us back into what God wanted us to be all along-  his children, in his image and likeness.

Whoah.