The answer is: Jonah

Matt 12:38-39 - Referring to the three days and nights that Jonah has spent in the belly of the great fish

When the Scribes and Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign, He famously pointed to Jonah, and this connection is rich in meaning. Jonah wasn’t just your average reluctant prophet; his story had layers that resonated deeply with themes of repentance, mercy, and divine intervention. For three days and nights, Jonah famously found himself stuck in the belly of a great fish—a bow down into darkness that can remind us of being trapped in our own personal struggles.

By referring to Jonah, who in turn was a messenger that delivered a call to repentance to the people of Nineveh, Jesus suggests that His own death and resurrection were quite similar—offering a transformative message. Both scenarios speak to a death-like experience followed by resurgence and hope for deliverance. Could it be that while Jonah emerged from the fish transformed, Jesus anticipated a far greater transformation through His resurrection?

Here's something interesting: the story of Jonah depicts how God reaches out beyond the usual boundaries, asking us to practice kindness and compassion, building a compelling narrative in the process. Additionally, Jonah’s unwillingness to spread God's word brings some humor to the situation, resembling how so many of us sometimes feel about stepping out of our comfort zones. So next time you ponder Jonah's belly time, think not just of punishment, but of the profound lessons about redemption and growth. The echoes of Jonah stretch far beyond his era, urging us today to connect deeper with compassion, no matter our journey.