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 grilled Jesus about needing a sign, He took inspiration from Jonah—a pretty compelling choice for someone both familiar with the scriptures and with a sense of drama! You see, the story of Jonah multiplying the odds—three days and three nights in the belly of a beast—serves as a grand encapsulation of themes like repentance and resurrection, which echo throughout the New Testament.

Let’s go back a bit. Jonah, often dubbed the reluctant prophet, initially tried to sidestep his mission in Nineveh by booking a one-way ticket on a ship...only to be tossed overboard (what an epic fail!). His three-day fishy stay was not just a story about survival but a powerful metaphor for transformation and renewal. It's striking how Jesus likens His own impending death and resurrection to Jonah's strange saga. Both tales underscore a shared narrative of coming back from the brink—either the watery depths or the grave.

Interesting tidbit—both Jonah and Jesus’ experiences occur in three days, opening the door to discussions on what that timeframe means from a Jewish context, symbolizing completion and divine intervention. So, when Jesus invoked Jonah, He wasn’t merely recounting a quirky tale; He was weaving together rich scriptural traditions to fortify His purpose and connect past prophetic lineage to His revolutionary message of hope. It’s a dramatically deep tale filled with timeless themes!