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

In the Gospel of Matthew, when the Scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign from Jesus, He pointed them back to a famously astonishing biblical figure—Jonah. The reference isn't just about an unhappy aquatic vacation; it taps into a powerful message about transformation, repentance, and hope. Jonah, the reluctant prophet, was swallowed by a great fish. For three days and three nights, he was in deep water both literally and metaphorically. His experience becomes a metaphorical sign for Jesus’s own moment of being within the earth, culminating in resurrection three days later.

Jonah's story isn't only thrilling; it is also rich in intertextual connections. The Hebrew Bible portrays Jonah as a character who initially evaded his calling and then underwent a radical change. Consider the fact that this prophet wouldn’t typically fit our heroic ideals. He even fled from preaching to the Ninevites merely to escape reminding the powerful about justice.

Jesus utilizes Jonah's narrative to suggest that just as an unwilling prophet eventually came forth after a dramatic experience, so would He—demonstrating that real signs often come from profound upheaval and change. Additionally, Jonah’s pouting over Nineveh’s repentance speaks to humanity’s larger struggle with jealousy and the concept of divine mercy. Such narrations ripple through the ages, reminding believers and seekers alike of the universality of redemption, calling everyone to contemplate the depths of their own existence and purpose. How’s that for a sign?