Did Jesus really say he would rise from the grave three days after his death?
Yes … yes he did.
Multiple times, in fact.
“As Jonah was in the stomach of the sea creature for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.” ~ Matthew 12:40.
“Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’”~ Matthew 27:63
Jesus said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. ~ Luke 9:22, Matthew 16:21, Mark 8:31
Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” ~ Luke 18:31-33
And still on the morning when the women went to anoint his body neither they, his disciples, or apparently any of his followers believed his words. How many times must God and Jesus say a thing before you will believe?