"Muhammad is no more Than an Apostle: many Were the Apostles that passed
away Before him..." A. Yusuf Ali
The term which Ali translates as "many were the Apostles," is the
Arabic al-russul and is more precisely translated as "THE
Apostles." The phrase is inclusive and affirms that all the Apostles before
Muhammad have passed away.
The following Muslim translations reflect this point:
"... the apostles have already passed away before him..." Shakir
"... Verily all Messengers have passed away before him..." Sher Ali
"... messengers have already passed away before him..." M. Muhammad
Ali
"... Messengers have passed away before him..." T. Irving
The late Maulana Muhammad Ali of the Ahmadiyya sect states in relation to
this passage:
"While this verse lays stress on the essential truth of Islam, it served
another important purpose at the death of the Prophet. Some of the companions
thought that the Prophet was not dead. Abu Bakr went in, and seeing that life
had departed, ascended the pulpit and read this verse, which had a magical
effect upon his hearers, all of them being convinced that the Prophet had passed
away, as all prophets had passed away before him. The prophets were but mortals,
and their span of mortal life must no doubt terminate like that of other
mortals. This verse affords a conclusive proof that Jesus Christ was also
dead; otherwise Abu Bakr's argument could not have silenced the doubters
of the Prophet's death." (Ali, Holy Quran [USA; Ahmadiyyah Anjuman
Isha'at Islam Lahore Inc., 1995], pp. 168-169, f. 496 emphasis ours)
S. 19:33, Christ Speaking As An Infant:
"So peace is on me The day I was born, The day that I die, And that day I
shall be raised up to life (again)." A. Yusuf Ali
The word "again" is not in the Arabic text but is Ali's insertion. Compare M.
Ali's translation:
"And peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I am
raised to life."
The very same phrase is used of John the Baptist (Yahya) just a few verses
earlier:
"So Peace is on him The day he was born, The day that he dies, And that day
he Will be raised To life (again)!" S. 19:15 Y. Ali
According to Islamic belief John the Baptist lived and died and will be
raised to dwell in paradise at the culmination of time. And yet certain Muslims
have Jesus ascending to God before dying, destroying the chronological sequence
of the passage.
That S. 19:33 is puzzling can be seen from Yusuf Ali's footnote:
"... Christ was not crucified (iv. 157). But those who believe that he never
died should ponder over this verse." (Ali, The Holy Quran
[The Holy Koran Publishing Company], p.774, f. 2485 emphasis ours)
One Muslim writer notes:
"No Muslim will shift the death of John (Yah Yah) to the future. All know
that John died... since no one can now shift the death of John to the future,
therefore no one can now shift the death of Jesus to the future. In fact there
is not even one single passage throughout the Kuran showing that Jesus will
return to die. The parallel statement with John who died, clearly shows that
Jesus also died." (A.H. Obaray, Miraculous Conception, Death, Resurrection,
and Ascension of Jesus (Nabi-Isa) as Taught in the Kuran
[Kimberley, South Africa; Pub. By Author, 1962], p. 45)
Even more troubling is this passage taken from S. 19:31:
"And He hath made me Blessed wheresoever I be, And hath enjoined on me Prayer
and Charity as long As I live." Y. Ali
According to this reference Jesus is commanded to pray and give alms
(zakat) until he dies. But if Muslims are correct, Jesus has not died and
must therefore continue to give charity even now while in heaven!
S. 3:55
"Behold! God said: `O Jesus! I will take thee (Arabic- inni
mutawaffeeka) And raise thee to Myself And clear thee (of the
falsehoods) Of those who blaspheme..." Y. Ali
S. 5:117
"Never said did I to them Aught except what Thou Didst command me To say, to
wit, `Worship God, my Lord and your Lord'; And I was a witness over them whilst
I dwelt Amongst them; when thou Didst take me up (Arabic-
tawaffaytani) Thou wast the Watcher Over them, and Thou art a
witness to all things." Y. Ali
The phrase "I will take thee" and "when Thou didst take me" are forms of the
Arabic word tawaffa. The term is nearly always used in the Quran to imply
one who is taken at death. Note the way other Quranic translators have
translated these passages:
Rashad Khalifa
"... I am terminating your life, raising you to Me..."
"... When You terminated my life on earth..."
Shakir
"... I am going to terminate the period of your stay (on earth) and cause
you to ascend to Me..."
"... but when Thou didst cause me to die..."
Sher Ali
"... I will cause thee to die a natural death and raise thee to
Myself..."
"... but since Thou didst cause me to die..."
Muhammad Asad
"... Verily, I shall cause thee to die, and shalt exult thee unto
Me..."
"... but since Thou hast caused me to die..."
M. Muhammad Ali
"... I will cause thee to die and exalt thee in My presence..."
"... but when Thou didst cause me to die..."
M. Muhammad Ali gives this commentary:
"I'Ab says that the significance of mutawaffi-ka is mumitu-ka,
i.e. I will cause thee to die (B. 65:12). According to LA, `You say
tawaffa-hu-llahu when you mean Allah took his soul or caused to
die.' And according to LL, it signifies "God took his soul (S, Q) (either at
death or in sleep, see the Quran 6:60); or caused him to die (Msb)'.
No other significance can be attached to the words when thus used.
Some commentators say that Jesus remained dead for three hours; others say
seven, and so on (Rz). But the word is used here to really show that the Jewish
plans to cause Jesus' death on the cross would be frustrated and that he would
afterwards die a natural death... Pickthall's translation is, O Jesus, I am
gathering thee, and this is the Biblical idiom for causing to die. Yusuf
Ali, in his first edition, translated the words as meaning I will cause thee
to die, but in the second edition he changed it to I will take
thee." (Ali, Holy Quran, p.147, f. 436 bold emphasis ours)
Ali's note that the idiom "I am gathering thee" is used in the Bible to mean
death is correct:
"Altogether, Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years. Then Abraham
breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years;
and he was gathered to his people." Genesis 25:7-8 NIV
"Isaac lived a hundred and eighty years. Then he breathed his last and died
and was gathered to his people, old and full of years..." Gen. 35:28-29
NIV
"When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up
into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people." Gen.
49:33 NIV
Ali's second point that God takes people's soul at death or while sleeping is
substantiated by the Quran in 6:60:
"And He it is Who takes your souls at night, and He knows what you earn by
day, then raises you up therein that at an appointed term may be fulfilled. Then
to Him is your return, then He will inform you of what you did." M. M. Ali
According to some of the Islamic writings which we will be looking into
shortly, the term tawaffa means to complete a task or term. This verse
clearly states that upon completing ones term God takes the soul, affirming that
the completion of a person's task inevitably leads to death. This is then
followed by the resurrection where God will inform the individual of all that he
has done. Hence, for Christ to have been taken at the completion of his term
means that God had taken Christ at death.
Noted Muslim scholar Mahmoud M. Ayoub in his book, The Qur'an and Its
Interpreters vol. II- The House of `Imran, states:
"As has already been noted, both the Quran and Islamic traditions have
contested the crucifixion and its theological implications. Commentators,
however, have differed regarding the meaning of the word mutawaffik (I
will receive you or cause you to die). They also differed concerning the
identity of those who followed Jesus and those who have rejected faith." (Ayoub
[New York; State University of New York, Albany, 1992], p.169)
Ayoub proceeds to quote extensively from some of Islam's greatest
commentators. One such commentator is al-Tabari who "states that the word,
as commonly used, means, `I will cause you to die.' It also
means, `I will receive, reclaim, or fully appropriate you.' Tabari then presents
a number of interpretations, with supporting prophetic hadith traditions,
of the word mutawaffik. He reports that, according to some early
tafsir masters, the phrase here means `I will cause you to sleep, and
will take you in your sleep.' This view is related on the authority of al-Rabi'
b. Anas." (Ibid. emphasis ours)
According to Tabari Muslims such as Hasan al-Basri and Matar al-Warraq argued
that Jesus did not die. In fact, according to Basri Muhammad had told the Jews,
"Jesus did not die, and he will return to you before the Day of Resurrection."
(Ibid.) According to a tradition attributed to Ka'b al-Ahbar as reported by
Mu'awiyah b. Salih, "God would not cause Jesus son of Mary to die." Instead God
told Jesus that he would send him "against the one-eyed deceiver (al-Dajjal),
and you will slay him. You will then live for twenty-four years, after which I
will cause you to die the death of the living." (Ayoub, p. 170) Yet, according
to Tabari, other Muslims asserted "that God received Jesus by causing him to
die." (Ibid.)
Ayoub notes:
"This view (that God caused Jesus to die) is reported on the authority of Ibn
Abbas and Wahb b. Munabbih who said, `God caused Jesus to die for three hours of
the day, during which He raised him up to Him.' Ibn Ishaq mistakenly reports
that `Christians claim that God caused Jesus to die for seven hours, after which
He brought him back to life.'" (Ibid.)
And yet others hold to the view that Jesus was raised without dying and will
be sent back a second time in which he will die and be raised to life again.
There is even a tradition given by Qatadah going back to Muhammad stating this
very point (Ibid., pp. 170-171)
Another Muslim expositor, ar-Razi, lists both the diverse meanings of the
term mutawaffeeka and the conflicting Islamic views on Jesus' last hours
on earth:
End your term: that is, "I end your term on earth, so I do not leave
you to your enemies, the Jews, to kill you."
Cause you to die: this is a statement made on the authority of Ibn
Abbas, the expositor of the Quran, and Muhammad b. Ishaq. They said that the
purpose was not to let his enemies, the Jews, to kill him. Then after that (God)
honored Him (Jesus) by raising Him up to heaven. From this point on, Muslim
scholars differed in three ways: a) Wahb said: He died for three hours, then was
raised up; b) Muhammad b. Ishaq said: He died seven hours then God quickened Him
and raised him up; c) al Rabi b. Anas said: God caused Him to die when He raised
Him up to heaven; for God said (in the Quran): "God takes the soul at the time
of their death, and that which has not died, in its sleep." (Al-Zumar 39:44)
The waw ("and") regulates the word order: Since Jesus is alive,
that means that God raised Him up to heaven first; then He will descend to kill
the anti-Christ. After that God will cause Him to die.
The spiritual interpretation: this is the opinion of Abu Bakr
al-Wasity: "(I cause you to die) of your lusts and the desires of your soul.
Then He said: `I raise you up to Me' because unless He dies to what is not but
God He would never reach the knowledge of God. Also, when Jesus was raised up to
heaven, He became like the angels: free of lusts, anger and reprehensible
dispositions."
The complete ascension: that is Jesus, son of Mary, was raised up
whole in both body and spirit, not only in spirit as some may think. What
supports this interpretation is God's saying: "They would not cause You any
harm."
I make you as if you died: Raising Jesus up to heaven, the eradication
of any physical trace of Him from this earth, and the obliteration of His
reports would make Him as if He really died. "Applying the name of one thing to
another if they share similar properties and qualities, is permissible."
Grasping: which means to repay or be repaid as when receiving in full
a sum of money which you are owed. Either way, snatching Him out of the earth
and ascending Him to heaven is a payment for Him.
Compensation for the work: that is, God "has announced to Him the glad
tidings of accepting His obedience and His deed. He revealed to Him (Jesus) the
troubles and the toils He would suffer from His enemies as He spread His (God's)
religion and law. He (God) would not forfeit His compensation or waste His
reward."
Ar-Razi states, "these are the total said views of those who interpreted the
verse according to the literal meaning." (Razi's al-Tafsir al-Kabir, vol.
8, p. 74 as quoted in Faris al-Qayrawani's Was Christ Really Crucified?
[Light of Life, P.O. Box 13 A-9503, Villach, Austria], pp. 59-62)
Even amongst the Muslims who believe that someone else was killed in Jesus'
place, not all unanimously agree that it was Judas:
1) A Jew named Judas (not to be confused with Judas Iscariot) entered a house
where Christ was, with the purpose of arresting Him, but did not find Him. God
caused the likeness of Christ to be on him, and when he came out of the house
people thought he was Jesus, and took him and crucified him.
2) The Jews, when they arrested Jesus, set over Him a watchman, but Jesus was
taken up to God by a miracle and God caused Jesus' likeness to rest on the
watchman, whom they took and crucified, while he cried out "I am not Jesus."
3) One of Jesus' friends was promised Paradise, and volunteered to die
instead of Him. God caused him to resemble Jesus and he was taken and crucified
but Jesus was taken up to heaven.
4) One of Jesus' followers betrayed Him, (that is, Judas), and came to the
Jews to guide them to Him, and went with them to take Him. God caused him to
appear like Jesus and he was taken and crucified. (Adapted from Iskander
Jadeed's The Cross in the Gospel and the Koran [The Good Way, P.O. Box 66
CH-8486- Rikon, Switzerland], pp. 12-13)
5) Titawus, a Jew, entered the house where Jesus was, trying to arrest Him.
He could not find Him. Instead, God changed his likeness and made him resemble
Jesus. Upon coming out, the Jews had him arrested and crucified, thinking that
he was Jesus. (Jadeed, Victory Of The Truth [Good Way], p. 113)
Al-Tabari in his commentary lists more conflicting views:
1) Some Muslims have stated that "When the Jews surrounded Jesus and His
friends, all took on the likeness of Jesus. The Jews were confused and so killed
one of the others." (On the authority of Salma)
2) "Jesus came with seventeen disciples. The Jews surrounded them. God
made the disciples in the likeness of Jesus. The Jews said to the disciples,
`You have bewitched us. You'd better tell us which one of you is Jesus, or we
will kill you all.' Then Jesus said to the disciples, `Who is willing to give
his life today for paradise? One of the disciples volunteered and went outside
saying to the Jews, `I am Jesus.' They took him and crucified him."
3) "The Children of Israel surrounded Jesus and nineteen of His
disciples in a house. Jesus said to the disciples, `Who is willing to take my
image, die, and go to Paradise?' One disciple offered himself, and was taken
outside and crucified, while Jesus ascended up to heaven."
4) Finally, "David the King of Israel sent a man to kill Jesus. That man took
men with him. Jesus was with thirteen of His disciples. When He knew they
had arrived He made one of the disciples to look exactly like Him. When the Jews
saw that disciple, they took him outside and crucified him." (Adapted from
Jadeed's Victory Of The Truth, pp. 114-115)
After sifting through all these conflicting reports we are still left to
wonder if it was Titawus, Judas Iscariot, or the watchman who was made to
resemble Jesus? And if it was one of the twelve, or thirteen, or seventeen, or
nineteen (?!) disciples who died in Jesus' place, which one of them was it?
Furthermore, if God would allow an innocent victim to die in Christ's place, why
not just let Jesus die? Finally, what was the point of allowing someone else to
die at all when God could have easily taken Jesus to heaven in full view of his
enemies? This would have been the greatest act God could have performed in
vindicating Jesus from all the lies of Christ's enemies.
Instead, we are asked to believe that God allowed someone else to die in
Jesus' place. At the same time, we are to believe that for nearly six centuries
God lead both the Jews and Christians into believing that Jesus was crucified
and did indeed die. This grave error was allowed to go on while untold thousands
died for this lie until the Quran finally came down to clarify this apparent
deception.
In regards to the verb tawaffa as it relates to Christ's death and
exaltation, there is proof from the Quran itself to suggest that the verb
implies that Jesus did die before ascending to God. The verb and its derivatives
are used throughout the Quran in various ways, some of which are highlighted in
Neal Robinson's book, Christ In Islam and Christianity:
"The root form wafa (ed.- from which tawaffa is derived), with
the three consonants w, f and y is not found in the Quran.
We do, however, find two instances of the elative of the corresponding adjective
(9:111 and 53:41), which suggest that the meaning of the root form is `to
fulfill (a promise)' or `to be complete'.
Form II, waffa, occurs eighteen times as a finite verb and once as a
participle:
-
In one instance, where Abraham is the subject and the object is not
expressed, the meaning seems to be close to that of the root form, `to fulfill
[a promise]'(53:37).
-
In every other instance the meaning is `to pay/repay in full' and the
context is the last judgement when God will recompense people for their
actions in this life (active: 3:57, 4:173, 11:15,111, 24:25,39, 35:30, 46:19,
passive: 2:272,281, 3:25, 3:161,185, 8:60, 16:111, 39:10,70, active
participle: 11:109).
Form IV, awfa, also occurs eighteen times as a finite verb and once as
a participle:
-
Frequently, it means `to fulfil (a covenant, vow, promise or obligation)'
(with human subject: 2:40, 3:76, 5:1, 6:152, 13:20, 16:91, 17:34, 22:29,
48:10, 76:7, active participle 2:177. With God as subject 2:40).
-
It can also mean `to give full (measure)' (with human subject: 6:152,
7:85, 11:85, 12:59,88, 17:35, 26:181).
Form X, istawaffa, occurs only once where it has the meaning `demand
full payment', `exact in full' (83:2).
Form VI, tawaffa, occurs 25 times as a finite verb and once as an
active participle:
-
With angels or angelic messengers as the subject it means `receive' or
`gather' [at death] (4:97, 6:61, 7:37, 8:50, 16:28,32, 32:11,
47:27). Cf. one instance where death itself is the subject (4:15).
-
With God as the subject it seems to mean:
(a) `to receive in death' or `cause to die'
(10:104, 16:70, 39:42),
(b) `to receive in death' or `cause to die'
prematurely (Muhammad 10:46, 13:40, 40:77, the pious 3:193, 7:126,
12:101),
(c) `to receive' souls in sleep, which is likened to death (6:60,
39:42),
(d) `to receive' Jesus (5:117, participle 3:55).
-
In the passive it is a euphemism for death, particularly a
premature death (2:234, 240 22:5, 40:67)." (Ibid. [State University of New
York Press, 1991], pp. 117-118 bold emphasis ours)
To support Robinson's view that tawaffa almost always means death,
especially when God or angels are the subject we quote the following Quranic
verses:
"If any of you die And leave widows behind, They shall wait concerning
themselves Four months and ten days..." S. 2:234 Y. Ali
"Whether We let thee (O Muhammad) behold something of that which We promise
or (whether We) cause thee to die, still unto Us is their return, and
Allah moreover, is Witness over what they do." S. 10:46 M. Pickthall
"Whom the angels cause to die while they are wronging themselves. Then
will they make full submission (saying): We used not to do any wrong. Nay!
Surely Allah is Knower of what ye used to do." S. 16:28 Pickthall
"Say: The angel of death, who hath charge concerning you, will gather
you, and afterward unto your Lord ye will be returned." S. 32:11
Pickthall
In light of the preceding examples and the linguistic evidence, we are left
with the conclusion that the Quran in S. 3:55 and 5:117 conclusively prove that
Jesus died before ascending to heaven.
There is additional support for this
in a hadith in Sahih Bukhari:
Narrated Ibn Masud
As if I saw the Prophet talking about one of the Prophets whose nation had
beaten him and caused him to bleed, while he was cleaning the blood of his face
and saying, "O Allah! Forgive my nation for they have no knowledge."
Bukhari Vol. 4:683 (Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan's 9 volume translation)
The only prophet who was beaten and uttered such words was Jesus Christ as he
lay crucified on the cross of Calvary:
"There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And
when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and
the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. Then Jesus said,
`Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." Luke 23:32-34
NKJV
This still does not resolve the issue since the Quran in S. 4:157 denies that
Jesus was crucified. To make matters worse, Mahmoud Ayoub indicates that there
is a tradition from Muhammad where the latter states that Jesus did not die but
will come at the end to kill the false Messiah. Afterwards, Jesus will die, be
buried, and be raised to life at the Day of Judgement. (Ayoub, The Quran and
Its Interpreters, pp. 170-171)
There are several possible solutions in trying to reconcile what appears to
be a contradiction, since on the one hand the Quran seems to imply that Jesus
was crucified and actually did die. Yet, on the other hand the Quran explicitly
denies that the Jews crucified or killed the Messiah:
- 1.
-
S. 4:157 does not deny Jesus' crucifixion, but simply denies that it was
the Jews who were responsible for the crucifixion. This interpretation is
consistent with the Quran itself, as the following passage demonstrates:
"Ye (Muslims) slew them not, but Allah slew them. And thou
(Muhammad) threwest not when thou didst throw, but Allah threw, that He
might test the believers by a fair test from Him. Lo! Allah is Hearer,
Knower." S. 8:17 Pickthall
Hence, it wasn't the Jews who crucified Christ but God's set purpose which
allowed Christ to be crucified. This is precisely what the Bible teaches:
"this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge
of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. But God raised
him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to
be held by it." Acts 2:23-24 RSV
"But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ
should suffer, he thus fulfilled." Acts 3:18 RSV
"for truly in this city there were gathered together against thy holy servant
Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles
and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever thy hand and thy plan had
predestined to take place." Acts 4:27-28 RSV
"but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish
or spot. He was destined before the foundation of the world but was made
manifest at the end of the times for your sake." 1 Peter 1:19-20 RSV
"... whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb
slain from the foundation of the world." Revelation 13:8 NKJV
If this view is correct, then Muslims should have no objections to Jesus'
death and resurrection. In fact, one Muslim writer wholeheartedly embraces
it:
"The mere saving of Jesus from being killed would not make Allah the best of
planners, for any person could save Jesus from being killed... In keeping with
His being the best of planners, a resurrection is what Allah planned.
Plainly then, the Jews accomplished their plan and killed Jesus, but Allah
accomplished His best plan by raising Jesus to life again and unto Himself.
(A.H. Obaray, Op. Cit., p. 39)
The only problem with this view is that it contradicts Muhammad's testimony
to the fact that Jesus did not die. The only way to resolve this is to admit
that the tradition is wrong and discard it completely. Some Muslims that do away
with the Traditions include the followers of Rashad Khalifah, believing only in
the Quran.
- 2.
-
Jesus did not die but it was made to appear as if he did. He is coming a
second time where he will then experience death after universally ushering in
Islam.
The problem with this second view is that it discards the clear Quranic
witness that Jesus did die before ascending.
- 3.
-
Jesus was crucified and died. He was then raised by God and ascended to
heaven. From there he will come a second time where he will kill the false
Messiah, usher in Islam universally, and then die a second time. He will
eventually be resurrected for the second time at the Day of Judgement.
This view leaves us with the problem of Jesus dying twice, something which
Islam will not allow. The Quran indicates that every soul will die once, and
then be resurrected to give an account before God:
"Every soul shall have A taste of death; And only on the Day Of Judgement
shall you Be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved Far from the Fire
And admitted to the Garden Will have attained The object (of Life): For the life
of this world Is but goods and chattel Of deception." S. 3:185 Y. Ali
- 4.
-
The final view is that Jesus was crucified but did not die. He swooned and
on the third day was resuscitated by some of his disciples, namely Joseph of
Arimathea and Nicodemus. From there he went to India and died at an old age.
Muslims who adhere to this view include the Ahmadiyyas and the Nation of
Islam (N.O.I.). Orthodox Sunni Muslims consider these sects to be heretical.
Amazingly, the most famous swoon theory proponent is neither an Ahmadi or a
member of the N.O.I. Rather it is South African Muslim Apologist Ahmad Deedat,
considered to be Islam's greatest defender.
In his writings and debates, Deedat attempts to prove that Jesus did not die
on the cross but simply swooned. He also attempts to prove that Jesus did not
rise from the dead. Jesus simply recovered and appeared alive to his followers,
proving that he had not died on the cross. (Deedat, Crucifixion or
Cruci-Fiction, I.P.C.I, 4th Floor, 124 Queen Street, Durban 4001,
RSA- or-P.O. BOX 2439 Durban 4000, RSA)
This theory will also not work since it contradicts the Quranic witness that
Jesus was neither crucified or killed. And it also contradicts Muhammad's
statement that Jesus did not die.
Hence, no matter from what angle we look at it the Quran leaves us with
difficulties. When this occurs we are to look to the Bible for the answer. This
is precisely what the Quran teaches Muslims to do:
"If thou wert in doubt As to what We have revealed Unto thee, then ask
those Who have been reading The Book from before thee: The Truth hath indeed
come To thee from thy Lord: So be in no wise Of those who doubt." S. 10:94 Y.
Ali
"And before thee (Muhammad), We sent no one, except men, to whom We granted
revelation. Ask the people of the Scripture message, if you don't
know." S. 21:7
Not only is the crucifixion one of the best established facts of history, it
is clearly taught throughout Scripture, leaving no ambiguity as to its reality.
Both Jesus and his contemporaries who followed him affirm both the fact of
his crucifixion and resurrection. Note the following citations:
"Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, `The Son of Man
is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the
third day He will be raised up.' And they were exceedingly sorrowful." Matthew
17:22-23 NKJV
"Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it
again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay
it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My
Father." John 10:17-18 NKJV
Jesus also taught that his death was on behalf of sinners that they might be
ransomed from eternal damnation:
"Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, `Drink
from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for
the remission of sins'." Mat. 26:27-28 NKJV
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give
His life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45 NKJV
"I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this
bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh,
which I shall give for the life of the world." John 6:51 NKJV
"As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life
for the sheep." John 10:15 NKJV
That Jesus did not remain dead becomes apparent from the following
passages:
"But he (the angel) said to them, `Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of
Nazareth, who was crucified. HE IS RISEN! He is not here. See the place
where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples -and Peter- that He is going
before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you'." Mark
16:7-8 NKJV
"Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and
said, `Peace to you.' But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they
had seen a spirit. And He said to them, `Why are you troubled? And why do doubts
arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle
Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.'
"When He said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they
still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, `Have you any food
here?' So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He
took it and ate in their presence... The He said to them, `Thus it is written,
and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer AND TO RISE FROM THE DEAD
THE THIRD DAY, and that repentance and remission for sin be preached IN HIS NAME
TO ALL NATIONS, beginning at Jerusalem'." Luke 24:39-43, 46-48 NKJV
"The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do
and teach, until the day He was taken up, after He through the Holy
Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He
also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs,
being seen by them for forty days and speaking of things pertaining to the
kingdom of God." Acts 1:1-3 NKJV
"he (David) foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the
Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, NOR DID HIS FLESH SEE
CORRUPTION. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all
witnesses." Acts 2:31-31 NKJV
"But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be
granted to you, and killed the Prince of Life, whom God raised from the dead
of which we are witnesses." Acts 3:14-15 NKJV
"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ
died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that
He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by
Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by OVER FIVE HUNDRED
BRETHREN AT ONCE, OF WHOM THE GREATER PART REMAIN TO THE PRESENT, but some
have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time." 1
Corinthians 15:3-8 NKJV
It is precisely the kind of evidence which Paul furnishes, appealing to
nearly 500 hundred witnesses, which makes the crucifixion, death and
resurrection of Christ one of the best attested historical facts. Such evidence
has led millions throughout the ages to both embrace and die for the fact that
Jesus has been raised from the dead and continues to reign in eternal glory.
We would like to conclude by stating that there is one fact which both
Christians and Muslims agree with; the fact that Jesus is coming again. Yet,
Christians believe that Jesus is not coming back as a Muslim, but as the Judge
and Savior of all men:
"so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly
wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation."
Hebrews 9:28 NKJV
"I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore. Amen.
And I have the keys of Hades and of Death." Revelation 1:18 NKJV
AMEN. COME LORD JESUS.
