Chapter 1: The Book

Chapter 2: The Bible and the Qur'an

Chapter 3: The Inspiration of the Bible

Chapter 4: The Accuracy of the Bible

Chapter 5: The Accuracy of the Bible (2)

Chapter 6: The Abiding Word

Chapter 7: Prophecies About Jesus

Chapter 8: Jesus The Messiah

Jesus is unique. We find that the whole Bible is really written about Jesus. He is the golden thread that runs from the promise of His coming in Genesis to the promise of His coming again in Revelation. [1] Muslims already know about Jesus' birth and His preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God from reading the Qur'an. [2] Among them he is known as the word of God and spirit from him. In the Qur'an wherever Jesus is mentioned, his earthly patronymic identity as Ibn Mariam is also given, so he is known as Al-Masih-u-Isa Ibn Mariam - Jesus, the Christ, son of Mary. Like the Bible, the Qur'an gives testimony that God sent him as the sign of blessing for the nations of the earth (Surah Imran & Surah Mariam). God sent him as a sign and a mercy, to present Jesus as the "Hujat ullah" - Allah's proof, to the nations. The Qur'an witnesses to Jesus being the Rahmat - mercy and ayah - sign but it does not go into full details of the reason why God acted in such a way and what in fact the Qur'anic verse means when it says, Wa kana amran Maqzia - It is a matter (so) decreed (Surah 19 : 21). We can find the full details in the Bible.

His arrival on this earth

Jesus' birth took place at a time when many were waiting for the promised Messiah to arrive. King Herod was ruling in Jerusalem and when he heard about the birth of the "King of the Jews", he tried to kill every young child in Bethlehem. Guided by God, Jesus and His family fled to Egypt. After Herod's death they returned to settle in Nazareth. The next mention of Jesus in the Gospel is when He was twelve years old. He went to the temple in Jerusalem and sat with the learned rabbis, talking to them about spiritual things.[3]

His mission

At the age of about 30, Jesus started His ministry, preaching to people about the great things God had done for them. One day he met John the Baptist (Hazrat Yahya), a prophet of God. When John saw Jesus, he pointed to Him and said to those around him, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"[4]. He was referring to the fact that Jesus was to be the sacrifice that God would provide, like the ram in the case of Abraham and his son, or the lambs sacrificed as sin offerings.[5]

Jesus, the Christ

The name "Jesus" is itself important because of its meaning: "The Lord saves" [6]. This name was given to Him not by His family but by God Himself. God was showing us that He planned to save us through the person of Jesus.

Jesus was also known as "The Christ". This word is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew "Messiah", which in Arabic is "Al-Masih", and means "anointed". In Hebrew culture, a person was anointed with oil as a sign that he was being called to some special task. The Hebrews anointed their kings and priests.

His ministry as teacher

In Jesus' day the Jewish teachers had made their religion a mechanical and outward thing, but Jesus taught that God was more interested in men's hearts and their inward motives. [7] All people were important to Him, whether they were part of a crowd or met Him individually. They felt that Jesus was different from other rabbis. His followers soon learned that He was not just a teacher; He was also "Lord". Jesus accepted both titles, saying, "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord', and rightly so, for that is what I am."[8]

The title He most often took upon Himself was "Son of Man". This is a most significant title. In the Old Testament it was used in two totally different ways. Ezekiel, an Old Testament prophet, is described as a Son of man [9]. The context makes it clear that Ezekiel's humanity is being emphasised. However, in the book of Daniel, the same phrase takes on another meaning [10]. In this context someone of great spiritual power, even divine, is being referred to. Jesus used this title for Himself to show people the two aspects of His nature.

Many people recognised something else that was unique about Jesus. Their teachers used to quote others as their authority for any ruling they made, but they realised that Jesus was different. They regarded Him as "one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law".[11] Also other prophets used to say, "The Lord your God says, .." but Jesus said, "I tell you ..." or "Truly, I tell you .."

One of the main teachings of Jesus was about God's kingdom. "The time has come," he proclaimed, "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" [12] By this He wanted to teach us that God is still in control and that He wants all men to come back to Himself. This does not mean that man has no freedom of choice.[13] Jesus' teaching was that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.

His miracles

Jesus performed miracles in response to particular needs. He cured people who were ill. [14] He fed thousands of people.[15] He even calmed the waves.[16] No wonder then, that when Jesus cured a paralysed man, just by saying, "... take up your mat and go home...", the response of the crowd was: "We have seen remarkable things today."[17] Those who followed Him marvelled, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"[18] Gradually His followers came to understand that Jesus was no ordinary person.

His influence

Jesus was very much welcomed by ordinary people. The majority of the religious leaders, however, did not like Him, because He was a friend of tax collectors, sinners and, religious outcasts[19]. Yet many of these outcasts recognised their need to repent and follow Jesus[20]. He invited everyone to realise their need of God and come to know Him personally. The purity of Jesus' life is an example for us all to follow. He could challenge His enemies by saying, "Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?"[21]. No one did or could. It was because of Jesus' sinlessness that He was able to accomplish the great purpose for which He came.

(Further study on the subject of this great purpose is found in chapter 18.)

References

1. Genesis 3:15; Revelation 22:20
2. Matthew 1:18; Qur'an 19:16-35
3. Luke 2:41-50
4. John 1:29
5. Genesis 22:13 ; Leviticus 6:24-30
6. Matthew 1:21
7. Matthew 5:21-30
8. John 13:13
9. Ezekiel 3:3
10. Daniel 7:13-14
11. Matthew 7:28-29
12. Mark 1:14-15
13. Matthew 13:1-23; Joel 2:32
14. Mark 5:35-42 Luke 17:11-19
15. Mark 6:30-46; 8:1-10
16. Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-39
17. Luke 5:26
18. Matthew 8:27
19. Matthew 9:9-13
20. Luke 19:1-10
21. John 8:46

Chapter 9: The Crucifixion Factor

It may seem hard to understand why such a godly prophet who taught with such authority and wisdom should die a horrible death on a cross. After all, crucifixion was a method of execution used for common criminals. In fact, this has offended some people so much that they will not accept its truth. However the Bible tells us that Jesus did not only come to teach and to heal. His main mission was to open the door of forgiveness for all mankind by giving His life on the cross.

One of His apostles, Peter, was very upset when he heard Jesus' predicting His own death on the cross. However, Peter later realized that this was God's choice. All this had been prophesied by Isaiah centuries before Jesus, as we saw in chapter 5 [1]. The fact that one third of the Gospel is devoted to Jesus' death on the cross and to His resurrection shows just how important these events were.

The Plot

Some of the Jews did believe in Jesus and put their faith in Him. However, others were violently opposed to Him; these were mostly the religious leaders of the day who regarded Jesus as a threat to their status and power. So, just before the annual Passover festival, they arrested Jesus and accused Him of blasphemy. They handed Him over to the Roman authorities, changing the charge to sedition, that is, speaking against Caesar.

Jesus' trial, death and resurrection

The Roman governor, Pilate, delivered Jesus to death in spite of having judged Him completely innocent, three times[2]. He was crucified and, after six hours hanging on the cross, He died. If Jesus had died on the cross and then remained in the grave, it would have meant that He was neither the Messiah nor the promised one. We know that in those days many people were crucified, however, Jesus rose again on the third day, after being dead and buried [3]. For some forty days, Jesus was seen alive by various people and later he was taken into heaven before their eyes[4].

The heart of the matter

The Christian claim is that, "...Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures."[5] But it is on this point that there is conflict. The Jews deny that Jesus was the Messiah. They say that Jesus may have died on the cross but it would be far-fetched to think He rose from the dead. Orthodox Islam, on the other hand, goes further and denies that Jesus was even crucified[6]. Yet it believes Him to be the Messiah, accepts His bodily ascension and predicts His second coming.

The Ahmadiyya sect, on the other hand, accepts that Jesus was crucified, but says He merely swooned on the cross, revived in the tomb and eventually died in Kashmir at the age of 120 [7]. It would be most unfair and uncharacteristic of God to allow Jesus to die in such a way if there was no point or reason for it. There was a most important reason, however, which makes the death of Jesus not only understandable, but even necessary!

God is holy, but man is not. How can the death of Jesus help solve this problem? Isaiah chapter 53 verses 4 to 6 and likewise many verses in the New Testament show us why Jesus died [8]. He did not die as punishment for His own sin; He died because of your sin and mine. He carried our wrongdoing [9]. He took our punishment. He received in His body the results of the many wrong things we have done.

An exchange took place on the cross. Try to imagine all the guilt, wrong and evil being taken from you and me and put upon Jesus. Look at Isaiah 53: 4 to 6 again with this in mind and ask God to help you to see the truth of it in your heart.

Can you see now how this solves the greatest problem which mankind has - how to come to have personal friendship with God? The solution was not that we should try to reach Him by our good deeds; our good deeds hopefully outweighing our bad deeds on God's scales. No! Jesus completely removed everything on the bad side of the scales! He took upon Himself all the evil we do. Jesus received what we deserve - that is, the punishment for sin[10].

Now we can begin to understand why Jesus had to die. When Jesus died it was God reaching down to deal with a problem which man could not solve on his own. "For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son..."[11] If we deny the crucifixion, it means that Christ was a deceiver, for He spoke about His death beforehand. He told His followers that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and scribes, and be killed and raised again on the third day [12]. On another occasion He said that He had come to give His life as a ransom for many[13].

In the Qur'an there is only one reference to Jesus' crucifixion and that is ambiguous,[14] but in the New Testament we have reference after reference that Jesus did die on the cross. Jesus himself later testified to this truth by saying, "I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!" [15]

We see that, according to the prophecies of the Scriptures, Jesus is the only Savior. The Bible declares, "Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved"[16].

 

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References

1. Isaiah 52:13-53:12
2. John 18: 28-19:25
3. Matthew 27 & 28
4. Acts 1:1-9
5. 1 Corinthians 15: 3-4
6. Qur'an 4:157-158
7. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, "Jesus in India" (Rabwah: The Ahmadiyya Foreign Missions, n.d.), pp.59-60
8. Mark 10:45 ; 2 Corinthians 5:21 ; 1 Peter 2:21-25; c.f. Romans 3:21-31
9. Other meaning of the text is 'shouldered'
10. Ezekiel 18:20
11. John 3:16
12. Matthew 16:21
13. Matthew 20:28
14. Qur'an 4:157
15. Revelation 1:18
16. Acts 4:12
17. Qur'an 4:155
18. Maulana Abdul Majid Daryabadi, Holy Qur'an, (Karachi: Taj Co. Ltd., 1970), Vol. I, p.96-A
19. Ahmad Deedat, "Crucifixion or Crucifiction", (Birmingham: Islamic Propagation., 1986)
20. Isaiah 53:7-12

Chapter 10: The Risen Jesus!

Just one week later when all the apostles, including Thomas, were present, Jesus appeared to them and said, "Peace be with you!" He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe."[2] There was no need for Thomas to check further. He cried out, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus' response was, "Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."[3]

Jesus had promised His followers that He would be killed, but would then rise again.[4] After the resurrection He reminded them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."[5]

A few days after Jesus' ascension, Peter boldly testified to a crowd about Jesus, saying, "God raised him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him."[6]

Attacks

From the New Testament it is very clear that if Christ had not been raised, our faith would be useless. We would all be lost. There would be no hope of salvation [Please read 1Corinthians 15:14 -19]. From the day that Jesus rose until now, opponents have recognized the vital significance of this event and thus have tried to discredit it.

The Sign of Jonah

On one occasion during Jesus' ministry on earth the Pharisees asked Him to give them a miraculous sign to prove Himself. Jesus replied, " ... for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth".[7] Therefore, some argue that since Jonah was alive in the belly of the fish, then Jesus must also have been alive in the tomb.[8] However, the text goes on to say that "one greater than Jonah is here."(v.41) and "one greater than Solomon is here."(v.42) It is easy to see many differences between the two situations:

1. Jonah was an unwilling messenger whereas Jesus had chosen to do His Father's will.

2. Jonah's mission was to non-Jews but Jesus came for all, including the house of Israel.

3. Jonah's fate in the sea was uncertain whereas Jesus was to be executed by the most efficient civil and military power the world had ever known.

4. Jonah preached and both king and people repented, but Jesus' message was not received by the officials persecuting Him.

Jesus was comparing the length of time He was to spend in the tomb with that spent by Jonah in the fish. The similarity between the two events does not extend any further. In addition, Jesus goes on to say that He is much greater than Jonah and, therefore, His resurrection was to be a much greater miracle than Jonah's survival in the fish. If He had simply swooned, there would have been no miracle at all.

The circumstances

Before Jesus was crucified, He was beaten terribly. Many watched Him die, including soldiers who knew death well. One soldier stuck a spear into Jesus' side to make sure He was dead. His body was taken down from the cross and wrapped in grave clothes. The people who did this knew that He was dead and they put the body into a cave that had been carved into the solid rock to make a tomb. An enormous heavy stone was put in front of the tomb. It was sealed by the Roman officials, and a guard of Jewish soldiers was set to watch it.

Why did the people who killed Jesus put a guard outside his tomb? We do not usually send soldiers to guard a dead body! The answer is given in the Bible. Jesus had said that He would be killed and buried, and would come to life once again on the third day. The soldiers were told to guard the tomb because the authorities were afraid that Jesus' disciples would come and steal His body. Read for yourself: Matthew 12:38-40; 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:18-19; Matthew 26:32; 27:63; Mark 9:9-10,31; 10:33-34; 14:28,58; Luke 9: 22-23; John 2:19-22; 12:32-33; 14:1-16:33

In spite of everything, the tomb was open and empty on the third day. There had been an earthquake. The great stone had been removed, and the soldiers had become unconscious. The grave clothes were there but Jesus' body was not. Neither the Roman nor the Jewish authorities were able to produce the body and prove that Jesus was dead. When the witnesses to the resurrection spoke up, they had no answer to give.

The witness report

Later Jesus was seen alive by many people. Here is the list of people that the Bible gives:-

Two Marys (Matthew 28:10)

Simon Peter (Luke 24:34)

Two unnamed disciples (Luke 24:13-35)

Mary Magdalene (John 20:10-17)

Ten apostles (John 20:19-24)

Ten apostles with Thomas (John 20:26-29 )

The apostles at the ascension (Acts 1:9-10 )

Over 500 at one time (I Corinthians 15:6 )

All these people knew Jesus very well and could not have been fooled. Some may ask how we know that these witnesses were not lying? One reason is because their lives were so dramatically changed after Jesus' ascension. The disciples who were so afraid and ran away when Jesus was arrested, suddenly became brave! The Bible tells us how Peter and John and the others faced the very people who had killed Jesus and yet refused to obey them. They preached not only to the crowds, but also to the very same leaders who had plotted to kill Jesus. [9]

A Plea

Dear friend! Yes, we believe that Jesus really was raised from the dead. He himself said, "I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!" [10] Indeed He can save people like you and me from our sins. You and I live in a society in which many people no longer think about their destiny. Let us be aware of the fact that there is life beyond death. It is important to think about that future now. The Bible declares that if we put our trust in Jesus and obey His commands, we will be raised as Jesus was and forever live a joyful new life with God the Almighty, the Loving and Merciful in heaven.

Chapter 11: The Person of Jesus

Chapter 12: Jesus, The Son of Man

Jesus very often referred to Himself as 'the Son of Man', using this title more than any other during His ministry. At the beginning of His ministry, He used it when addressed by a new disciple called Nathaniel. He said, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man".[1]

He used it for the last time before the Jewish high priest, on the night before His crucifixion. He said to him, "... In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven".[2]

There are many places in which Jesus seems to have used the title Son of Man intentionally. Once when He was talking about the cost of people following Him, He said, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head."[3] What does this title mean? Does it simply tell us about the humanity of Jesus, that Jesus was emphasising His humanity? Was the 'Son of Man' just a human being?

If you continue to study the various uses of the term 'Son of Man' in the New Testament, you will find (as we saw in the previous chapter) that Jesus is highlighting His God-given authority. Many of the learned Jews understood why Jesus was using such a title. For example, when talking about the end of the world, Jesus said, "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory."[4] On hearing a similar statement at Jesus trial, the high priest of the Jews tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy!".[5] He reacted in such a way because according to Jewish teaching only God could do that. See for example Psalm 104:3.

A great prophet

Jewish listeners understood that Jesus was quoting directly from a well-known prophecy in the Old Testament, which had been given to the prophet Daniel in a vision.

"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days (God) and was led into His presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed."[6]

The term 'Son of Man' in these writings is firmly linked with Jesus, who will come with the clouds of heaven. He will have complete authority over all people and nations. Quite obviously, the Son of Man is a glorious person, the embodiment of human perfection and honour.

In the Bible we find the expression 'son of man' also used in a general sense denoting humanity. [7] However when Jesus used this title for Himself, it was in an exclusive sense, meaning that He is the ultimate Son of Man, the one who was seen by the prophet Daniel in his vision.

The purpose

As the Son of Man, Jesus gave His life for humanity, and afterwards was lifted up by God to glory in the heavens, to reign with Him in wondrous majesty over all the sons of men. Jesus spoke about His death on the cross, His burial, and resurrection to His disciples, "The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him".[8] He was referring to Psalm 22, Psalm 69 and Isaiah 53.

On various occasions He brought out the other aspect of the Son of Man; showing Himself to be a humble man serving His fellow men, and finally laying down His life for them. 'The Word'- Kalima or Kalam voluntarily took on the form of a servant, not only to serve God, but even to serve His fellow men. He said "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."[9]

Some of those who are opposed to the message of Christ, think of His crucifixion as an insult, but Jesus spoke of it as a means of being glorified. For example, shortly before His crucifixion He said to His disciples, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds".[10]

The third day after Jesus had died on the cross, God raised Him from the dead, and forty days later, God lifted Him up to glory in the heavens. One day Jesus will return to receive those who belong to Him. [11]

So we see that Jesus, the Son of Man, is unique among men, the One who has been given authority, glory and sovereign power and who will be worshipped by all people everywhere.

 

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Chapter 13: Jesus, The Promised Messiah

Among Muslims and many others Jesus is generally known by the title Messiah. In the Qur'an Jesus alone is called the Messiah - Al-Masih. Eleven times He is given this title and occasionally He is referred to by this title without His name. However, the Qur'an does not give an explanation as to why Jesus was called the Messiah.

The title 'Messiah' is extremely important to Christians and Jews; and we think it should be important also to Muslims because of the references to it in the Qur'an. The English word 'Christ' comes from the Greek word 'Christos'. The word 'Messiah' comes from Hebrew. Both words mean the same, - "the Anointed One" or "the One set apart for a special purpose".

In the Old Testament this word is sometimes applied in a subordinate sense and thus could refer to an anointed priest or leader.[1] It was also given to the prophets of God.[2] In addition it was given to the Persian king Cyrus who was anointed by God to prepare the way for the rebuilding of the city and the temple of Jerusalem after its destruction by an earlier king, Nebuchadnezzar. [3] This title became more important when it was revealed to Daniel that the Messiah would come after the rebuilding of Jerusalem.[4] Evidently, it became the accepted title of the one who was to be the mighty deliverer and the ruler of God's kingdom. Not only Daniel, but also prophets like Isaiah, Micah, Zechariah and several others spoke frequently of His coming.[5]

Jesus, the promised Messiah

Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus testified that He was the Messiah. The Jews were expecting a military leader who would drive out all foreign powers from their land and set up the kingdom of Israel, whereas Jesus told them that he came not "to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many".[6]

The testimony of the angel

When an angel appeared to Mary to tell her that she was going to give birth to a son, he said, "You are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins"[7]. It was no accident that Jesus received this name which means, 'the Lord saves'. After Jesus' birth an angel appeared to some shepherds looking after their flocks near Bethlehem. They were terrified, but the angel said, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord."[8]

The testimony of one disciple

One day Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do you say I am?" One of them, Peter, replied that He was indeed the Messiah of God. Jesus told him that this recognition was from God, but warned him not to tell anyone.[9] This was because Jesus knew many people misunderstood the role of the Messiah. Immediately after Peter's declaration, Jesus began to talk of how He would suffer and give up His life. He was underlining the fact that the Messiah was to be a suffering Messiah and not one with a sword in His hand and ruling a worldly kingdom.[10]

The testimony of Jesus

One day, far away from the big towns and cities, at the side of a well in the despised area of Samaria, Jesus chose to reveal that He was the Messiah to a person who was an outcast in the eyes of the Jews - a Samaritan woman. After Jesus had told her that God was looking for people who would worship Him in spirit and truth, the woman said, "I know that Messiah is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us". Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am He."[11]

After Jesus had fulfilled His mission and ascended to heaven, the apostles understood the whole plan and did not hesitate to tell others, using this title for Jesus. For example, Peter told the Jews at Pentecost, "God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ".[12]

Both the Messiah and the Son of God

It is very significant to see that in the Christian Scriptures the title 'Christ' or 'Messiah' (Masih) is used in parallel with the title 'Son of God'. Very often these two titles are found together.

Jewish believers called Jesus both the Messiah and the Son of God. Peter, mentioned both titles together He said, "You are the Christ (the Messiah), the Son of the living God."[13] Martha, the sister of Lazarus, the man whom Jesus raised from the dead, used the two titles together in her expression of belief in Jesus. Her words were, "I believe that you are the Christ (Messiah), the Son of God, He who was to come into the world".[14]

In Mark we read, "The beginning of the Gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God".[15] In John we also read, "...Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), the Son of God, ... "[16]

We also see that during Jesus' trial, the Jewish high priest used both titles when asking Jesus if He was the Messiah. "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ (the Messiah), the Son of God". In confirming the claim, Jesus added, "In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."[17]

In saying this, Jesus was referring to his second coming. The Jews were right in their belief that the Messiah was to come from heaven and would establish the kingdom of God, but they failed to distinguish between the two comings of the Messiah. At His first advent Jesus was to be a suffering Messiah and at his second coming He is to be the victorious Mighty King and Judge.

Chapter 14: Jesus, The Son of God

Some people think that the Christian belief in the Fatherhood of God and the Sonship of Jesus rests on the belief that God has a wife. The question is put in this way: "How can God have a Son when He has no wife, no consort?"

The Father & the Son

The Bible nowhere claims such a literal sonship for Jesus; it does not say that Jesus is the Son of God in the sense that God had a wife. In the Bible, God the Father and Jesus the Son are to be understood in a spiritual sense. Christians did not invent these titles. It was Jesus Himself who introduced God to us as the Father. He taught His disciples to pray, as follows, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever. Amen." [1]

The phrase "Heavenly Father" identifies God's relationship with His creatures. This is one of the most beautifully descriptive titles given to Him. In the same manner God calls Jesus "His Son". "This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased."[2] Thus the Gospel (Injil) states that Jesus is the Son of God. He is called the Son of God by His disciples: "You are the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the living God."[3] Jesus Himself confirmed this title. When the High Priest asked Him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?' Jesus replied, 'I am...".[4]

Objections

Some may say the terms 'Son of God' and 'Father' give one the idea of a physical relationship, and so should not be used. For Christians it would not be wise to abandon such terms since they have Jesus' full approval. We all know that 'fatherhood' and 'sonship' are used in various ways. For example, Muhammad Ali Jinnah is called the father of the Pakistani nation (Baba -e- Mellat), and Mahatma Gandhi is called the father of the Indian nation. In the Qur'an a wayfarer is called, "Ibnu'sabil" - son of the road.[5] This does not mean that the road has a wife or Jinnah and Gandhi were the physical fathers of their nations.

There are many similar examples. The city of Mecca is called "Om-ul-Qura" - the mother of villages. Muhammad's cousin Ali was called "Abu Turab" - the father of dust. Even today it is quite common for elderly men and women to call any young person "daughter" or "son", even though they are not their real fathers and mothers. Therefore just as it is not necessary to force an offensive interpretation on the above examples, we should not force an offensive interpretation on the Biblical statements about Jesus being the Son of God.

The heart of the matter

In the light of both the Qur'an and the Bible if God can see and hear without having eyes and ears like ours, and if He can have a face and hands different from ours, and can sit on a throne different from ours, then it is also possible for Him to have a Son in a different way from us.

Jesus as the Son of God

When the angel gave the glad tidings to Mary, he said, "... the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God".[6] The Bible does not say that Jesus was called the Son of God just because He was born of Mary. Nor does it attempt to make a mere man into God or create a god beside the one true God. God alone is God.

The First and the last

The Bible states that Jesus is God's Word. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning."[7] This passage tells us that Jesus is the eternal Word of God. As God is eternal, so also is Jesus His Son eternal. No one else has been called the Word of God other than Jesus. It was this eternal Word of God which almost two thousand years ago came from heaven into this world. He became man by being born of the virgin Mary.

Muslim friends do accept that God's eternal Word became a book. Why should it not be possible then, to accept that God's Word became a man, Jesus? Even the Qur'an, 600 years later, acknowledged that Jesus is the Word of God.[8]

The unique sonship

It is often said that the expression "son of God" is found in the Bible in the general context of humans being called children of God and, therefore, when Jesus claimed to be the Son of God He was merely speaking in a metaphorical sense.[9]

However, it is impossible to draw this conclusion from Jesus' statements about Himself. He was not using this title in the same way as others who are called "sons of God". What more systematic, categorical and emphatic statement could there be than the following?

"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No-one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no-one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him."[10]

No other prophet, no other apostle used such language to identify himself. No wonder the Jews once testified, "no-one ever spoke the way this man does."[11]

He who has seen me

Jesus claimed that He had come from heaven to earth and that He had always existed. [12] He said, "Before Abraham was born, I am!"[13] We may wonder what Jesus was claiming to be, but the people around Him understood. Some of them picked up stones to stone Him to death for blasphemy. These Jewish listeners had realised that Jesus claimed to have been alive before Abraham was born and that he was using the personal name of Yahweh, revealed to Moses ('I am' see Exodus 7:14), thus making himself equal with God.

Jesus prayed to God, "Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."[14] He also told others, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father."[15]

Are these claims the same as saying that God has a partner? What was Jesus claiming? The plain answer is that Jesus was claiming to be of the same essence as God. He is the best possible representation of God. Jesus also said,"... the Father judges no-one, but has entrusted all judgement to the Son, that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father, ... who sent Him."[16]

Eye-witnesses of his majesty

At the transfiguration God told the disciples, "This (Jesus) is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!"[17] Referring to this event, one of the apostles said, "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eye-witnesses of His majesty. ... We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain."[18]

The crucial question

Why did God send His eternal Word to earth? Simply because He loves His creation and wanted to bring it back to Him. That is why the Bible says, "whoever believes in Him may have eternal life". Why? Because Jesus is the only way to reach the presence of God. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no-one comes to the Father except through me."[19] We are told that, "Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."[20]

Chapter 15: Jesus, The Great Teacher (Parables)

Although the teaching ministry of Christ lasted only three and a half years, during that time He showed that He was the world's master teacher. He performed great miracles and taught a new way of life. His teaching was simple. He used words the common people could understand, and took His illustrations from the things with which His listeners were familiar. Many of His principles were set forth in parables. A parable is a true-to-life story with a special meaning. In this chapter we examine a few of them.

The things Jesus taught are more important than His methods. He gave us a complete way of life, which He summed up in one sentence, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."[1]

God's Kingdom

One of the great themes of His teaching was God's kingdom. His claim was, "The time has come. The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news."[2]

This is a reminder to all of us that the world is not out of control. God is still in charge, but He has given us free-will. We are not like machines wound-up by God. Rather we are free, and yet ruled by a King, and that is God. When Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God it was to invite people to submit themselves to it. Jesus told parables to illustrate what He meant by God's kingdom.

The Parable of the Sower

"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop - a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."[3]

Obviously the resulting crop depended on the kind of ground that the seed fell into. What Jesus meant here is that if our hearts are hard, bitter, and filled with pride and self sufficiency, then even if the good seed comes to us, even if we hear and learn about His kingdom, we won't accept it. However, if we accept God's will in our lives, the Kingdom of God will be within us.

A Hidden Treasure

On another occasion Jesus told of a treasure hidden in a field. A merchant found it "... and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought the field."[4] It is true that when we find the Kingdom of God, we receive much joy, but there is a price to be paid. Our becoming a member of the Kingdom of God, and following Jesus may offend many people. Our honesty may well make some people around us uncomfortable. We may lose friends, brothers and sisters. Our families may well turn against us. Joining this Kingdom of God may mean the loss of a job, imprisonment, or even death. Jesus recognises that you may have to pay a high price to come into this Kingdom but it is still well-worthwhile.

Once some of the Jewish leaders from the sect of the Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come.[5] Jesus replied, "The Kingdom of God does not come visibly, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is in you." Many people who were listening to Jesus were longing for a political revolution. They wanted Jesus to be their Messiah in a political sense, to overthrow the Roman rulers and release Palestine from its bondage. Jesus refused such a demand because that was not the real problem. mankind's fundamental problem is not political. it is sin. jesus came to deal with sin.[6] According to Him, God's kingdom was a universal kingdom, not restricted to any particular people. Therefore He told them that this kingdom is within men's hearts. It was not something that was going to be established in the future, but something that was being established there and then. One can become a member of this kingdom by following Jesus and His commandments.

The Parable of the Lost Son

Jesus did not tell this parable just to entertain the people who were around Him. He intended to show that God receives even the most wicked person who repents and turns to Him, because He wants everyone to be saved and come to him through Jesus. In this parable we see how one may turn away from God to find his own way of adventure and folly. However God in his mercy and kindness awaits and leaves the door flung open for him expecting that one day this child of Adam may see a shaft of light and return to him.

Why Jesus?

Why should submission to Jesus be the only way to inherit the Kingdom of God? It is because He is the king of the kingdom. He did not act like worldly rulers. He introduced a totally different concept of leadership. He advised his disciples: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 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." [7] He demonstrated this concept by washing the feet of His disciples [8]. Later He gave his life for them and for us. On the other hand He did prove His authority and trustworthiness by the many signs He provided, and by the many prophecies He fulfilled particularly by getting out of the tomb.[9]

Jesus gave His followers assurance about the future. At the day of judgment He will say to those who have chosen to follow His way, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world."[10]

Chapter 16: Jesus, The Great Teacher (Miracles)

Both the Qur'an and the Bible agree that Jesus did miracles. He gave sight to the blind, and He raised the dead to life among other things. In the Gospels we find that through His sayings and miracles Jesus wanted to show the significance of His coming from God. He performed miracles in response to particular needs. It was never merely to prove that He could perform miracles, but because He had something more to teach people.

The first miracle

At a wedding party Jesus changed water into wine (see glossary). It had such a beautiful taste that the guests had never tasted anything like it before.[3] Now what was Jesus showing by this? He was showing that He was bringing in something, [His Kingdom], that was far better than anything that had gone before. We learn from this miracle that God is the Master of quality. Whoever and whatever we may be when we accept Jesus as our Savior, He changes us, melts us, and molds us into something of great quality.

Life to a child

A bewildered father came to Jesus and asked Him if He would go back with him to the village where his child lay dying. Jesus said to the man , "You may go. Your son will live."[4] The father went back, and while He was still on the way, his servant met him and told him that the boy was living. He asked as to the time when his son got better and realized that it was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him,"Your son will live." He and his household believed in Jesus.

We learn from this event that Jesus has the power to overcome distances. God is never far from us. Jesus said, "...surely I am with you always ...". [5] No wonder he was named Jesus, which means the Lord saves. We should turn to Him who has unlimited power.

A man at the pool

The pool of Bethesda was well known in first-century Jerusalem. Crowds of sick people used to gather around this pool everyday. There was a legend that when the water was stirred up, the first sick person into the water would be healed.[6]

One day Jesus went to visit the pool and saw a sick man lying there on his mat. For thirty-eight years he had been paralyzed. Jesus said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" Then He told him to get up and pick up his mat and walk. The man was immediately cured and did what Jesus had told him.

What do we learn from this event? We may be the worst and most wretched person but there is the door of repentance is open to us. Jesus can forgive and heal us, but it depends on our willingness. God's plan of salvation through Jesus cannot be forced on anyone. There has to be openness to God, to allow Him to make us whole people. He is in control of the situation, but He will never force His way into our lives unless we are willing to accept Jesus as our saviour.

Feeding several thousand people

On one occasion Jesus amazed a crowd of over 5,000 by feeding them all, using just a few loaves of bread and some fish. Many people had gathered around Him. The place was very remote and it was late in the day. The apostles wanted to send the people away, but Jesus wanted to feed them. One of the apostles found a boy who had five small barley loaves and two small fish. He asked Jesus, "How far will they go among so many?" but Jesus did not answer. Instead He directed His disciples to make all the people sit down in groups on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, He gave thanks, and and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. They all ate, and afterwards they collected twelve baskets full of broken pieces of bread and fish that were left.[7]

What do we learn?

People were looking for a Messiah who would look after them. They were more concerned about their bodily needs. They ran after Jesus to make Him their king, but later Jesus told them clearly that His real purpose in coming to the world was to save people.[8] He told them that their forefathers had been given food and had been helped in their physical needs in the wilderness, but those people had not lived long. By contrast, the food Jesus brought lasts forever, and it is He Himself on whom we have to feed.

For those who have believed in Jesus there is something more to be learned from this event. Here was a boy with only a few loaves and fish, but God was able to multiply them. Here is an encouragement for us; whatever we can give God of time, energy, and income, He is able to multiply the result. He is the master of quantity.

Jesus walks on water

After feeding the multitude, Jesus asked His disciples to take a boat and go ahead of Him. They left, and rowed towards their destination, but because of a strong wind blowing against them they were very slow. It was already dark and Jesus had not yet joined them. After they had rowed about three miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw Him, they thought He was a ghost and cried out. Immediately He said to them, "Take courage ... Don't be afraid."

When Peter saw this, he asked if he also would be able to walk on the water. Jesus said, "Come." Peter got down and walked on the water towards Jesus, but when he saw the wind, he was afraid and began to sink. Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and saved Him.[9]

A lesson for us

Jesus is the master of nature. When we decide to follow Him, He says, "Come and follow me." And when we face trouble and cry to Him to save us, He is there to help. He calmed a storm and enabled Peter to walk on the surface of the water. This may not seem very relevant to us today. However it teaches us that in every situation of life Jesus is present and His confidence and calmness are available to those who believe in Him. Today Jesus also stills the storms in the hearts of many people. No matter what trouble, pain or sorrow there may be in a believer's life, with Jesus there is peace.

Jesus : the master of life

Jesus gave sight to the blind, made the deaf to hear, and gave life to the dead. Lazarus had been dead for three days and had been buried, but when Jesus cried out at his tomb, "Lazarus, come out.", he came out alive.[10]

Thus, Jesus has the power to raise the dead. No wonder He said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies."[11] Jesus is coming again to judge the world. He has promised to raise his followers to eternal life.[12]

Conclusion

The miracles and teaching of Jesus are, "written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name."[13]

Chapter 17: Jesus, The Great Teacher (Faith and Action)

The Sabbath

The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week; a day that the Jews kept especially holy. The principle of a day of rest is very sound, but the Jews added all kinds of prohibitions, forbidding many activities taking place on the Sabbath. By doing so they missed its real meaning.

Jesus told people that on the Sabbath all good work must continue. For example, He deliberately healed people on that day. On one such Sabbath He stood up among the people and challenged them: "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?"[1] He then healed a man right in front of them all, and some Jewish leaders were so offended that they started to plan to kill Him.[2] But Jesus did not stop doing good because of this. As we considered in the last chapter that it was also on a Sabbath that Jesus healed the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda.[3] As a result of this the leaders made further threats to Jesus' life.[4]

Jesus wanted to teach people two things. Firstly, that God has compassion for them every day of the week. Secondly, that people should not set up religious regulations, which come merely from men and not from God. We may laugh at the people of Jesus' days who followed man-made rituals and regulations, but we also have to ask ourselves whether the things we do are pleasing to God or not.

Prayer

Jesus taught a lot about prayer. He said that if we pray only in public, so that people may see how religious and pious we are, then it is hypocrisy. God is not interested in such prayers. He said, "When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men..."[5]

His instructions were that worship of God should be in spirit and truth.[6] If our mind and heart are not right, all our prayers are useless. He said that we should not repeat things over and over again while praying.[7] The Jews had many set prayers which they would simply repeat at high speed. Jesus taught that such prayers are of no benefit. God does not hear us just because we use many words, or repeat the same words many times in our prayers. He said, "Learn from me."[8]

How to pray?

He gave an example of prayer, which is sometimes called the Lord's prayer (see column).[9] However it would be more appropriate to call John 17: 1-26 as "the Lord's prayer".

Jesus did not intend His disciples to repeat this prayer verbatim. Rather He was giving them an idea of what true prayer should be like. When praying we would do well to God that His rule should be effective here on this earth; to plea for our physical and spiritual needs;.to appeal for forgiveness and finally to acknowledge His sovereignty.

Jesus did not instruct us to pray facing Jerusalem or in any other direction. Nor did He give instructions about the movements of our bodies during our prayers. According to Jesus, God is more interested in the motives of our hearts.

One may ask, "How much do I need to be in prayer?" Jesus spent long periods of time in prayer, both before important events and as a regular practice. The apostles did the same and advised other Christians to do so.

Prayer changes things. However, the Bible does not only tell us to have faith, but also that we are to put our faith into action. Prayer must not be regarded as a labour-saving device; God will not do for us the things that we can do for ourselves. He will listen to our prayers, and will help us in our difficulties. He will accept our prayers for the things that are best for us.

When Christians pray to God, they do so in the name of Jesus, because this is what Jesus commanded them to do. God first approached us in Jesus. Jesus Himself said, "My Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."[10]

Fasting

The question is often asked: "Why do you Christians not fast?" Christians do fast,[11] but they do not fast during Ramadhan. Jesus said, "When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."[12]

According to Jesus, fasting, like personal prayer, is something private, and should be carried out just between the individual believer and God. Jesus' emphasis was always on inner motivation, not outward appearance. People may pray and fast but still lack forgiveness. In the Bible a man named Cornelius is mentioned. He was a God-fearing person who had a good reputation among friends and foe alike. He fasted and prayed, yet lacked forgiveness. Because of his sincerity though, God sent Peter, an apostle of Christ to talk to him, so that he would find forgiveness. Peter spoke to him about Christ: His perfect life, His sufferings, and His death on the cross. He told him about Jesus' resurrection and His return as Judge. It was not until Cornelius believed in Jesus that he found forgiveness.[13]

Giving

The Pharisees of Jesus' day were very concerned about giving to God exactly one tenth of all their income, even down to a tiny quantity of herbs such as mint. In fact they were neglecting what was really important by making a big show of their giving to God. Jesus said, "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."[14]

To show that one should be helpful, without expecting any reward from people, Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan. (See column on next page) This story is a great example of generous love for others.

Many people today talk about the need for good relations between people of different backgrounds and ethnic origins. Long ago, Jesus gave this one principle: "Love your neighbour as yourself."[15] Not only are the people next door my neighbors, but so is the stranger who travels with me for a short while on the bus or train. This generous love is supremely shown in Jesus' life, by the giving of Himself to save mankind.[16] Let us follow his footsteps in love and truth.

Chapter 18: Jesus, The Great Sacrifice

Adam & Eve

The Bible in fact tells us that sacrifice goes back before Abraham. When Adam was created, God warned him not to eat from the tree of knowledge, or he would surely die.[1] Adam and Eve disobeyed God. They realized they were naked, and felt ashamed, so they tried to cover themselves with leaves.[2] This story is also mentioned in the Qur'an.[3]

Cain & Abel

The first two sons of Adam and Eve were Cain and Abel.[4] The Bible shows that they had been taught to sacrifice to God. Abel acted accordingly and his offering was accepted, but Cain did not, and his offering was rejected. The Qur'an confirms that Cain's offering was not accepted.[5] When we look at this story in the context of the whole Bible we see that Adam's family had been taught a particular way to approach God. This was to offer sacrifice to Him. Later, God showed that we deserve to die for our sin, and so a substitute is needed, a ransom, (fidyah).

Abraham & his son

This substitution is illustrated in the case of Abraham and his son. God told Abraham to offer up his son, and Abraham obeyed. When he lifted his knife to kill his son, God told him to stop and provided a ram instead. So the ram died in place of Abraham's son.[6]

The Passover lamb

Another remarkable example was the Passover Lamb. The Israelites were in cruel bondage in Egypt. The ruler, Pharaoh, wouldn't let them go free to worship God. Therefore God sent Moses to deliver them. After sending many plagues to Egypt, God said He would kill all the first born children in that land. However, God also provided a substitute for the first born of Israel. Moses commanded his people to slaughter a lamb and sprinkle its blood on their door posts. The angel of God would then pass over every door which had the blood on it, and the firstborn in that house would be spared. God fulfilled His promise and the firstborn of Israel were saved.[7]

The law of Moses

In the law of Moses, in the book of Leviticus, God revealed that the way for mankind to approach Him is through sacrifice.[8] Later He said, "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness".[9] Moses explained the method of sacrifice to the Israelites: The sinner was to take a perfect animal to the door of the temple of God. There he was to put his hands on it, symbolically transferring his sins onto the animal. Next he had to kill it and the priest would sprinkle its blood at the foot of the altar, and offer the rest to God on the altar. God would accept the animal's death in place of the death of the sinner. [10]

A question

How can an animal die for a man, when a man is of much greater value than any animal? The animal did not take away man's sin, it was merely a symbol pointing to what was to come. God permitted such a situation until the perfect sacrifice would be offered for all sin. This offering would be for the sin of all the people who had ever lived or would live.

The great sacrifice

After Moses, many prophets of God came to prophesy about this great sacrifice. One such prophet was Isaiah. He made a very astonishing prophecy which was fulfilled centuries later in Jesus who accomplished God's purpose. [Read Isaiah 52:13-15; 53:1-12]

The testimony of the John the Baptist

God sent John the Baptist, known as Hazrat Yahya, to be the last of these prophets. John was the forerunner of Jesus. He called people to repent and be baptised. One day when Jesus appeared on the shore of the Jordan river, John cried out, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.'" [11]

The testimony of Jesus

Jesus Himself declared that He had come to give His life as a ransom for many[12] and that anyone who believed in Him, would have eternal life.[13] He fulfilled His task by being crucified. On the cross He cried, "It is finished", to tell mankind that God's purpose had been completed.[14] The long awaited promise to Abraham had been fulfilled. Jesus once said, "Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."[15] The Qur'an said that God ransomed Abraham with a great sacrifice.[16] Can there be anything greater than Jesus' sacrifice of Himself?

This is God's way and it is the only way. We see that on the third day Jesus rose victoriously from the dead to show that those who believed in Him would enjoy eternal life with God. After His resurrection, Jesus said, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms ... This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." [17]

God with us

Dear friend, God commanded Adam and Eve to leave His presence, not because He hated them, but because they had disobeyed. They had sinned. To bring them, and the whole of mankind, back into fellowship with Him, He planned to rescue them. When the good news about Jesus was given, the prophet Isaiah said, " ... they will call Him Immanuel"[18] which means, "God with us."[19] Jesus spent only about 30-35 years on this earth but before His bodily ascension He said, " ... Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."[20]

Who would refuse this Saviour who offers us an assurance such as nobody else has ever given? Let us follow His teaching.

Chapter 19: The Return of Jesus

The return of Jesus in Islam

Popular Muslim traditions assert that when Jesus comes back, He will convert the world to Islam, destroy the antichrist, marry and have children. Later he will die and be buried next to Muhammad's grave in Medina.[1]

To support this doctrine, Muslims refer to the following verse in the Qur'an:

"And (Jesus) shall be a Sign (for the coming of) the Hour (of Judgment): Therefore have no doubt about the (Hour) but follow ye Me: this is a Straight way." (A.Yusuf Ali, Surah 43:61).

The majority of Muslim commentators take this verse to be a prophecy about the second coming of Jesus. This event is known as the "Nuzul-i- Isa" and also as the "Nuzul-i- Masih", the 'descent' of Jesus.

One of the Muslim traditions states: "Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: By Him in Whose hand is my life, the son of Mary (may peace be upon him) will soon descend among you as a just judge. He will break crosses, kill swine and abolish jizya (poll tax), and the wealth will pour forth to such an extent that no one will accept it."[2]

Such are the references to the return of Jesus in Islam, but there are major differences between Christians and Muslims regarding His coming.

The return of Jesus in the Bible

Jesus' return is one of the great themes of the Bible. However, there is no suggestion that on His return Jesus will live as an ordinary human being, let alone that He will die and be buried. When Christians speak of Jesus' second coming from heaven, they obviously already believe in His first coming from heaven. Both beliefs go together and cannot be separated from each other.

On numerous occasions Jesus said that He had come down from heaven and that he would come again.[3] This second coming is to be different from the first. The Conquering King will come as Mighty Judge.

After witnessing Jesus' ascension, two angels told the disciples that He would come back from heaven in a similar manner as they had seen Him go into heaven.[4] Yet Jesus made it clear that His second coming would be a public event; as lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so will be His coming.[5] He warned us that there would be false prophets and false Messiahs, claiming to be the returned Christ. However, it will be easy for everyone to recognize His coming, because it will be witnessed throughout the whole world, by everyone, instantly.

The work upon his return

Jesus will send His angels to gather up all those who believe in Him, and will take them to heaven.[6] There will be a resurrection of all those who have died. As Jesus said, "For a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out - those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned."[7]

Thus Jesus taught that His return is to be a climactic event. He will judge the living and the dead, rewarding those who love and obey Him with eternal life and casting the rest into darkness to remain there forever.

The assurance that Christians have is that they will be raised to eternal life on that Day, not because they are worthy of it through their good deeds, but because of their faith in Jesus. Jesus said that on that day the righteous will shine like the sun.[8]

If God holds our deeds in a balance on that great day, then we will all stand condemned. However many good works we may have done, they will never be enough to bridge the gap which separates us from God. However, all this has been done for us in this life through Jesus. A believer in Christ's redemption does not do good deeds in order to earn a place in paradise. Rather, he does them because he loves Jesus. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will obey what I command." ... "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."[9] We praise God for the great gift of salvation; but for those who have never entered God's kingdom in this life there will be eternal condemnation. Jesus Himself made this clear again and again.[10]

The time factor

Jesus said that He will return when people do not expect Him. For example, He said that His coming will be like a thief in the night. "If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him."[11]

Jesus also said that His coming will be like the flood which came in the time of Noah. People were eating and drinking and were carrying on their normal daily work right up to the day that Noah entered the ark and the flood came.[12]

Some may say that two thousand years have passed and yet He has still not come. The Bible teaches that God loves His creation, and He does not want anyone to perish, so He is patient. He wants everyone to repent and be saved.[13] But you can be sure, He is keeping His promise. One day, at His own appointed time He will be here. As each day passes by, we get nearer to His coming. Time in fact is running out. There may be no chance tomorrow.

Jesus alone has conquered death. He alone dwells in heavenly glory far above the billions of men and women on earth, both dead and living. It is He who alone will return, shining in all His heavenly majesty, to award the crown of life to all who love Him and have remained faithful to Him even unto death. Everyone should surrender to Him and be saved by His grace.

Jesus is coming again

1. to raise the dead

"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out - those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned." [14]

2. To judge all men

"See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him." [15]

3. To reward the righteous and the unrighteous

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ... Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.'" [16]

4. to deliver the kingdom to the father

"Since death came through a man (Adam), the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. ... When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all." [17]

Chapter 20: Christ, Our Life

Jesus said, "Come to me ... and I will give you rest." [2] Elsewhere, as we saw earlier, He claimed, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me."[3] Many have realized the truth of the above verse: that Jesus is indeed the only way to God and that eternal life is only to be found in Him. Without Him we would remain separated from God, hopelessly lost in eternal darkness.

Jesus once said to the Jews, "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me."[4] Just to study and gain knowledge is not enough. It is our response which matters.

What should I do then?

I believe in Jesus. I believe He is the Saviour of humanity. What must I do then to follow Him and to enter the Kingdom of God?

A Jewish ruler once said to Jesus, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no-one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with Him."[5] In response Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."[6] He added by way of further explanation: "no-one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit."[7]

Before His ascension, Jesus gave His disciples the great commission, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."[8]

This is a very clear command and explains why, after Jesus' ascension, Peter preached to the Jews at the feast of Pentecost. He told them how Jesus' coming had been predicted in the Scriptures, and how He had been crucified and raised from the dead. Many understood the message and wanted to follow Jesus as their Saviour. Therefore they asked the apostles what they should do. Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." The Bible says that those who accepted His message that day and were baptized, numbered about three thousand.[9]

What Peter said raises two questions:

1. Who is the Holy Spirit?

2. What is Baptism?

Who is the Holy Spirit

We read about the Holy Spirit throughout the Bible, from the first chapter of Genesis to the last chapter of Revelation.[10] This shows us clearly that God's Spirit is everywhere. He is called by several names in the Bible:

The Spirit of God (Genesis 1:2; Ephesians 4:30)

The Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5, 8; 2:1-4)

The Counsellor (John 14:16)

The Spirit of truth (John 14:17; 15:26)

The Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9)

The Spirit of His Son (Galatians 4:6)

The Spirit of holiness (Romans 1:4)

The Spirit of wisdom (Ephesians 1:17)

The coming of the Holy Spirit

The Bible tells us that, although the Holy Spirit is at work everywhere, He specifically came on certain people in the Old Testament in order to enable them to do special tasks. Read for example: Exodus 31:3; 1 Samuel 10:6; 1 Chronicles 28:12; Isaiah 42:1; Ezekiel 11:5.

In the New Testament we see that Jesus promised that this Holy Spirit would come and live in every believer. This began on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit completely changed the disciples of Jesus. They became more courageous in preaching and teaching about their Savior.

The work of the Holy Spirit today

It is through the message of the Bible that the Holy Spirit convicts people of their sinfulness.[11] The Holy Spirit equips us to serve God and others. The more we surrender ourselves to the guidance and control of the Holy Spirit, the more our lives become like Christ's. This is because the Holy Spirit produces "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control."[12] By ourselves we are completely unable to live lives which demonstrate all these qualities. However God's Holy Spirit makes it possible for our lives to be like this.

What is baptism

Almost all Greek scholars agree that the word baptize as used in the Scriptures means to dip, submerge, or immerse. The first person to baptise people in the New Testament was John the baptist. In baptism we appeal to God for forgiveness.[13]

Philip & the Ethiopian

When the message of Jesus was accepted by someone seeking the truth, he was baptized. Philip, a disciple of Jesus, was guided by an angel to meet an Ethiopian. Philip talked to him about Jesus, from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The Ethiopian believed what Philip had said and asked for baptism. Philip baptized him there and then.[14]

 

What does baptism signify?

Baptism symbolizes dying and being buried with Jesus and then, just as Jesus rose, the believer is raised to a new life in Christ. As the Bible says, "... all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death... We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead ... we too may live a new life."We should count ourselves dead to sin. Our past sins having been forgiven we should not let sin control our lives.[15]

Living with Christ

Jesus said, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."[16] A believer in Christ is expected to reflect His love, joy and peace. If you follow Christ, some people will not mind your new faith but many others will be upset because you have given your life to Him.

Jesus understands such situations and He has warned us that following Him will not be easy. However, He also promised that He will give us peace in our hearts. He said, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground abandoned by (Greek) your Father. And even the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven."[17]

A changed life

A Christian obeys God out of love, not out of fear. He serves Him with joy and gladness. A Christian cannot live without Christ. Jesus said, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."[18]

This reminds us that we cannot overcome Satan and his followers by ourselves. Only Jesus can, because He has defeated Satan once for all. Satan always tries to harm those who have accepted Christ and shake their faith. He stirs up opposition to try and make Jesus' followers deny their faith in Him. True believers continue to listen to Jesus in such situations. He warns us of opposition but reassures us that He is all-powerful. "All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. ... I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world".[19]

Glossary

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

This section contains a glossary of words found in the "Why Follow Jesus" pages of this website.

Use the letters above to jump around or scroll to browse.

A

Abraham: who lived about 4,000 years ago, the ancestor of both the Arabs and the Jews. God made a covenant (special agreement) with Abraham that, if he remained faithful to God, he would have many descendants and the land of Canaan would be theirs for ever (Genesis 13:15-6). Furthermore, God promised Abraham that all people on earth would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3). Abraham's biography is related in Genesis 11-25.

Acts: the fifth book of the New Testament. It gives a record of the early Christian Church after Jesus' resurrection. It was written by Luke.

Adam & Eve: the first man and woman created by God. Adam was created first and then Eve was created as a companion for him. They lived in the Garden of Eden, but after disobeying God, they were cast out of His presence. Their biography is related in Genesis chapters 2 and 3.

Ahmadiyya: a sect of Islam, founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908), who declared himself to be a renewer of the Islamic faith.

Alexander the Great: a king of Macedonia and one of the greatest generals in history. He conquered much of the then civilised world and brought Greek culture to those places. He lived from 356 to 323 BC.

Apostles: (Envoys) usually the twelve men whom Jesus chose to be with Him during His ministry on earth. They were: Andrew, Bartholomew, James, son of Zebedee, John, James, son of Alphaeus, Judas Iscariot, Thaddaeus, Matthew, Simon Peter, Philip, Simon the Zealot and Thomas. After Judas' death, Matthias took his place as an apostle.

Apostle: means "one who is sent". In Matthew chapter 10:5 Jesus calls the twelve that He personally sent out on a mission, "apostles". An apostle of Jesus had to have seen Jesus to be a witness of His resurrection Acts 1:22. The apostle Paul was personally commissioned by the Lord Jesus after His ascension. Acts 22:14,15, 1 Corinthians 9:1 and 15:8.

In Acts 14,4 and 14 Paul and Barnabas are also called apostles in a different sense. They had been "sent" by the church at Antioch on a missionary journey. Acts 13:2,3 and 14:26,27. So they were in that sense, apostles of the church at Antioch. These two uses of the word apostle must not be confused.

Ascension: the dramatic departure of the risen Christ from earth to heaven, which took place forty days after the resurrection. The accounts of the ascension can be found in Acts 1:9-11; Mark 16:19; Luke 24:50-51

Autograph: an original manuscript in the author's handwriting.

B

Bethlehem: a small town in Jordan, 5 miles south of Jerusalem. It was the birth place of Jesus as prophesied in Micah 5:2.

C

Circumcise: circumcision was the physical sign of God's original covenant with His people (Genesis. 17:10-11).

Codex: a forerunner of the modern book. It was made by folding several sheets of papyrus in the middle and sewing them together along the fold. A codex was written on both sides.

Covenant: a binding contract made by one party and accepted by another.

Crucifixion: the most severe method of torture and execution used by the Romans and many other nations of the ancient world. It was used for slaves and criminals. The victim was nailed to a wooden stake or gibbott and left to die.

D

Daniel: a prophet who lived around 600 BC The Old Testament book named after him deals with historical events in Babylon and shows Daniel's faith in God. It also includes visions of future events.

Dead Sea Scrolls: the oldest known manuscripts of any books of the Bible. They contain all the books of the Old Testament, except Esther. A few of these books are almost complete. They were found in the 1940s and 1950s in caves near the north-west shores of the Dead Sea. Now they are kept in the "Shrine of the Book", part of the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

E

Ezekiel: a priest and prophet who lived around 600 BC and stressed the importance of following God's law. There is an Old Testament book named after him which contains the following prophecies:

chapters 1-24: prophecies of how God would punish the people of Judah for their sins.

chapters 25-32: prophecies against neighbouring countries for defying God's will and rejoicing over the misfortunes of the Israelites.

chapters 33-48: prophecies of Israel's restoration and salvation.

F

Forgiveness: means the removing of our sin due to God's graciousness. This is all made possible through Christ (Ephesians 1:7). Read also Exodus 34:6-7 and Psalm 103:10-12. The New Testament makes it clear that the forgiven sinner must forgive others.

Furqan: a standard or reference against which everything must be judged.

G

Gospel: literally means "good information".

I

Immanuel: means "God with us". One of the names given to Jesus.

Isaiah: a prophet who lived about 700 BC. In the Old Testament book which bears his name, there are prophecies foretelling Jesus' coming.

J

Jeremiah: a prophet who lived around 600 BC There is a book in the Old Testament named after him in which Jeremiah tried to reform the life of the Jews and spoke of the individual's relationship with God. He also warned of the Babylonian invasion.

Job: is the central figure of the Old Testament book which bears his name. This book is the story of Job's suffering, the lessons God taught him from it and his ultimate salvation.

John the Baptist (Hazrat Yahya): a great prophet who lived from about 7 BC to 28 AD. He was a forerunner of Jesus and prepared the way for Him. He urged people to repent of their sins and baptised them in the River Jordan.

John: one of the twelve apostles and brother of James son of Zebedee. He was inspired by God to write the fourth Gospel, the 3 letters bearing his name.

Jonah: the book in the Old Testament named after him tells how God called Jonah to prophesy to the people of Nineveh. It was written about 400 BC.

Josephus: a Jewish historian who wrote a 20 volume history of the Jews from their beginning to the end of Nero's reign. He was the governor of Galilee when war broke out between the Jews and the Romans in 66 AD.

Judas Iscariot: the apostle who betrayed Jesus. He was the treasurer of the apostles.

K

Kingdom of God: the spiritual reign of God. The term "Kingdom of God", or "Kingdom of Heaven", refers to God's rule of grace where evil is overcome. Those who live in this kingdom know righteousness, happiness, peace and joy (c.f. Romans 14:17).

L

Letters: the 21 books of the New Testament from Romans to Jude, also known as "Epistles". They were formal and instructive, many being written by the apostle Paul to the Christian congregations he founded.

M

Manuscript: a hand-written record, from before the invention of printing, which can often be identified with a certain period of history by the material on which it is written and the style of writing.

Masoretic text: the basic text of the Old Testament, used for centuries in schools and synagogues. It was produced by the Masoretes, a school of rabbis in Palestine and Babylonia in the eighth and ninth centuries AD who were the preservers of the Old Testament writings.

Micah: a prophet who lived in the late 700s BC and whose name means "who is like the Lord". There is a book in the Old Testament which bears his name. Through him God spoke about people being more concerned with ceremonies than with true godliness; about oppression of the poor; about true and false prophets and about the Messiah coming from Bethlehem.

Miracles: mighty acts of God that cannot be explained through the known laws of nature.

N

Nazareth: a quite insignificant town in northern Israel, in the Roman province of Galilee. It was the home of Jesus during his early years.

Nebuchadnezzar: the King of Babylon from 605-562 BC. Nebuchadnezzar set up many building projects and, under his rule, Babylon became one of the world's most magnificent cities. He also captured and destroyed Jerusalem.

Nineveh: the last capital of the ancient Assyrian Empire, situated on the east bank of the River Tigris. In 612 BC it was captured and destroyed and was not discovered by archaeologists until the 1800s.

P

Passover: the Jewish festival which celebrates the Israelites' flight from slavery in Egypt in about 1200 BC (Exodus 12). The Passover celebrations are held in March or April each year.

Peter: a leading apostle of Jesus. His original name was Simon but Jesus gave him the name Peter, meaning "rock". He was a leader of the early Christian community.

Philo: a leader of the Jewish community in the early part of the first century AD. He wrote on philosophical and theological subjects.

Pilate: the Roman governor at the time of Jesus' crucifixion. He governed Judea from 26-36 AD. Jesus was put on trial before Pilate who wanted to release Him, but was afraid of losing his office.

R

Revelation: the last book of the New Testament, revealed to the apostle John. It contains messages to the churches and visions of the future, depicting the end of the present age. Its Greek title means "unveiling" or "disclosure" of the hidden things known only to God.

Ruth: the name of an Old Testament book which tells the story of Ruth, a Moabite woman who married an Israelite. After the death of her husband, Ruth devoted herself to her mother-in-law and became a follower of Israel's God. She was an ancestor of the Lord Jesus.

S

Sabbath: (Hebrew, rest) The seventh day of the week from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday.. God completed the creation of the universe in six days. He required the Israelites to set the seventh day of every week apart for worship and rest, Deuteronomy 5:12 to 15. This "rest" was also figurative of the eternal rest awaiting the faithful after death, Hebrews 4:8-11.

Christians are not required to observe the Jewish Sabbaths Colossians 2:16. They are required to meet together and remember the Lord's death burial and resurrection. This is done by sharing a cup of grape juice representing His shed blood and an unleavened loaf representing His body, Matthew 26:26 to 30, Mark 14:22 to 25 and 1 Corinthians 11:20 to 26. The first day of the week (which approximates our Sunday) was set apart for this, Acts 20:7. It is the day upon which Jesus rose from the dead. This weekly observance was known as "the breaking of the bread" and "the Lord's Supper" Acts 2:42, 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 11:20.

Sacrifice: the offering of the blood or flesh of an animal to God in gratitude or payment for sin. By offering an animal to God, the Hebrew people were giving another life in place of their own. God demanded that they offer Him the best, a young unblemished male animal.

Septuagint: the oldest Greek translation of the Old Testament. It is believed that an Egyptian king had seventy Jewish scholars translate the Torah for the benefit of Greek-speaking Jews. This translation began around 250 BC. The most famous manuscripts of the Septuagint are the Vaticanus, the Alexandrinus and the Sinaiticus.

Simon of Cyrene: the man from the area called Cyrene who was forced to carry Jesus' cross. (Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21: Luke 23:26).

Sin: deviation from the law or will of God, "missing the mark". Sin is rebellion against God and because God is holy, He cannot tolerate sin. However, God himself has provided in Jesus the solution to this problem of sin. Read Romans 3:23 6:23 and 1 John 3:4..

Surah: Written also as Sura, means a row of series; chapter of the Qur'an.

T

Tacitus: a historian who lived from 55-120 AD. He described Roman history from Augustus to Nero.

Tahrif: means "corruption", alteration. It refers to the charge made by Muslim theologians against Christians of having modified and falsified the Gospel.

Testament: similar meaning to covenant.In Arabic it is Misaq or Ahd.

W

Wine: In the Bible wine is not necessarily fermented/alcoholic. It can refer to grape juice still in the grapes and to freshly pressed grape juice.

Z

Zechariah: a prophet who lived about 520 BC and wrote the book in the Old Testament bearing his name. He urged the people of Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and prophesied about God's victory over evil and the coming Messiah.