CRUCIFIXION ACCORDING TO BIBLE AND QURAN
PART 1
KEYWORD
ISA – JESUS, THE NAME USE FOR JESUS IN THE QURAN, HADITH & TAFSIR IS ISA, AL MASIH- THE MESSIAH.
TAFSIR – COMMENTARY
HADITH- TRADITION OF MUHAMMAD.
SIRAH – HISTORY
IBN MARYAM – SON OF MARYAM
AL-MASIH – THE MESSIAH
REFERENCE FROM
Bible
Quran
Tafsir
Hadith
Sirah
CONTENT
The crucifixion and resurrection according to Christianity
Reference from Old Testament
Reference from New Testament
Reference from Jewish book
Reference from Roman History.
* The crucifixion and resurrection according to Islam
Reference from Quran
Reference from Tafsir. Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Al Qurtubi, A Jalalayn, Al Tabari, Baghawi and Tafsir Al Baidawi.
Reference from Authentic Hadith.
Reference Sirah.
INTRODUCTION
The issue of Jesus Crucifixion is a serious case in Islam and Christianity for long time ago which has cause a lot of argument and confusion.
The grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ whom has appointed me to this work, I shall explain and bring out some fact for the readers to know the truth and hold-fast on it
Was Jesus crucified? This is a question Christians and Muslims often discuss. Christians are taught from the Bible and history that Jesus was publicly crucified and killed on a Roman cross around AD 33. His death on the cross is a central part of the Christian faith. Muslims, however, are taught that Jesus only appeared to be crucified and killed. Muslim leaders give a variety of explanations as to what it means that Jesus only appeared to be crucified and killed, these include that no one was crucified; someone else was crucified in Jesus’ place; Jesus was crucified but survived; or we cannot know what happened to Jesus.
How can we know which understanding is true? To answer this, we need to understand each view, examine the evidence for it, and then make a decision.
This is what we will do in this article. First, we will consider which explanation of the crucifixion in the Qur’an makes the best sense. Then, we will consider the evidence from the Bible; then the evidence from history outside of the Bible. After this we will be able to make an informed decision and answer the question, was Jesus crucified?
The issue of Jesus Crucifixion is a serious case in Islam and Christianity for long time ago which has cause a lot of argument and confusion.
By the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ whom has appointed me to this work, I shall explain and bring out some fact for the readers to know the truth and hold-fast on it
THE BIBLE AND CRUCIFIXION
Christ’s crucifixion occurred about 2000 years ago. This is documented by Roman, Jewish, and Greek historians. However, the Qur’an denies the crucifixion occurred. The Qur’an goes against known, recorded history. This article discusses Christ’s historical crucifixion.
Christianity teaches that Jesus was crucified. All four Gospels record the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. But Muhammad and the Qur’an say that Christ was not crucified. Muhammad appeared on the scene about 600 years after Jesus. Muhammad claimed to receive ‘revelations’ from Allah, given to him through Gabriel. One of Muhammad’s revelations was that Jesus was not crucified.
In other words, someone other than Jesus was crucified. The majority of Muslims believe this substitution theory. Yet the evidence from both the New Testament, and other historical sources state that Christ was crucified.
The crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the heart of the Christian faith.
The Christian believe that Jesus was Crucified and killed with evidences from both Old Testament and the New Testament. For example,
His death for the world. Isaiah. 53:1-12 compare with John 1:29, Mark 10:45 and Luke 24:44-48
His resurrection. Psalm 16:11 compare with Luke 24:1-12
Gambling of His clothe. Psalm 22:18 compare with Luke 23:34, John 19:23-24.
The spear that was stuck into Jesus side, the blood and water that came out in John 19:34-37 is the fulfillment of Zachariah 12:10.
If you go through the chapters and the verses of the Bible quoted from Old Testament and you compare it with the New Testament it is enough for the reasonable person to believe that Christian faith concerning the Crucifixion of Jesus stand on the solid Foundation.
Another point is that there are several places in the Bible where Jesus himself prophesy about his death and resurrection. For example.
Matthew 16:21, Matthew 17:22-23, Matthew 20:17-19, Mark 9:30-32 and John 3:14-15.
a Christian believes in and hopes for revolves around Jesus’ death on the cross for unworthy sinners. The resurrection is the divine vindication of the fact that Jesus did not die for any crime he had committed, but died in place of sinners needing redemption and justification before an infinitely holy and just God. If it can be proven that Jesus did not die and rise from the dead, then Christianity is nothing more than a great lie which has deceived literally billions throughout the ages. The Christian is left without hope, having no assurance of justification, and remains in his sins. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 15:12-19; Romans 4:25, 5:8-11)
Islam, on the other hand, denies the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Muslims believe that God rescued Jesus from the schemes of the unbelievers and raised Christ to heaven. The general Islamic view is that someone else was crucified in Jesus’ place, with most Muslims believing that Judas Iscariot was the one whom the unbelievers killed.
EVIDENCE FROM THE BIBLE THAT JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED AND RESURRECTED
Jesus predicted his own crucifixion and resurrection
Jesus was not afraid to die. In fact, He predicted His own death and resurrection
Matthew 16:21 – From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Luke 18:31,32 – Jesus took the twelve aside and told them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles, they will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him, and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.’
John 12:30-32 – This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself”. He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
JESUS WILLINGLY WENT TO THE CROSS
Matthew 26:53 – “Do you not think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more that twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
Matthew 26:39 – “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
John 10:18 – “No man takes it (his life) from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father”.
THE NEW TESTAMENT DESCRIBES JESUS’ CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH.
Matthew 27:32-50, (vs 35) – When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
(vs 50) – And when Jesus had cried again with a loud voice he gave up his spirit.
Luke 23:26-46, (vs 33) – When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals – one on his right, the other on his left.
(vs 46) – Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”. When he had said this, he breathed his last.
John 19:17-30 (vs 18) – Here they crucified him, and with him two others – one on each side, and Jesus in the middle.
(vs 30) – When he had received the drink, Jesus said “It is finished.” With that he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
BIBLICAL WITNESSES TO JESUS’ CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH
Matthew 27:54-56 – When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God.” Many women were there watching from a distance… among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
John 19:26 – When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son”, and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”
THE TESTIMONY CONCERNING THE CRUCIFIXION AFTER HIS ASCENSION
Peter speaking to the crowd at the Jewish Temple:
Acts 2:23 – “This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”
Paul speaking:
Acts 13:29 – When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in the tomb.
OTHER HISTORICAL REFERENCES AS EVIDENCE
Evidence from the JEWISH SOURCES:
Talmud, b. Sanhedrin 43a: On the eve of the Passover Yeshu [Jesus] was hanged [or crucified]. … Since nothing was brought forward in his favor he was hanged on the eve of the Passover.
The Amoa “Ulla” (Ulla was a disciple of Youchanan and lived in Palestine at the end of the third century) adds: “And do you suppose that for (Yeshu of Nazareth – Jesus) there was any right of appeal? He was a beguiler, and the Merciful One hath said: “Thou shalt not spare neither shalt thou conceal him.” It is otherwise with Yeshu, for He was near to the civil authority.
Note here that the writers of the Talmud took their job seriously. These men were Jews who did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. They were not Christians but they documented Christ’s crucifixion.
EVIDENCE FROM ROMAN SOURCES:
Cornelius Tacitus in his Annals, xv. 44: Christus … was executed at the hands of the procurator Pontious Pilate.
Lucian of Samosata: (Christ was) the man who was crucified in Palestine
Note here that these men were professional historians. They researched their work before publishing it. They also documented Christ’s crucifixion.
Therefore, three types of witness all of whom are from the 1st or early 2nd century have been presented.
After sifting through all these conflicting reports we are still left to wonder if it was , Judas Iscariot, or the Young disciple who was made to resemble Jesus? And if it was one of the twelve, or thirteen, or seventeen, which one of them was killed? 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 Qur’an finally came down to clarify this apparent deception.