Contrary to the irrational exaggerations and mythical
Divinity claims preferred by people who claim to be his followers, the
historical Jesus was a human being like any other human who lived and preached
Gospel among his people, a reformer-servant of God among the people of Israel
in historical Palestine. While much of his life is shrouded in the distance and
unknowns of history, the essence of his truthfulness as well as the shadow of
Divine Protection that helped him survive the scheming machinations and plots
of his wily opponents is preserved to the benefit of all times, including
through the Holy Qur’an which speaks about the trial of crucifixion:
“And they (the
persecutors of Jesus) planned (to crucify him) and Allah planned (to save him)
and Allah is the best of planners.” (3:55)
“They killed him not,
nor did they cause his death by crucifixion, but he was made to them to
resemble (one crucified to death. Verily, those who differ therein are
certainly in (a state of) confusion about it. They have no definite knowledge
of the matter but are only following a conjecture. They did not kill him. This
much is certain (and thus could not prove the Christ as accursed). Rather Allah
exalted him with all honour to His presence”. (4:
158-59)
While Jewish tradition viewed death on the cross as an
accursed imposter’s fate, Jesus himself predicted his escape from death on the
cross saying, “As Jonah was three days and three
nights in the whales’ belly, so shall the son of man be three days and three
nights in the heart of death”. (Matt.
12: 40) The prophecy meant that like Jonah, Jesus would also survive the
‘grave’ trial and survive the attempt on his life. In this brief exposition on
the crucifixion of Christ, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) marshals evidence from human
mortality, and the sign of Jonah mentioned in the Bible to dispel mythical
notions about Jesus prevailing among people in our times.
Read the Extracts from the Response Below: