By Editorial Staff
There are pieces of evidence and indications in the Bible which impel us to disbelieve in the alleged crucifixion
Needless to say, the contemporary Christian belief system is based on belief in the crucifixion of Jesus and the consequent belief in salvation. However, the incidents and statements cited in the Bible with respect to such crucifixion go against reason and logic. There are such pieces of evidence and indications in the Bible which are enough to impel us to disbelieve in the alleged crucifixion and the consequent salvation. The following are some of those proofs and indications:
My soul is very sorrowful!
The New Testament states that Jesus Christ got sorrowful and troubled, prayed to God and asked Him to save him from killing. We read:
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”…Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” (Matthew 26:36-42)
We may ask: Why should Jesus Christ get sorrowful and troubled and ask God to save him from killing? Did he not know that this was the only solution to the dilemma of the original sin? Did he not know that there was not any scenario out of this original sin other than his bloodshed?
Why have you forsaken me?
The New Testament tells us that Jesus feared death, sought the help of God and sought refuge in Him from death while on the cross. We read:
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)
We may ask: Did Jesus not know that he was going to be crucified in order to redeem humanity? Had he not already accepted that according to the Bible itself? If the crucified person was Jesus, do those words sound logical?
Three Days & Three Nights
The Bible quotes some of the scribes and Pharisees as saying to Jesus, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:38-40)
We may ask: Did Jesus really remain three days and three nights in the heart of the earth after his alleged crucifixion?
The answer is: No! The New Testament, particularly the very Gospel of Matthew from which we quoted the above verses, states that Jesus was buried Friday night (Matthew 27:60) and rose before dawn on Sunday (Matthew 28:1) i.e. Saturday night, that is to say he remained in his alleged grave two nights and one day only.
We may ask: Was the sign of Jesus not fulfilled according to the Bible? Or may the foregoing not be ascribed to Jesus at all, given the fact that this could not be fulfilled? It is only the following verses of the Qur’an which do sound logical and reasonable:
And [for] their saying, “Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of God.” And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, God raised him to Himself. And ever is God Exalted in Might and Wise. (An-Nisaa’ 4:157-158)
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References:
1- The Glorious Qur’an (Sahih International Translation)
2- The Holy Bible (Visit biblegateway.com)
3- Sheikh Ahmad Deedat’s debate, click: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PqpxZLn-ws
4- Dr. Zakir Naik’s Debate, click: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlokK9YoptE