This episode unpacks the fundamental belief’s of Jesus (Isa) within the Bible as is echoed within Islamic scripture.
1 Similarity of Jesus to Islam in prayer, manners, dress, etc.
2 Jesus regarding Oneness of God.
- “One of the scribes/teachers came … (and asked Jesus), “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” Jesus answered, “The most important one is this: ‘Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one…” [ Mark 12:28-29 ]
- “Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending (returning) to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” [ John 20:17 ]
- “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” [ John 17:3 ]
3 Jesus regarding ‘who’ is worthy of worship.
- “… “O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.” – whoever associates others with Allah, Allah has forbidden him Paradise… “ [ Quran 5:72 ]
- “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” “ [ Luke 4:8 ]
- “A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered, “Why do you call me good – no one is good except God alone.” ” [ Luke 18:18-19 ]
4 Jesus regarding salvation and forgiveness.
- “ .. “O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls. Do not lose hope of God’s mercy, for God certainly forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-forgiving, Most Merciful.” “ [ Quran 39:53 ]
- The contradictory claim (attributed to Paul) to justify the concept that Jesus had to sacrifice himself and shed blood for the salvation of others – “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” [ Hebrews 9:22 ]
- The Torah (Old Testament) contradicts the claim of blood sacrifice: “The multitude of your sacrifices – what are they to Me?” says the Lord. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings… I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs and goats … Your hands are full of blood. Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of My sight; stop doing wrong; learn to do right; seek justice; defend the oppressed, take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow…Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow …” [ Isaiah 1:11-20 ]
- Similarly in Job: Proverbs
- And in Hosea 6:6 “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings.”
- In Jesus’ own words: “.. go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’. For I have not come to call the righteous, but rather the sinners.” [ Matthew 9:13 ]
- “For if you forgive others when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” [ Matthew 6:14 ]
- “Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” [ Luke 19:9-10 ]
5 Jesus regarding submission.
- “When the believers are called to God and His messenger in order for him to judge between them, they say, ‘We hear and we obey.’ ..” [ Quran 24:51 ]
- “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the Prophets; I have not come to change them but to fulfill them. For I truly tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, nor the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commandments and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” [ Matthew 5:17-19 ]
- “.. Jesus replied, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” ” [ Matthew 19:17 ]
6 Summary
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