I. JADEED

THE CROSS

in the Gospel

and the Koran

All rights reserved

THE GOOD WAY • P.O.BOX 66

CH-8486 RIKON-SWITZERLAND

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION:

THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST AND

ITS INFLUENCE ON ISLAM 5

I. THE CROSS IN THE GOSPEL

AND IN THE KORAN. 9

II. OUR PROOFS OF THE

CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST 20

1. THE PROPHECIES ' 20

2. THE STATEMENTS OF CHRIST 26

3. THE TESTIMONY OF THE APOSTLES 28

4. THE SIGNS WHICH ACCOMPANIED

THE DEATH OF CHRIST 29-

5. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST 30

6. THE TESTIMONY OF HISTORY 32

7. THE TESTIMONY OF PILATE,

THE ROMAN GOVERNOR 33

8. THE SYMBOL OF THE CROSS 33

9. THE TESTIMONY OF TIME AND

CHRISTIAN CONTINUANCE 34

10. THE TESTIMONY OF THE

JEWISH TALMUD 34

III. WHY WAS CHRIST

CRUCIFIED?

1. THE NEED OF SALVATION

2. THE PROOF OF REASON

3. ATONEMENT MEETS THE

DEMANDS OF LAW

4. ATONEMENT MEETS MAN'S

MORAL NEED

5. GOD'S PLAN FOR ATONEMENT

36

36

37

37

38

39

INTRODUKTION

THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST AND

ITS INFLUENCE ON ISLAM

This subject, more than any other, arouses

controversy among Muslims. Though the Koran

mentions the death of Christ before His ascension to

heaven, Islamic scholars disagree over the inter-

pretation of the word 'inni mutawaffeeka' (translated

'gathering thee') in verse 55 of Surat al Imran. Some

say the word does not indicate 'death', while others

affirm that Christ did actually die. There are many

versions of this, ascribed to eminent muslim schools,

on interpretations of scholars such as Al Tabari and

Al Zamkhashri, and others.

Some say the word means:

1. Sleep.. AI Muthanna relates 'I was told by

Ishaq (as reported to him by Abd Allah Ibn Jaafar

and Al Rabia) that 'inni mutawaffeeka' means a

death of sleep, and God raised Him in His sleep'.

2. Fulfilment, or completion - by Ali Ibn Suhail

and Domra Ibn Rabia and Ibn Shuthab, and Matar

al Waraq, who say it means 'I, God, gather you from

the world, but not by death'.

1. Grasping, or 'take possesion of - by Yunis who

says 'Ibn Wahab and Ibn Zeid have told us that 'inni

mutawaffeeka' signifies 'I grasp - take possesion -

of you... He has not died and will not die until He

kills the Anti-Christ. Then He will die'.

2. Abu Jaafar al Tabari, ascribing it to tradition

from Muhammed said "Fsa (Jesus), the Son of Mary,

will descend and kill the Anti-Christ, then remain on

earth for a while (time not stated) and then He will die

and Muslims will bless Him."

The group which maintains that the word means

real death also has many interpretations of the story.

1. AI Muthanna says, quoting Abd Allah Ibn

Salih and Muawiheh, and Ali Ibn Abbas, that 'inni

mutawaffeeka' means 'I cause you to die'.

2. From Ibn Hamid, as told him by Salma and Ibn

Ishaq, and Wahab Ibn Munabbih, 'God caused' I'sa,

Son of Mary, to die three hours and then raised Him'.

(Jamia al bayan 3.289-292).

The interpretation of Al Imam Al Razi, from

which we quote the following verses says when God

said, "O Jesus! Lo! I am gathering thee and causing

thee to ascend unto Me" that God was specifically

exalting him. Firstly 'inni mutawaffeeka' - by raising

Him, and another verse ascribed to Jesus says,

"When Thou tookest Me, Thou wast a Watcher over

them," that is, guarding Him.

Commentators differ over these two verses in two

ways. Some accept the verses literally and others see

hidden meanings in them.

The first say 'mutawaffeeka' means 'your life is

fulfilled, so I (God) will take you, and not permit

them (that is - the Jews) to kill you, but I will raise

you to heaven and appoint you among my angels,

and I will protect you so that they will not be able to

kill you.'

The second say 'mutawaffeeka' means 'I cause you

to die'. According to Ibn Abbas and Hama Ibn Ishaq

it means, 'His enemies, the Jews, were not permitted

to kill Him, so God honoured Him by raising Him to

heaven.' These also differed in three points:

1. Wahab said, 'He was dead three hours and

then was raised.'

2. Muhammed Ibn Ishaq said, 'He was dead

seven hours, then God raised Him to life and

took Him to heaven.'

3. AI Rabia Ibn Uns said that God caused Him

to die when He raised Him to heaven. God

says, "The Lord 'gathers' souls at death, and

they do not die in their sleep."

So, because of these differences of opinion among

Muslim experts, and their different interpretations

of a verse in the Koran about the last moments in the

life of Christ, any honest seeker after the truth, must

turn to the record of the Gospel, which needs no

interpretation. There is no contradiction in it, with

regard to the death of Christ, and His resurrection

and ascension.

THE CROSS IN THE GOSPEL AND

IN THE KORAN

In chapter one of his first letter to the Corinthians,

verses 22 to 24, Paul, the apostle, said, "For the Jews

demand signs, and Greeks seek wisdom, but we

preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews,

and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called,

both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and

the wisdom of God." In the second chapter, verses I

to 2, he said, "When I came to you, brethren, I did not

come proclaiming to you the testimony of God in

lofty words of wisdom. For I decided to know

nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him

crucified."

If we consider the words of the apostles generally

we see that the Gospel which they preached from the

dawn of Christianity and which people received and

accepted and by which they were saved, was the joyful

news which Paul summarized in these words in 1

Corinthians 15:1-4: "Now I would remind you,

brethren, in what terms I preached to you the Gospel,

which you received, in which you stand, by which you

are saved, if you hold it fast - unless you believed in

vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance,

what I also received, that Christ died for our sins,

according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that

He was raised on the third day, in accordance with the

Scriptures."

Even so, with the passing of some five hundred

years after Paul and the spreading of the Gospel in all

the world, there were those who objected to this truth

saying to the Christians, "You are mistaken in your

religion". Maybe these objectors took their ideas from

heretics - Jews converted to Christianity, whose

fathers were neighbours to those who believed that

Christ would (did) not die. We are very indebted to

John, one of the writers of the Gospel, who mentions,

this matter when he recorded for us the saying of the

Pharisees in their dispute with Christ, in John 12:34,

"The crowd answered Him, 'We have heard from the

Law that the Christ remains for ever. How can you

say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this

Son of Man?'"

Historians mention that this heresy was widespread

among the Christians of the Arabian Peninsula,

saying that Christ was able to transform Himself from

one image (form) to another, and when His enemies

came to arrest Him He cast His likeness on to another

man, who was crucified instead of Him, but Christ

was lifted up to the One who sent Him, scorning His

enemies.

The passage in the Koran about the last days of

Christ is in agreement with this story and opposed to

the Jewish version. It says, Surat an Nisa 157, 158

10

"Their saying, (that is the Jews) 'We slew the

Messiah, Jesus the Son of Mary, Allah's Messenger',

they slew Him not, nor crucified Him, but it

appeared so unto them, and lo! Those who disagree

concerning it, are in doubt thereof, they have no

knowledge thereof, save pursuit of a conjecture, they

slew Him not for certain, but Allah took Him up to

Himself."

Clearly we understand from the version of the

heretics who clung to Christianity, that the Cross, in

their estimation, was not an historical event, or a

doctrine of redemption, but a symbol or a sign, as the

star which guided the Magi to the cradle of the Child

in Bethlehem, or as the appearance of a dove in

which the Holy Spirit appeared, coming to Christ at

His baptism in the Jordan. But the heavy cross on

which Christ was hanged, which is the altar of

redemption, where the Lamb of God was sacrificed to

take away the sin of the world, was of no importance

to them! They rejected the truth which Paul

proclaimed to the nations in Galatians 3:13 and 14,

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law,

having become a curse for us; for it is written 'Cursed

be everyone who hangs on a tree, that in Christ Jesus

the blessing of Abraham might come upon the

Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the

Spirit through faith.'"

Perhaps the strängest objection to the cross is

found in the counterfeit Gospel attributed to John

11

but written by the heretics. There is no doubt Muslims

inherited this aversion to the cross from those heretics

who were scattered about in Arabia, which is the

cradle of Islam. It is regrettable that Muslim

theologians disagree on the matter of how another

took the place of Christ, and many stories have arisen

about it. One is that when the Jews determined to kill

Christ, God took Him to heaven. Their leaders feared

a rising of the people against themselves, and took and

killed a man crucifying him, and deceived the people

saying he was Christ (I'sa). Another says that God

cast Christ's likeness on to another man, who died

instead of Him.

This story has many versions:

1. A Jew named Judas entered a house where

Christ was, with the purpose of arresting Him, but did

not find Him. God caused the likeness of Christ (I'sa)

to be on him, and when he came out of the house

people thought he was I'sa, and took him and

crucified him.

2. The Jews, when they arrested I'sa, set over Him

a watchman, but I'sa was taken up to God by a

miracle and God caused I'sa's likeness to rest on the

watchman, whom they took and crucified, while he

cried out "I am not I'sa".

3. One of Jesus' (I'sa's) friends was promised

Paradise, and volunteered to die instead of Him.

12

God caused him to resemble I'sa and he was taken

and crucified but I'sa was taken up to heaven.

4) One of I'sa's followers betrayed Him, (that is,

Judas), and came to the Jews to guide them to Him,

and went with them to take Him. God caused him to

appear like I'sa and he was taken and crucified.

Only a few of the commentators of the Koran

agree upon this story. Al Jalalan in his interpretation

of the Koranic phrase "it appeared so unto them"

(Shubbiha lahum) says that Allah caused the likeness

of I'sa to be upon the dead man and they thought he

was I'sa, and they killed and crucified him. The phrase

"those who disagree and are in doubt about Him"

(that is, about I'sa, regarding His death) - means that

some of them, when they saw the dead man, said "The

face is the face of I'sa, but the body is not His body".

Others said "It is He". (Commentary of Al Jalalan,

page 135).

Al Baidawi said "It is related that a group of Jews

captured I'sa and his mother, and He cursed them,

and they were changed into apes and pigs! The Jews

met together to kill Him but God told Him He would

take Him to heaven. He said to His friends, 'Who is

ready to take my likeness upon him and be killed and

crucified and enter Paradise?' One of them responded

and God cast the likeness of I'sa upon him and he was

killed and crucified."

13

AI Zamkhashri said "The words 'it appeared so unto

them' mean they imagined it to be so or they pre-

sumed that they killed and crucified Him - so He is

dead and not alive. But He is alive because God took

Him to Himself.

There is no doubt that this variety of versions

resulted from the lack of clear wording in the Koran

with regard to the last days of Christ's human life on

earth. This disparity opened the door to many

differences and opposing opinions. It was inevitable

that a scrupulous scholar such as the Imam Fakhr ed

Din ar Razi should refute this story absolutely. In his

comment on verse 55 of Surat al Imran "Oh Fsa Son

of Mary, lo! I am gathering Thee unto Me and causing

Thee to ascend to Me," he explained the matter of the

transfer of Christ's likeness to another man in a

variety of ways:

1. If it is permissible to assert that God casts the

resemblance of one person on to another, then the

door is open to calumny and in time to subtle

reasoning and in the end invalidates prophecies.

2. God supported Him (I'sa) with His Holy Spirit.

Was He in this case not able to do so? He (I'sa) was

able to raise the dead, and so was He not able to

protect Himself?

3. God was able to rescue Him by raising Him to

heaven, so what use was it to cause another to bear

His likeness?

14

4. By so doing - that is by causing another to

resemble Him - they were made to believe that this

other was I'sa, although he was not. This was a

deception and not in keeping with the wisdom of

God.

5. The majority of Christians from East to West,

with their intense love for Christ and extreme zeal for

His cause, witnessed to His being crucified. There-

fore, if we deny this, we discredit the historicity

(chronology) of events and thus we discredit the

prophecy of Mohammed and I'sa and the rest of the

prophets.

6. The logical (normal) thing would be, that the

"other man" would be able to defend himself and say

he was not I'sa and that is what he would have done.

As he did not do so, we understand the matter was

not as reported. If the sayings of the Koran do

repudiate the crucifixion of Christ, they certainly do

not repudiate His death, before He was taken to

heaven. When we consider the close of Christ's life as

seen (depicted) in the Koran, we find three texts which

confirm His death, and two which state that He was

killed.

1. Surat al Mariam 33 - "Peace on me the day I was

born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised

alive." In this verse is a clear confession that Christ

became incarnate, and died and was raised from the

15

dead, in the form of a prophecy and based on a

miracle. It agrees with the text of the Gospel in spirit

and word.

2. Surat al Imran 55 - "When God said 'Oh Jesus,

Son of Mary, lo! I am gathering thee and causing thee

to ascend to me and I am cleansing thee of those who

disbelieve, and I am setting those who follow thee

above those who disbelieve until the day of Resurrec-

tion.'"

3. Surat al Mai-i'dat (The Table) 116,117 - "When

Allah saith 'Oh Jesus, Son of Mary, did thou not say

unto mankind, "Take me and my mother for two gods

beside Allah?" he said, 'Be glorified... I spake unto

them only that which Thou commandest me... and

when Thou tookest me, Thou wast the watcher over

them.'"

4. Surat al Baqara (The Cow) 87 - "And verily we

gave unto Moses the Scripture, and we caused a train

of messengers to follow after him, and we gave unto

Jesus, Son of Mary, clear proofs, and we supported

him with the Holy Spirit. It is ever so, that when there

cometh unto you a messenger (from Allah) with that

which you desire not, you grow arrogant, and some

you disbelieve, and some you slay." The word "slay"

here is not unclear and can only be translated as

"killing". If the Koran does not mention how the

killing of Christ took place, the Gospel is the original

and only source on this subject.

16

5. Surat al Imran 183... "They say, that is the Jews,

'Lo, God hath charged us that we believe not in any

messenger until he bring us an offering which fire,

from heaven, shall devour'. Say to them, 'O

Mohammed, messengers came unto you before me

with miracles, and with that miracle which you

describe. Why then did you slay them? Answer that if

you are truthful.'"

If we examine the stories of the Koran, we find that

the only messenger who came from God with an

offering was Christ. Surat al Ma-i'dat 114 says "Jesus,

Son of Mary, said, 'O God, our Lord, send down for

us a table spread with food from heaven, that it may

be a feast for us, ...and a sign from Thee. Give us

sustenance for Thou art the best of sustainers.'"

Now let us return to the saying in Surat an Nisa,

"They slew him not, nor crucified him, but it appeared

so unto them". This was an effort to remove those

adhering to the letter of the word, from the prison of

the letter, to the wide liberty of the Spirit. We do not

need anything other than the texts of the Gospel to

bring out the truth. This recourse to expedience makes

it necessary for us to find out the purpose of the

Jewish leaders in killing Christ, and this has been

made clear to us by John in his account of the Gospel,

when he said in John 11:47 to 50, "So the chief priests

and Pharisees gathered the council and said, 'What

are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we

17

let Him go on thus everyone will believe in Him and

the Romans will come and destroy both our holy

place and our nation!' But one of them, Caiaphas,

who was high priest that year said to them, 'You

know nothing at all; you do not understand that it is

expedient for you that one man should die for the

people, and that the whole nation should not

perish.'"

Indeed, when they hung Him upon the cross and

He died, and was put in the tomb and the door was

sealed with Pilate's seal, they rejoiced greatly,

thinking that they were finally saved from His

teaching and signs, and hoping that His cruel death

was enough to prevent His followers from any further

activity. But the winds of the divine will carried the

ships of Jewish determination whither they did not

wish; for His atoning death upon the cross before long

attracted to Him thousands and thousands. What was

prophesied of Him came true, as in John 12:32, "I,

when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men

to Myself."

In the same way miracles continued through the

apostles, according to the power which He gave them.

The Bible tells us in Acts 19:11 and 12, "And God did

extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that

handkerchiefs or aprons were carried from his body to

the sick, and diseases left them and evil spirits came

out of them."

18

So we can accept the verse of the Koran as a

testimony against them, the unbelievers, when it says

"Those who disagree concerning it are in doubt

thereof; they have no knowledge thereof, save pursuit

of a conjecture; they slew Him not for certain." He

arose the third day, and during the forty days after

that appeared many times to His disciples, then

ascended to heaven and sat at the right hand of God,

in keeping with the Koran's saying, "Lo! I am

gathering thee and causing thee to ascend unto Me."

19

II

OUR PROOFS OF THE CRUCIFIXION

OF CHRIST

There are a great many and it is not within the scope

of this booklet to mention them all in detail. The

following are a few:

1. THE PROPHECIES

There are many prophecies in the Bible pointing to

the atoning death of Christ on the cross, all of which

were literally fulfilled.

Prophecy - the selling of Christ for thirty pieces of

silver.

Zechariah 11:12. "Then I said to them, 'If it seems

right to you, give me my wages, but if not, keep them'.

And they weighed out as my wages thirty shekels of

silver."

Fulfilment. Matthew 26:14. "Then one of the twelve,

who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests

and said, 'What will you give me if I deliver Him to

you?' And they paid him thirty pieces of silver."

20

Prophecy - The buying of the Potter's field with the

money.

Zechariah 11:13. "Then the Lord said to me, 'Cast it

into the treasury', the lordly price at which I was paid

off by them. So I took the thirty shekels and cast them

into the treasury in the house of the Lord."

Fulfilment. Matthew 27:3 to 8. "When Judas, His

betrayer, saw that He was condemned, he repented

and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief

priests and the elders, saying, 'I have sinned in

betraying innocent blood'. They said, 'What is that to

us? See to it yourself. And throwing down the pieces

of silver in the Temple he departed and went and

hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces

of silver, said, 'It is not lawful to put them into the

treasury since they are blood money'. So they took

council and bought with them the potter's field to

bury strangers in. Therefore the field has been called

the Field of Blood to this day."

Prophecy - the mocking and crucifixion.

Psalm 22:16 to 18. "Dogs are round about me;

a company of evil doers encircle me; they have

pierced my hands and feet; I can count all my bones;

they stare and gloat over me; they divide my

garments among them, and for my raiment they cast

lots."

21

Fulfilment. Mark 15:16 to 20. "The soldiers led Him

away inside the palace, and they called together the

whole battalion. And they clothed Him in a purple

cloak and plaited a crown of thorns and put it on Him.

And they began to salute Him 'Hail, King of the

Jews'. They struck His head with a reed, and spat

upon Him, and they knelt down in homage to Him.

And when they had mocked Him and stripped Him of

the purple cloak, they put His own clothes on Him

and led Him out to crucify Him."

Prophecy - wounded and beaten.

Isaiah 53:5. "He was wounded for our trans-

gressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; upon

Him was the chastisement that made us whole, and

with His stripes we are healed." Zechariah 12:10. "I

will pour out on the house of David and the inhabi-

tants of Jerusalem a spirit of compassion and suppli-

cation, so that when they look on him, whom they

have pierced, they shall mourn for him, and weep

bitterly over him."

Fulfilment. Luke 22:63 to 65. "The men who were

holding Jesus, mocked Him and beat Him. They also

blindfolded Him and asked Him 'Prophesy! who is it

that struck you?' And they spoke many other words

against Him, reviling Him." John 19:34. "One of the

soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once

there came out blood and water."

22

Prophecy - He accepts His ordeal in silence.

Isaiah 53:7. "He was oppressed and he was

afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that

is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep before its

shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth."

Fulfilment. 1 Peter 2:23 and 24. "He committed no

sin; no guile was found on His lips. When He was

reviled, He did not revile in return. When He suffered

He did not threaten, but trusted to Him Who judges

justly. He himself bore our sins in His body on the

tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

By His wounds you have been healed."

Prophecy - He was beaten and spat upon.

Isaiah 50:6. "I gave my back to the smiters, and my

cheeks to those who pulled out the beard. I hid not my

face from shame and spitting."

Fulfilment. Mark 15:19. "They struck His head with

a reed and spat upon Him, and knelt down in homage

to Him."

Prophecy - they mock Him.

Psalm 22:6 and 7. "I am a worm and no man;

scorned by men and despised by the people. All who

see me mock at me. They make mouths at me, they

wag their heads."

23

Fulfilment. Matthew 27:39 to 42. "Those who

passed by derided Him, wagging their heads and

saying, 'You who would destroy the Temple and build

it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of

God come down from the cross'. So also the chief

priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked Him

saying, 'He saved others, He cannot save Himself. He

is the King of Israel, let Him come down now from the

cross and we will believe Him'."

Prophecy - His astonishment that the Father forsook

Him.

Psalm 22:1. "My God, my God, why hast thou

forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me,

from the words of my groaning?"

Fulfilment. Matthew 27:46. "About the ninth hour,

Jesus cried with a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lama

sabachthani?' That is, 'My God, My God, why hast

Thou forsaken Me?'"

Prophecy - they gave Him vinegar to drink.

Psalm 69:21. "For my thirst they gave me vinegar to

drink."

Fulfilment. John 19:28. "After this, Jesus knowing

that all was now finished said, to fulfil the Scripture, 'I

thirst' ... so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on

hyssop and held it to his mouth."

24

Prophecy - soldiers divided His clothes by lot.

Psalm 22:18. "They divided my garments among

them and for my raiment they cast lots."

Fulfilment. John 19:23. "When the soldiers had

crucified Jesus they took His garments and made four

parts, one for each soldier, also His tunic."

Prophecy - His bones were not broken.

Psalm 34:20. "He keeps all his bones; not one of

them is broken."

Fulfilment. John 19:32 and 33. "The soldiers came

and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had

been crucified with Him, but when they came to Jesus

and saw that He was already dead, they did not break

His legs."

Prophecy - pierced by a spear.

Zechariah 12:10. "When they look on him whom

they have pierced, they shall mourn for him."

Fulfilment. John 19:34. "One of the soldiers pierced

His side, with a spear, and at once there came out

blood and water."

25

Prophecy - His death with the wicked, but honoured

also.

Isaiah 53:9. "They made His grave with the wicked,

and with a rich man in his death."

Fulfilment. Matthew 27:57 to 60. "When it was

evening, there came a rich man, from Arimathea,

named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He

went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then

Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took

the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and

laid it in his own tomb, and rolled a great stone to the

door of the tomb and departed."

2. THE STATEMENTS OF CHRIST

Many times Christ explained to His disciples that

His work of salvation necessitated His death on the

cross. The most outstanding occasion comes in His

farewell message, which He spoke to them on the

night of His betrayal. In it He went again over the

wonder of the Gospel. The following are some of His

special pronouncements about His death on the cross

to redeem humanity.

Matthew 16:21. "From that time Jesus began to

show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and

suffer many things, from the elders and chief priests

and scribes, and be killed and on the third day be

raised."

26

Matthew 17:22. "As they were gathering in Galilee,

Jesus said to them, 'The Son of Man is to be delivered

unto the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and He

will be raised on the third day'. And they were greatly

distressed."

Matthew 26:1 and 2. "When Jesus had finished all

these sayings, He said to His disciples, 'You know that

after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of

Man will be delivered up to be crucified."

Mark 8:31. "He began to teach them that the Son of

Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the

elders and chief priests and the scribes, and be killed,

and after three days rise again."

Mark 9:31. "For He was teaching His disciples and

saying to them, 'The Son of Man will be delivered into

the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and when He

is killed, after three days He will rise.'"

Mark 10:32 to 34. "And they were on the road going

up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of

them, and they were amazed and those who followed

were afraid. And taking the twelve again He began to

tell them what was to happen to Him, saying, 'Behold,

we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will

be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they

will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the

Gentiles, and they will mock Him and spit upon Him

27

and scourge Him and kill Him; and after three days

He will rise'."

Luke 9:22. "The Son of Man must suffer many

things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests

and scribes and be killed, and on the third day be

raised."

John 3:13 and 14. "No one has ascended into

heaven but He who descended from heaven, the Son

of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the

wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that

whoever believes in Him may have eternal life."

3. THE TESTIMONY OF THE APOSTLES

All who read the Acts of the Apostles and their

Epistles notice that the doctrines which they preached

and spread abroad in all the world were based on the

message of Christ crucified for the sins of the world.

What follows is a gleaning from the words of the

apostles who, after preaching this message, wrote it,

guided by the Holy Spirit, for our instruction. Acts

2:22 and 23, "Men of Israel hear these words. Jesus of

Nazareth, a man attested to you by God, with mighty

works and wonders and signs, which God did through

Him in your midst, as you yourselved know - this

Jesus delivered up according to the Will and Plan and

the Foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed

by the hands of lawless men. But God raised Him

up...."

28

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:7 and 8, "We impart a

secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed

before the ages for our glorification. None of the

rulers of this age understood this, for if they had they

would not have crucified the Lord of Glory."

John the Apostle said in 1 John 1:7, "If we walk in

the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with

one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses

us from all sin."

Read also Acts 2:36; Romans 6:5 and 6; 1 Corin-

thians 1:17 and 18; 1 Corinthians 1:22 to 24; 1 Corin-

thians 2:1 and 2; 2 Corinthians 13:3 and 4; Galatians

3:13; Philippians 2:5 to 8; and Hebrews 12:2.

4. THE SIGNS WHICH ACCOMPANIED THE

DEATH OF CHRIST

Matthew, the writer of the Gospel, tells us that

when Jesus yielded up His Spirit, the sun was

darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two

from top to bottom, the earth shook and the graves

were opened. Matthew 27:50 to 54; "And Jesus cried

again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit. And

behold, the curtain of the Temple was torn in two,

from top to bottom, and the earth shook, and the

rocks were split; the tombs also were opened and

many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were

raised, and coming out of the tombs after His resur-

29

rection, they went into the holy city and appeared to

many. When the centurion, and those who were with

him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake

and what took place, they were filled with awe and

said, 'Truly this was the Son of God'."

There were outward signs in nature, the elements

were moved and because of them men's spirits were

stirred, so that the Roman Centurion, a heathen,

responsible for carrying out the death sentence on

Christ, and others with him, were astonished and

believed in the One crucified, saying "Of a truth, this

was the Son of God". This unique phenomenon had

not been seen, neither before nor after any man's

death.

5. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.

This wonderful event was fulfilled in keeping with

the word of Christ to the Pharisees and the scribes,

"Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up the third

day". Indeed, at dawn on the third day, the first day of

the week, there happened the greatest miracle of all

time. The Lord of glory rose from among the dead.

Heaven itself proclaimed this wonderful event. Before

dawn came a great earthquake, as God's angel des-

cended from heaven and rolled away the huge stone

from the door of the tomb. His appearance was as

lightning, and the guards, charged by Pilate to

safeguard the tomb, shook with terror. This watch

was put because the chief priests had circulated the

30

story that Jesus' disciples planned to steal His body,

or hide it away saying that He had risen.

On that glorious morning a group of women came

to the tomb bringing with them spices to anoint the

body of Jesus as a last respect. The first to arrive was

Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James.

When they found the stone rolled away from the door

of the tomb, and the tomb empty, they were

astonished. While they were questioning, an angel of

God appeared and told them not to be afraid.

Matthew 28:1 to 7, "Now after the sabbath, toward

the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary

Magdalene and the other Mary, went to see the

spulchre. And behold, there was a great earthquake,

and a angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and

came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His

appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white

as snow. And for fear of him, the guards trembled,

and became as dead men. But the angel said to the

women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek

Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He has

risen, as He said. Come - see the place where He lay.

Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has

risen from the dead; and behold He is going before

you to Galiliee, there you will see Him. Lo, I have

told you'."

And Matthew 28:9 and 10 say, "And toehold Jesus

met them, and said 'Hail'. And they came up and

took hold of His feet and worshipped Him. Then

31

Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid; go and tell My

brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me'."

This is what happened at the resurrection. It was

written in the Gospel by the inspiration of God and

no one who believes the Word of God dare deny it. If

they do so, it is as if they allege that God and all the

angels and Christ were in agreement to deceive

people.

6. THE TESTIMONY OF HISTORY

The death of Christ on the Cross is confirmed by

the early historians, heathen and Jewish. They have

written about it very clearly.

1. Tacitus, the historian, a heathen, in the year 55

A.D. wrote in his huge volume detailed passages

about the crucifixion of Christ and His sufferings.

2. Josephus, the Jew, born a few years after the

crucifixion, wrote the history of his people in twenty

volumes, and gave in his writings a detailed account

of the crucifixion of Christ, as ordered by Pilate.

3. Lucien, the Greek, (100 A.D.) an outstanding

Greek historian, wrote of the death of Christ and

about the Christians. As he was an Epicurean by

belief, he could not understand the faith of Christians

and their readiness to die for Christ. In his writings he

ridiculed their belief in the immortality of the soul

32

and their longing for heaven. He looked on them as a

deceived people, clinging to uncertainties after death

rather than living for the present. One of the signi-

ficant allusions to the subject of Christ in his writings

in this, "The Christians continue to worship that

great man who was crucified in Palestine because he

brought a new religion to the world".

7. THE TESTIMONY OF PILATE, THE ROMAN

GOVERNOR.

This tyrant sent to Tiberius Caesar a full report of

the crucifixion of Christ, His burial, His rising from

the dead and this report is among Roman records. It

was one of the documents with which the Christian

scholar Tertullian supported his famous defence of

the Christians.

8. THE SYMBOL OF THE CROSS

This is a material proof no one can deny, for every

religion has its distinguishing emblem, such as the

sixpointed star of the Jews and the crescent of the

Muslims. The sign of the cross was known from the

earliest era of Christianity. The early Christians

carved it on the graves of the dead and in the

catacombs where they used to meet in times of

persecution.

33

9. THE TESTIMONY OF TIME AND

CHRISTIAN CONTINUANCE.

The ordinance of the Lord's Supper, which

reminded them of the death of Christ on the cross, is a

living testimony throughout the passing ages that

Christ died by crucifixion. Certainly this rite, which

Christ instituted on the night He was betrayed, and

which He commanded His disciples to observe, is a

continual reminder of His atoning death and a strong

proof which is impossible to contradict. The apostles

kept this divine precept and committed it to the

church from the beginning, as Paul said in 1

Corinthians 11:23 to 26, "For I received from the

Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord

Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and

when He had given thanks, He broke it and said 'This

is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance

of Me'. In the same way, the cup after supper saying

'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this as

often as you drink it in remembrance of Me! For as

often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you

proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.'"

10. THE TESTIMONY OF THE JEWISH

TALMUD.

It is well known that the Talmud is a holy book in

Jewish eyes. It has been collected in huge volumes,

which anyone interested can see. In the copy

published in 1943 in Amsterdam one can read, on

34

page 42, this sentence, "Jesus was crucified one day

before the Passover. We warned Him for 40 days that

He would be killed because He was a magician and

planned to deceive Israel with His delusions.

Whoever wished to do so was asked to defend Him,

and when none did, He was crucified on the eve of the

Passover. Does anyone dare to defend Him? Was He

not a stirrer up of evil? It is said in the prophets,

Deuteronomy 13:8, 'To a person such as this, do not

listen, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you

conceal him, but you shall kill him.'"

35

Ill

WHY WAS CHRIST CRUCIFIED?

We often hear this question asked, especially in

these days. There is a clear answer to it in the Christian

creed of faith - "It was for us humans and for our

salvation He came down from heaven and was born of

the Holy Spirit by the Virgin Mary. He became a man

and was crucified for us in the days of Pontius Pilate.

He suffered and was buried and rose again on the

third day and ascended into heaven".

The following are some proofs of the necessity for

Christ's atoning death on the Cross:

1. The Need of Salvation.

There is no doubt that all men are in need of salva-

tion, because sin is found in every human heart.

Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and come short

of the glory of God". Isaiah, the prophet, in chapter 53

and verse 6, said, "All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord

has laid on him the iniquity of us all". John, in his first

letter, chapter 1, and verses 8 to 10, said, "If we say we

have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in

us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and

will forgive our sins, and will cleanse us from all

unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned we make

Him a liar, and His word is not in us".

36

In the heart of every man there is the awareness

that repentance alone cannot remove past sins. There

must be a more effective means of obtaining

forgiveness; this means that there must be

"atonement". Otherwise how can we explain the

existence of sacrifices from the beginning of time, and

the widespread knowledge of sacrifice among most of

the religions of the world.

Is it not because this concept meets the sense of

need in the heart of the sinner for atonement for his

sin?

2. The Proof of Reason.

All read and know that God is holy and that man is

sinful, and sin is an insult to the name of God and

destructive to man whom God created in His likeness.

Thus he now deserves the judgement of God. God

cannot be just unless He punishes the sinner. Repen-

tance, which is but a return to the place of obedience,

cannot bring the justification sought. There is nothing

of atonement in it; that is atonement for past sins. The

honour and justice and holiness of God cannot be

satisfied by mere repentance.

3. Atonement Meets the Demands of Law.

Divine law cannot renounce its right to judge, for it

says "the wages of sin is death". It demands the

punishment of the offender. A law which lets the

37

offender off is not as just law. The law is the "public

prosecutor" and the public prosecutor cannot

relinquish the demand of law that the offender be

punished; or he would be discredited as not being an

honest upholder of divine justice. In short, the law,

divine law, demands punishment of the offender, or

atonement for his sins. Here our hearts must be filled

with praise and thanks that Christ offered this

atonement for man; that, as a result, everyone who

accepts Him as Saviour obtains, in His Name,

forgiveness of sin. The blessing for all humanity is that

this atonement of Christ was inclusive and no one can

say that Christ did not die for him. How wonderful

are the words of Isaiah 53:12, "Therefore I will divide

him a portion with the great... because he poured out

his soul to death, and was numbered with the

transgressors; yet be bore the sin of many, and made

intercession for the transgressors". Paul said in

Hebrews 5:8 and 9, "Although He was a Son, He

learned obedience by what He suffered, and being

made perfect He became the source of eternal

salvation to all who obey Him".

4. Atonement Meets Man's Moral Need

It is true that every man has a moral nature and a

conscience able to appreciate heights of justice and

holiness. If he is dissatisfied with his sin, and finds no

atonement, he is troubled in spirit and his moral sense

is distrurbed.

38

It is agreed that man, in spite of his downfall into a

practice of sin, has not had his conscience destroyed.

This moral power remains which can discern right

from wrong and decides as to punishment or reward.

We can say that this power is an echo of the voice of

God who created it, and absolutely fitted it to respond

to His laws given on Mount Sinai. But this power,

conscience, important as it is, cannot save a man from

judgement.

It can influence man's leanings towards sin, but it

cannot justify him. It believes the law is good, but the

law also cannot justify. The law, Paul said, leads us to

Christ.

So the voice of conscience, or the sense of sin,

demands for us a righteous mediator, who atones for

our sins; but with all the importance of this truth most

people attempt to solve the problem of conscience by

doing works of self-righteousness, reckoning that

good works are comparable to the mercy of God.

5. God's Plan for Atonement.

If there had been no reason for atonement, God

would not have planned it. Jesus said in Matthew

20:28, "The Son of Man came not to be served but to

serve, and to give His life a ransom for many". Also in

John 3:16, Jesus said, "For God so loved the world,

39

that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in

Him should not perish, but have eternal life".

In Galatians 4:4, Paul said, "But when the time had

fully come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman,

born under the law".

These glorious verses show us that God loved man

with a wonderful love, rich in mercy. This love,

overflowing with mercy, was incarnate in Jesus, who

gave expression to it by redemption which He

completed on the cross, that all may know that God is

not only holy and just, but also is love. Redemption

awakens the sinner's conscience through love, and

love is the bond which links him to the cross,

without which God could not prove His love. So Jesus

said, "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto

me".

My dear reader, we live in a time full of voices.

"Behold the new order and act accordingly." "Here is

a new brotherhood. Accept it." "We extend a helping

hand." But empty is the voice which leaves out the

cross of Christ. Without the cross all "new orders"

fail, and the "new brotherhood" is a lie and the

"helping hand" turns into a hand brandishing

weapons.

The mistake of our generation is like that of the

Greeks and ancient Jews, in their thoughts about the

40

cross, looking on it as foolishness and weakness and

insignificant and a stumbling block. In their mistaken

estimation they have forgotten to raise the cry for

help, or to say. "Behold the Lamb of God who takes

away the sin of the world." They have forgotten the

word of wisdom which says in Proverbs 14:34,

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach

to any people".

41

Quiz:

THE CROSS

in the Gospel and the Koran

Dear Friend, After reading this booklet you may

answer the following questions carefully. If 15 of your

answers are right we will send you another booklet out

of the series, "Comparisons between the Gospel and

the Koran". When you have finished 9 booklets we will

send you a certificate entitled, "Knowledge in the

Gospel and the Koran (in its main differences)".

Questions:

1. Muslims have two ideas about the death of Christ.

Which one do you consider more possible?

2. Where should a researcher begin to look for the

full truth about the end of Christ's life on earth,

besides the Koran?

3. How did Paul, the Apostle, summarize the gospel

in his first letter to the Corinthians 15:1-4.

4. Summarize the heretical error which was spread

among the Christians on the Arabic Penninsula.

5. Where did Islam inherit the aversion to the cross?

6. Comment on the story of the "likeness" that

Christ only APPEARED to be crucified.

7. What is your opinion of Al-Razi's theory in the

story of the "likeness" of Christ's crucifixion.

8. Write one of the verses in the Koran which

mentions the death of Christ.

9. Where in the Koran is it written that the Jews said,

"Really, we have killed the Christ"?

10. Write one of the prophecies about the crucifixion

of Christ and the corresponding verse of its fulfill-

ment in the gospel.

11. Which prophecy - and its fulfillment - impressed

you the most?

12. What can you conclude from the revelations

Christ made in advance about his own crucifixion

and death?

13. What is the main subject in the testimony of the

apostles and their message about Christ?

14. What actually happened when Christ gave up his

spirit on the cross?

15. Do you believe in the resurrection of the dead and

what is your opinion of the resurrection of Christ?

16. Write one of the historical testimonies about the

death of Christ and his resurrection.

17. What is the main theme of Christianity and since

when has it existed?

18. What is the innermost aim of the Lord's Supper?

19. Is there any indication of Christ's crucifixion in the

Jewish Talmud?

20. In your opinion, why was Christ crucified?

21. Write down John 3:16 and memorize it!

Please don't forget to write your full name and address

at the end of your test. DO NOT write other remarks

on your test paper, but on a seperate sheet. We are

waiting for your answer.

THE GOOD WAY RO.BOX 66

CH-8486 RIKON (SUISSE)

THE GOOD WAY

CH-8486 RIKON/RO.BOX 66

SWITZERLAND

BOOKSAND CASSETTES

FOR MUSLIMS

The following evangelistic books and cassettes were especially prepared

for Muslims. A number of them are available in different languages.

Key for languages:

A = Arabic/B = Bengali/E = English/

M = Malayalam/R = Russian/T = Turkish/U = Urdu/

When ordering, please specify for every title the language

you require. Thank you.

COMPARISONS BETWEEN Price

THE GOSPEL AND THE KORAN Pages SFr.

A.) GOD, CHRIST AND THE TRINITY

GOD IS ONE —

IN THE HOLY TRINITY

B. Zachariah 82 3.-

72

48

24

64

Abd al-Masih

THE LIGHT OFTHE WORLD George Ford

HOW CAN WE KNOW THE

TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL? Isk. Jadeed

DID GOD APPEAR IN

THE FLESH?

THE PERSON OF CHRIST

IN THE GOSPEL AND

THE KORAN

GOD AND CHRIST

WHAT DO YOU THINK

ABOUT CHRIST?

Isk. Jadeed

Isk. Jadeed

Isk. Jadeed

48 2.—

3.—

2.—

1.—

2,—

24 1.—

48 2.—

2.—

2.—

48

40

B.) SALVATION

Isk. Jadeed 48 2.—

SIN AND ATONEMENT

HOW CAN YOU BE SAVED,

OMAN?

CG. Pfander 136 4.-

(Part 2 of Mizaan ul Haqq)

THE CROSS

IN THE GOSPEL AND

THE KORAN Isk. Jadeed

GOD'S SALVATION IS

READY FOR YOU Abd al-Masih

HOW DO WE PRAY? Isk. Jadeed

Pnce

Pages SFr.

■s

I

(d

C.) THE UNCHANGED BIBLE

NO DISTORTION IN

THE TORAH AND THE GOSPEL

(Part 1 of Mizaan ul Haqq) C. G. Pfander 136 4.—

THE INFALLIBILITY OF

THE TORAH AND

THE GOSPEL Isk. Jadeed 64 2.-

THE GOSPEL OF BARNABAS

IS A FALSE TESTIMONY Isk. Jadeed

24 1.—

NO, THE RELIGION OF

CHRIST IS NOT

ABROGATED

D.) GENERAL SUBJECTS

RESEARCH FOR THE

DILIGENT

VICTORY OF

THE TRUTH

TEACH ME YOUR WAY,

O LORD!

Isk. Jadeed 24 1.—

N. Ghabriel 112 4.—

32 1.50

112 4.—

Isk. Jadeed

Isk. Jadeed

TEST EVERYTHING, HOLD

88

ON TO THE GOOD! Isk. Jadeed

CHRISTIANITY IN ISLAM IbrahimLuka 208

3.—

5.—

BALANCE OF TRUTH

(combined vol. of part 1 and 2)

(combined vol. of part 1, 2 and 3)

TRACTS

(based on the above mentioned

comparison booklets)

CG.Pfander 300 7.—

1000

tracts 40.—

BIOGRAPHIES ^gcs ££

!

Bengali

English

Malayal. |

Russian

■s

?

FOR THE SAKE OF TRUTH Isk. Jadeed 264 6-

(under print)

TEN MUSLIMS

MEET CHRIST Miller 324 8-

IN SEARCH OF ASSURANCE A. A'. Alavi 56 2-

SWEET FIRSTFRUITS (A+U) 184 5-

XXX X

X

X

X

X

TESTIMONIES OF ARAB YOUTH:

MOROCCO PRAISES THE LORD 48 2-

THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL GROW

LIKE A CEDAR IN LEBANON 32 ISO

SUDAN HURRIES TO GOD 32 1.50

THE YOUTH OF IRAQ SURRENDERS

TO THE LORD 48 2-

TRACTS testimonies 1000

tracts 40.—

X XX X X

X

X

X

MAGAZINE: „THE MEETING POINT'

SECRETS OF WISDOM 40 2-

THE WINGS OF PEACE 32 2-

X

X

CASSETTES (in Arabic only, other wise specified) ...

THE NEW TESTAMENT ON CASSETTE

60

60

60

40

9.

9.

9.

6.

90

40

12.

6.

90

90

40

12.

12.

6.

40

6.

60

9.

40

VO*

40

6.

60

ON*

60

9,

40

6,

60

On

90

12,

90

12,

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW: 1:1-9:38

10:1 -17:27

18:1 -25:30

25:31-28:20

THE GOSPEL OF MARK: 1:1 -12:27

12:28-16:20

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: 1:1 - 9:62

(This Gospel is also available 10:1 -21:38

in English on two 60 min. cass.) 22:1 -24:35

PRAISE THE LORD

(Hymns of praise and thanks with Bible verses)

THE BETTER LIFE

(The way that leads to God, with modern hymns)

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD

(Matthew 1—4 with selected hymns)

HAVE MERCY ON ME, O GOD

(Selected hymns with Bible verses)

GOD'S PROMISES IN CHRIST

(God's promises in the Old Testament and

their fulfillment in the New Testament, with

selected hymns)

THE GREATEST BIRTH

(The story of Christ's birth according

to Luke, with Christmas hymns)

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE

KINGDOM OF GOD

(Matthew 5—7 with selected hymns)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT CHRIST?

(Meditations on the life of Christ with selected hymns) (A+ E)

THE GREAT SACRIFICE AND

THE CONQUEROR OF DEATH

(Christ's crucifixion and resurrection according

to Matt. 26-28)

GOD'S SALVATION IS READY FOR YOU

(A call to faith and new life, with selected hymns) (A+E)

THIS IS THE DAY OF SALVATION

(Selected hymns with Bible verses) 40 6.

CHRIST - THE RESURRECTION AND LIFE

(Selected passages from the Bible for comfort

in times of mourning) 4U "•

JESUS, YOU ARE MY GREAT TREASgRE

(Selected hymns with Bible verses) 60 9.

YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

(Selected hymns with Bible verses) 60 9.

MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU

(Selected hymns with Bible verses) 60 9.

COME, O LORD JESUS!

(Selected hymns with Bible verses) 60 9.

JESUS IS THE ANSWER

(Selected hymns with Bible verses) (English only) 40 6.

ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER

(Selected hymns with Bible verses) (English only) 60 9.

Books in Urdu should be demanded from:

NIDA-E-UMEED, POST BOX NO. 8617

DELHI-110054, INDIA

Bdoks in Malayalam may be obtained from:

MARKAZ-UL-BISHARA, P.O.BOX 18

MANJERI 676121, KERALA, INDIA

Books in Bengali can be ordered from:

MASIHEE JAM AT, G. P. O. BOX 3507

DHAKA, BANGLADESH

Books in Russian are printed by:

LIGHT IN THE EAST, Postfach 1340

7015 Korntal, W. Germany

In Canada and USA you can find most of our books in English and Arabic in

the following centers:

F.EM., 205 YONGE STREET, ROOM 25

TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA M5B 1N2

VOICE OF THE TRUTH, P.O.BOX 15013

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. 80935, USA

Table of Contents

The Cross in the Gospel and the Koran