Understanding Religion In A Better Perspective – Part 3

If there is a messenger of God which has been in the centre of debate between two major religions in the world, it would be Jesus Christ (peace be upon Him). As a Muslim, my duty is not to criticise, not talk inferior nor blasphemy any one’s believe. This analysis is purely going to be centred on Biblical quotations and Qur’anic verses. Base on these religious quotations that I may make some fair analysis.

Starting with Biblical description of the birth of Jesus Christ, Matthew 1:8-25 and Luke 1:5-30 explained excellently about the birth of Jesus Christ. According to Matthew, “After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit”..........“And she will bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins”. So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel”, which is translated, “God with us”. Luke 2:10-11 says, “Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, i bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord”. This is just few extracts of how Matthew and Luke describe the birth of Jesus Christ.

Coming into the Qur’an, God says, “(Remember) when the angels said, O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him (God), whose name is the Messiah Issah (Jesus), son of Mary, revered in this word and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (to God). He will speak to the people from his cradle and as a man, and he is of the righteous”. She said: “My Lord, how can I have a child when no mortal has touched me?” He said: “So (it will be). God creates what He wills. If He decrees a thing, He says to it only, ‘Be!’ and it is.” (Qur’an, 3:45-47). God went on to say, “The case of Jesus with God is like the case of Adam. He created him from dust, and then He said to him, “Be!” and he came into being” (Qur’an 3:59).

During the Prophetic mission of Christ, God tells us in the Qur’an that Jesus said: “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. I make for you the shape of a bird out of clay, I breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God’s permission. I heal the blind from birth and the leper. And I bring the dead to life by God’s permission. And I tell you what you eat and what you store in your houses.....”(Qur’an, 4:157)

Most Christians believe that Christ the Messiah is God. Others believe in the principle of trinity, that is, God is three in one – God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. They therefore worship and praise Jesus Christ on regular schedules. But, what is the truth? Did Christ commands us to believe in trinity and to worship and praise him? If you read Matthew and Luke about the birth of Jesus, they clearly indicate how God sent angels to Mary to reveal to her a gifted son who would saviour his people of the sins. When Christ was confronted by the devil in Matthew 4:10, “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve’”.

In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus taught his disciplines how to pray. In the Lord ’s Prayer, Jesus never mention his own name nor did he mention “God the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit’. Jesus Christ confirmed that he is not God in Matthew 19:16-17 and Luke 18:18-19, “Now behold, one came and said to him, “Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is God. But if you want to enter into eternal life, keep the commandments”. Clearly, Jesus Christ never said He is God, but He said only God is good.

In John 14:28, Jesus said, “....for My Father is greater than I”. John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent”. Jesus Christ confirmed the existence of only One true God in Mark 12:28-32, “Then one of the scribes came,.....asked Him (Jesus), “which is the first commandment of all?” Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandment is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength’........ So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He.”......... Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

God said in the Qur’an: “Indeed, they have disbelieved who have said: “God is the Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary.” The Messiah said: “Children of Israel worship God, my Lord and your Lord. Whoever associates partners in worship with God, then God has forbidden paradise for him, and his home is the Fire (Hell). For the wrongdoers, there will be no helpers” (Qur’an 5:72). God also said: “Indeed, they disbelieve who say: God is the third of three (trinity),” when there is no god but one God. If they desist not from what they say, truely, a painful punishment will befall the disbelievers among them. Would they not rather repent to God and ask His forgiveness? For God is oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. The Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary, was no more than a messenger...”(Qur’an 5:73-75).

To have eternal life, Jesus Christ said in John 17:3, “And this is life eternal, that they may You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent”

Matthew 23:8 says, “But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for one is your Master, even Jesus, and you are all brethren”.

Matthew 23:9 says, “And do not call any one on earth your father; for One is your Father which is in heaven”.

There are varying perspectives between Muslims and Christians about the Divinity of Jesus Christ, Him being called ‘son of God’, how Jesus pray, Him being a messenger, and the crucifixion on the cross. Both the Bible and the Qur’an entreats us to search for knowledge, particularly the truth. It is therefore prudent and beneficial for any believer to look into the books - Qur’an and the Bible to find out the truth and that one does not become mentally enslaved into religious beliefs. For the Bible says, search for the truth, and it shall set you free. One would also understand the religion of others and can co-exist and live peacefully without any religious conflict.

Whether one is a Muslim or Christian, one is entitled to his/her faith. Freedom of Religion is what we must respect and accept. Every human being will account to God alone. In fact, God created mankind and jinn except to worship Him alone.

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