The WHAT:
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18
The WHO:
“But we (Christians) preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness…” 1 Corinthians 1:23
The WHY:
“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:13 - 15
The ARGUMENT:
The cross, by design, looks like an intersection at a street. This is very fitting, since an intersection is where a man or woman either leaves a path or continues a path. One thing is for certain: the Cross of Christ demands a decision. The story makes a claim, and anyone who investigates the history behind it will either pursue its path, or turn away.
What guides your heart on this subject? Prejudice…or passion? Have you gone to the source to study and decide for yourself? Christians claim this a life or death decision. Here is a brief look:
In Islam, it is believed that Christ did not die on a cross at all; it is believed that just before His crucifixion, God took Him up to Heaven and provided a substitute (possibly Judas Iscariot), where the bodies were swapped. If wicked Judas died in Jesus’ place, Jesus was spared a murder suited for murderers. After all, why would Allah allow a great prophet to be disgraced publicly, in agony, on two pieces of wood? He must instead, we assume, remain pure from start to finish, and come in glory for the final judgement, and prove the veracity of Islam when He does. Is this correct? Is this not what we have been taught?
I am certain your Imam honors the words of Allah’s messenger (may peace be upon him). In Surah 5:58, he wrote, “Say, ‘O People of the Book! Ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye stand fast by the Law, the Gospel, and the revelation that has come from your Lord…”
Therefore, if a subject is presented as historic fact in the Gospel, it should not be shunned or scoffed at, but examined closely. “Standing fast”, the Prophet John records his own eyewitness acoount:
John 19:25-30:
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
The Prophet John SAW Jesus crucified. And John was close enough to hear Jesus last instructions.
So it begs the question: how could someone righteous, so highly esteemed…this Prophet Jesus…be sentenced to a murderers’ death? Could not Christians see the injustice of their “fairy tale”?
The answer can be found in Jesus’ own last three words: IT…IS…FINISHED.
What does this mean?
John shared the answer with the world. A man named Thomas would discover, too. In John chapter 20, verses 24 through 29, Jesus would return alive before His prophets, showing that He had been nailed, He had risen, and He had conquered death - for all mankind!
“But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
The Bible says, “The soul that sinneth, it shall DIE.” (Ezekiel 18:20)
The Bible also says, “Without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22)
The cross was vital to purchase life for all who would believe, by sacrificing perfection so that sinners might be declared innocent? Where in the Quran OR the Gospels does it record a single sin of Jesus (neither book does)…
Here, the love of God is made evident: because a perfect God cannot overlook our sins… and the doing of good works cannot erase our records of bad works (see our last article on “Heaven”)…a SUBSTITUTE - a perfect One - would be sacrificed to PURCHASE a CLEAN RECORD FOR US!
And for this, “shedding of blood” was 100% necessary…or we could not go free.
So tell me, seeker of truth: How much good work, how much fasting, how much praying will appease a perfect God? The answer is, even God’s messenger (may peace be upon him) could not answer:
“By Allah, although I am the Messenger of Allah, I know not what will happen to me, just like you.”
(The Authentic of Bukhari, vol.9, book 87, no. 145. Narrated by Kharija bin Zaid bin Thabit).
The Cross of Christ made it possible for a Holy, Perfect God…to be satisfied!
The only thing we must do…is confess our sins to Him, believe on His promise, and call to Him for salvation. Write to us on our blog below and rejoice with us!
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