IV.

Islamic objections to the death of Jesus the Messiah on the cross

I have met with only three major objections to the death of Jesus on the cross. The view of Jesus being crucified but not dying is not included because there is no real evidence for it. It is a classic example of arguments supported by theological prejudice, not historical evidence. The three major objections to be dealt with are:

1. First, is that their book, the Qur'an, denies it happened. Muslims believe since it was revealed it must be true regardless of other evidence, whether historical or logical. This is a theological reason for belief, not a historical one.
    
2. Second, Muslims seem to find it unthinkable that God would allow one of His holy prophets to suffer the shame of an undeserved public execution. This is also a theological reason, based on assumptions of the character of God and His treatment of prophets.
    
3. Third, and perhaps most important is this: if Jesus died on the cross and rose again, then the Christian doctrine of salvation only through Jesus' atoning death is upheld, which contradicts the Islamic view of salvation through repentance. If the Islamic view of salvation is to be upheld then Jesus' death on the cross cannot be believed. Again, this is a theological reason for objecting to the biblical account.

These three will be treated in turn.

A.  Someone else was crucified. 

This view is based on the Qur'an verses 157,158 of Surah 4:

"And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger -- They slew him not nor crucified, 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 unto Himself. Allah was ever Mighty, Wise." (Pickthall's trans.)

Muslims accept this verse as revelation. Their attitude is often, since Allah has revealed it to be this way then the other historical records are wrong. I understand this view, and I commend the attitude to accept what God reveals and believe it and obey it. But we should not be ashamed or afraid to allow our books to be scrutinized in light of history. The Bible claims to be revelation and claims to be based on historically verifiable events. As these events have been examined the historical records only confirm the Bible. The Qur’an, however claims to be revelation, and it claims to have been given in history, but it makes claims which go against historical documentation. The Qur’an makes a bold statement here concerning Jesus’ crucifixion but does not give a historically credible alternative. If one is to accept the Qur’an’s version of the event they must realize that the historical evidence supports the Bible rather than the Qur’an.

Also, this verse leads to some very difficult conclusions as to the behavior and character of God. If Allah did crucify another man in Jesus' place, that man having been made to look like Jesus, then God acted unjustly in at least four ways:

1. First, God acted unjustly toward the person crucified in that he was crucified for crimes he did not commit.
    
2. Second, God acted unjustly toward Jesus' own mother, His closest companions, and all the other disciples who had followed Jesus so loyally for years. They sincerely believed Jesus died on that cross. According to the Islamic view, Allah fooled them. Why? They had sincerely followed Jesus, many of them giving up property, homes, and families.
    
3. God acted unjustly toward Christians for six centuries until Muhammad recited Surah 4:157. God did not leave any credible evidence for those six centuries that Jesus did not die on the cross. And, with this verse from the Qur'an, Allah did not reveal any new historical evidence or proof to correct the centuries-old view of the Christians.
    
4. God has acted unjustly toward us, Christians and Muslims today, in that he has not left more credible historical evidence that Jesus did not die on the cross.

Also, and I don't say this lightly, this view makes God the author of perhaps the biggest lie in history. All of the world's population is eternally affected by who really died on that cross. This is the most important event in history as far as eternal salvation is concerned. By fooling everyone present at the event and not leaving credible historical evidence that Jesus did not die, the Muslim view makes God the an enormous liar. Surely that is not worthy of God.

The Islamic view of the crucifixion only has only the conflicting, insufficient evidence of the Gnostics for the historical support for its view. Not only is this evidence inadequate, it also contradicts the Islamic views of Jesus in that they often portray anti-Qur’anic views of Jesus. This is in addition to being anti-Biblical. A simple reading of any encyclopedia entry on "Gnosticism" will show the religion to be anti-Islamic as well as anti-Christian. Let me restate the historical evidence for the Islamic view again to show its inadequacy and its contradictions with Islam.

• Basilides the Gnostic, @AD 150, taught that, "at the crucifixion He [Jesus] changed form with Simon of Cyrene who had carried the cross. The Jews mistaking Simon for Jesus nailed him to the cross. Jesus stood by deriding their error before ascending to heaven." (8)
   
• This version conflicts with the earliest Gnostic views on Jesus’ death (those of Cerinthus) that said Jesus did die on the cross. Basilide’s view is also part of a Gnostic view of God and the cosmos that is anti-Qur’anic as well as anti-Biblical. Basilides also thought that Jesus’ body died and did not ascend to heaven. Also, the thought of Jesus deriding those who were trying to crucify him is contrary to the teaching and example of Jesus in both Islam and Christianity. It is an undignified and vengeful act.
   
• Mani of Persia, AD 200's, head of the Manichaen movement "taught that the son of the widow of Nain whom Jesus raised from the dead was put to death in his place." (9)
   
• Another Manichaen tradition has the devil himself being the victim of the crucifixion.(10) Manichaeism was actually not a Christian sect but a gnostic religion in its own right. Mani combined Christian teachings with many other religions. The greatest influences discernible in his system are Christianity, Gnosticism, and Zoroastrianism. Influences of Buddhism and Hinduism are also discernible. It’s teachings are anti-Qur’anic as well as anti-Christian and in the early years of Islam, Manichaeans were persecuted and driven out of Islamic realms.

Neither of these provides credible historical evidence that someone else was crucified instead of Jesus for the following reasons: (12)

• Both are contrary to the existing testimony of eyewitnesses of the event, friend and foe alike, who unanimously state Jesus was crucified. There is no eyewitness testimony or even first century testimony that someone other than Jesus died on the cross.
   
• These stories are all contrary to the earliest existing secular testimony of Jesus' death, whether Jewish, Roman, or Samaritan.
   
• These stories are inventions stemming from certain theological prejudices. They are motivated by heretical religious views that are abhorrent to Christian and Muslim alike. They are also highly improbable and they disagree among themselves. They also demand total ignorance on the part of those closest to Jesus as to what actually happened as well as those who watched the crucifixion itself. This would include Jesus' mother and the disciples, and also the Roman executioners, the Jewish leaders, and the great crowd that assembled to watch the crucifixion.
   
• They involve Jesus in a huge lie and cruelty contrary to His teaching and complete manner of life.

Conclusion: That someone else was crucified instead of Jesus cannot be supported historically. All credible evidence supports the view that Jesus was the one who died on the cross. Also, having someone else die on the cross involves God in lies and cruelty that are quite contrary to His justice and love.

B. Crucifixion is not fitting for a prophet of God

The second major argument I have encountered against Jesus’ crucifixion is not a historical argument but a theological one. It is the conviction that God would not allow one of His prophets to be humiliated or defeated. This assumes two things:

(1) it is contrary to God's character to allow His servants to suffer in this way, and

(2) it is contrary to God's plan or way of working to allow his servants to be put to death in a humiliating way.

Both of these assumptions are motivated by a conviction that God would never do such a thing; that it is beneath His honor and majesty. But first let me ask, who are we to tell God what He can and cannot do? Let us not presume to tell God how He should act. True, the thought of a holy prophet being so humiliated and tortured surprises and revolts our natural thoughts and feelings, and with good reason. A holy life should not be rewarded with injustice. It surprised and revolted the Jews and even Jesus' closest disciples, too. But, we should not let our feelings and thoughts get in the way if God is doing something greater than we can imagine. God says to us in Isaiah 55:8,9:

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."

We should accept what God reveals humbly, and seek to see how it matches His character and demonstrates His plan. We should look to see how it magnifies God and brings Him praise and honor.

That the cross doesn't violate the character of God or the plan of God may be demonstrated separately as follows:

1. God's character is not violated or degraded by such a death:

Jesus' death on the cross is presented in the Bible as the supreme demonstration of God's love to His creatures. In it, God takes initiative and draws near to His creatures to share their grief's and pain, and especially to bear the judicial guilt of their sins on Himself. This is an act of supreme love in that God reveals that no one may adequately pay for their sins' guilt except by an eternity in hell (Romans 6:23). God vindicates His own standard of justice in that He bears the guilt of everyone's sin. He then loves in offering complete forgiveness for sins to all who will believe in The Messiah's death for them.

1. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." ( John 3:16 NASB)
    
2. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23 NASB)
    
3. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23 NASB)

By the cross, God is showing us a love higher than our thoughts while maintaining the standards of His pure, holy, perfect, incredibly exacting justice. The cross also magnifies the sovereignty and power of God above our thoughts in that God is seen as predicting this event centuries before it happened, and then carrying it out with incredible precision, while allowing for the full exercise of evil men's schemes and actions.

"Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through him in your midst, just as you yourselves know-- this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. And God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power." (Acts 2:22-24 NASB)

God reveals in the Bible how great His love, justice, and mercy really are in showing that even He was willing to suffer for us to the greatest degree to show His love. And in doing it shows He is fully worthy of our trust, our devotion, our obedience, and our worship.

2. God's plan, or way of working is not compromised by the cross:

The Muslim objection in this regard is based on the notion that God does not allow His choice servants to suffer humiliation, but instead shows them to be strong and victorious. The Bible, however, records the stories of many prophets that suffered humiliation and rejection. Abel was killed by his brother Cain (Genesis 4). The Israelites insulted and rebelled against Moses, threatening to overthrow him (Numbers 16:1-3 is one example of many). Sampson was captured, maimed, and enslaved by his enemies (Judges 16). King Saul despised plotted against, and tried to kill David on many occasions (1 Samuel 18 for some examples). Jeremiah was constantly insulted and persecuted (the book of Jeremiah). John the Baptist was beheaded by a cruel, weak king (Matthew 14:1-12).

Even the Qur’an acknowledges that the Jews mistreated their prophets. Surah 5:73 says,

 "We took the Covenant of the Children of Israel and sent them apostles. Every time there came to them an apostle with what they themselves desired not--some (of these) they called imposters and some they (go so far as to) slay." (A. Yusuf Ali translation)

In all of the Biblical accounts, God had the final victory over His opponents but He often had His servants endure great hardship and humiliation before they were vindicated. The same is true with Jesus and in an even greater way than any of the previous prophets. Not only did He suffer the most humiliating rejection and death, He experienced incredible vindication in His resurrection from the dead. And He will experience complete vindication when He comes again!

"And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:8-11 NASB)

C. If the Islamic view of salvation is to be upheld then Jesus' death on the cross cannot be believed.

Concerning this third reason, I can say this. The Old Testament and the New Testament are in agreement that God in His holiness, that is His uncompromising moral purity, must punish sin with death. Second, God has revealed in both the Old and New testaments that sin, conscious and unconscious, intentional and unintentional, can only be forgiven through the required atoning sacrifice. Third, God's love is the motive that moved Him to plan and carry out the only sufficient sacrifice for the whole of mankind's sin.

These verses reveal God's uncompromising moral purity:

• "Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil, and Thou canst not look on wickedness with favor." (Habakkuk 1:13 - One of the Jewish prophets, NASB)
   
• "The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,And the one who loves violence His soul hates.Upon the wicked He will rain snares; Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.For the Lord is righteous; He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face." (Psalm 11:4-7 NASB)
   
• "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23 NASB)
   
• "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your behavior; because it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy (Leviticus 11:44).'" (1 Peter 1:14-16 NASB)
   
• "And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5 NASB)

These verses reveal the necessity of an atoning sacrifice for our sins and that Jesus is the ultimate, complete sacrifice for mankind's sin:

• "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement....For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life." (Leviticus 17:11-14 NASB)

Note: The entire book of Leviticus in the Torah of Moses is about the necessity of blood sacrifices for covering sin. Chapter 4 in Leviticus gives the sacrifices for unintentional sins. Chapter 6 gives them for intentional sins.

• "By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all. And every priest (Jewish) stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God." (Hebrews 10:10-12 NASB)
   
• "And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him." (Hebrews 9:27-28 NASB)
   
• "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45 NASB)
   
•  "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10 NASB)

These verses reveal God's heart of love: (Note: The word for love here is the Greek word "agape." This denotes a love that is greater than romantic love or love for family and friends. It is used in the New Testament of love that loves in spite of resistance, rejection, or injury. It even embraces enemies. It is not based on impulse or feeling but on a choice of the will to love. Where it is used of God in the Bible it is the deep, constant love of a perfect, infinite Person towards entirely unworthy, unlovely, people.)

• "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NASB)
   
• "And when they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, 'Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.'" (Luke 23:33,34 NASB)
   
• "This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 John 4:10 NASB)
   
• "And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ." (1 Peter 1:17-19) NASB

The Old Testament and the New Testament are in agreement on these fundamental truths. The Qur'an disagrees on these issues and instead presents a view that is in complete opposition. The Qur'an's view does not have the supporting evidence of any existing previous revelations or even historical evidence to under gird its claims to be the final truth given to mankind.