One of my favourite topics
that I enjoy exploring with Muslim friends is a fascinating proverb by the wise
man Solomon (Sulaiman Hakim). In fact, wisdom is one of the traits for which he
is most admired by Muslims and Christians. A couple wise sayings of his from
Scripture read as follows;
There is a season for
everything, a time to be born and a time to die. God has made everything
beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, yet
even so, people cannot see the whole scope of what God has done from beginning
to end. ... A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume and the day
you die is better that the day you are born. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2,11; 7:1)
Solomon noted that humans
long for eternal life but there's a problem. “People cannot see the whole scope
of what God has done from beginning to end.” So what does this phrase mean,
“beginning to end?” No doubt it encompasses all of history, but more
particularly, it applies to the life span of individual people. No one knows
the number of our days, that is, how long each of us will live, except God.
Consider also, “Is anyone capable of seeing what their destiny is beyond the
grave?” Can anyone boast that they know for certain they will end up in
paradise? The reason people are unsure is obvious: “Not a single person on
earth is always good and never sins.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20) The Hadith confirms
this, saying that “every son of Adam is a sinner.”
The anxious uncertainty
humans feel about the hereafter, coupled with our instinctive fear of death,
often drives us to offer some kind of payment, as if God might accept our
currency. But the psalmist says that such attempts are futile. Godless people
“boast of great riches but they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a
ransom to God. Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay
enough to live forever and never see the grave... But as for me, God will
redeem my life … from the power of the grave.” (Psalm 49:6-9,15)
Likewise the Qur'an teaches
that wrongdoers “will have no protector or intercessor other than God. Even if
they were to offer every 'possible' ransom none will be accepted from them.”
(Surah 6:70, The Clear Qur'an)
On one occasion Muhammad's
companions asked him about the hereafter. He freely admitted, “I know not what
will be done with me or with you.” (Surah 49:6) This outlook contrasts starkly
with Jesus Christ, who was totally confident that he was going to paradise. We
read in the Injil, Luke 23:41-43 that Jesus spoke with a thief who was
crucified next to him. This criminal humbled himself admitting that he deserved
to die, but he added: “this man [Jesus] hasn't done anything wrong.” Then he
said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied,
“I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” What a stark contrast!
Muhammad gave his followers no assurance that they would go to paradise, but
Jesus confidently told a repentant thief, “today you will be with me in
paradise.”
How could Jesus Christ say
this? Think carefully of various occasions where Jesus said, “Son, your sins
are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5; Luke 7:48-50) Consider also how he taught in John
8:51-53 that “anyone who obeys my teaching will never die.” The Jews who heard
him replied, “Even Abraham and the prophets died … Are you greater than our
father Abraham? … Who do you think you are?” (compare, John 5:24; 11:21-27)
If you look carefully at the
latter two passages where Jesus tells his followers that they will “not die,”
you see that they also speak of Jesus promising eternal life to his disciples.
In fact, on one occasion Christ acknowledged that God his Father, “granted him
authority over all people that he might give eternal life. ... Now this is
eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you
have sent.” (John 17:3) Did any other prophets ever make such claims? When we
consider these sayings of Jesus, it makes sense that he would say to the
repentant thief, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke
23:41-43)
If you carefully consider
what the early prophets foretold about God destroying death, you realize that
the Messiah's unusual teaching about “not dying” is not so strange or
unexpected. For example, look at Isaiah 25:6-9 where the prophet Isaiah
foretold God will swallow up death forever. Notice how those witnessing this
astonishing event will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and
he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us
rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” (NIV)
I encourage you to pay
special attention to the words save and salvation, bearing
in mind that throughout the Old Testament God declares he is worthy to be
worshiped because he alone saves from death. (Exodus 18-8-11;
Daniel 3:28-29; Psalm 68:19-20; Isaiah 45:21-24) The prophet Jonah (Yunus) also
testified, “Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God's mercies.
But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, … for my salvation comes
from the LORD alone.” (Jonah 2:9-10) And it is very clear in both the Bible
(and the Qur'an) that Jonah was saved from certain death by
God!
Scripture repeatedly
foretells that God would send his servant the Messiah to “bring his salvation.”
(Isaiah 49:6) Was it coincidental that the angel instructed Mary to name her
virgin born son, Jesus? Of course not! God chose the name Jesus purposely. It
means, God is salvation. Furthermore, throughout the Gospel (Injil)
Jesus repeatedly demonstrated the meaning of this name. (see for example, Luke
19:1-10; Luke 7:48-50) Muslim scholar, Muhammad I. A. Usman, acknowledged in
his book, Islamic Names, that the name “Jesus is the equivalent of
Yeshua in Hebrew which means 'God is salvation'.” (p. 77, revised
edition, bold font added)
Whereas Solomon observed
humans have a heartfelt longing for eternity no other prophet claimed to be
able to satisfy that longing except Jesus Christ. Having abolished and
triumphed over death by rising from the dead, Jesus declared that he holds the
key to the grave. Jesus the Messiah was the only person who lived a sinless
life. Did God give any other priest or prophet the authority to forgive
sinners, even promising them eternal life?
We conclude by reading two
Scriptures: “When I saw him [Jesus], I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But
he laid his right hand on me and said, Don't be afraid! I am the First
and the Last. I am the living one. I died but look I am alive for ever and
ever. And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” (Revelation
1:17-18) “And now God has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of
Christ Jesus, our Saviour. He broke the power of death and
illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.” (2 Timothy
1:10, bold font added)
A more detailed examination
of eternal life and salvation is available online.
All Bible quotations are
taken from the New Living Translation unless indicated otherwise.
If you wish to write me or
ask questions please contact me here.
Source: https://www.answering-islam.org/authors/clarke/solomon_jesus.html
IHS
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