Chapter 3: The Error That Jesus (pbuh) as Crucified

Various Contradictions in the Four Gospels About the Idea of the Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) Supposed Crucifixion

After it was modified, Christian faith is now based on the belief that the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was crucified and killed on the cross and that he was then resurrected. However this information does not reflect the truth. As revealed in the Koran in detail, Jesus was not crucified, and was therefore not killed. On the contrary, he was raised to the heavens while still alive and taken into the Sight of God to be sent back to Earth again in the End Times. The reason for the Christian community defending the belief that Jesus was crucified lies in some contradictory explanations written in some chapters in the Gospel. However, the statements written in the chapters in question are, as we have stated before, contradictory ones, which were added to the Gospel after Jesus (pbuh), in the 3rd Century.

The four Gospels contain differences regarding the supposed crucifixion of Jesus and what happened immediately before and after. Let us look at these contradictory accounts in the Gospels:

Contradictory Statements in the Gospels About Jesus' (pbuh) Supposed Crucifixion

Who carried the cross?

There are statements in Mark 15:21, Matthew 27:32 and Luke 23:26 that the cross was carried by Simon of Cyrene:

The Gospel of John states that Jesus (pbuh) carried the cross himself:

The crucified thieves:

Sections of Mark 15:27-28, Matthew 27:44 and Luke 23:39-42 say that Jesus was supposedly crucified along with two thieves. The inconsistency here is that the Romans never crucified thieves; historically, the punishment of crucifixion was reserved for those in rebellion to the Roman Empire.

Contradictory information about the time of Jesus' (pbuh) supposed crucifixion:

In the relevant passages from Mark 15:25, Matthew 27:45-46, Luke 23:44-46 and John 19:14-15 the time of Jesus' (pbuh) supposed crucifixion differs from one another.

The so-called last words of Jesus (pbuh):

There is also contradictory information in the four Gospels about the last words of Jesus (pbuh) during his supposed crucifixion. Mark 15:34-37 and Matthew 27:46-50 say that Jesus (pbuh) called out:

In the Gospel of Luke, the supposed last words of Jesus (pbuh) are cited differently:

In the Gospel of John, the statements on this subject are completely different:

The earthquake during the supposed burial of Jesus (pbuh):

This account comes from the Gospel of Matthew:

In the Gospels of Mark, Luke and John, there are several descriptions of the supposed burial of Jesus (pbuh). However, no mention is made of an earthquake, which is impossible to have been forgotten if such an earthquake had ever occurred.

Events that took place following the supposed burial of Jesus (pbuh):

Events alleged to have taken place following the supposed burial of Jesus (pbuh) are described differently in the four Gospels:

The competent authorities to which Jesus (pbuh) was supposedly taken are described differently:

He [Jesus] said, 'I am the servant of God, He has given me the Book and made me a Prophet'. (Koran, 19:30)

In the Gospels of Mark 14:53, Matthew 26:57 and Luke 22:54, the competent authority to which Jesus was taken is described as Caiaphas, the high priest. But in the Gospel of John it is Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas.

Jesus (pbuh) supposedly standing trial over accusations:

In the four Gospels, all of the descriptions of the supposed trial of Jesus contradict one another.

According to the Gospel of John, only the high priest interrogates Jesus:

According to the Gospels of Mark, Luke and Matthew, Jesus is tried by the whole of the High Council:

Jesus' (pbuh) so-called interrogation by Herod:

The Gospel of Luke says that Jesus was interrogated by Herod:

In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and John, the supposed interrogation of Jesus by Herod is not mentioned.

The contradictions in question are open evidences that those accounts told about the supposed crucifixion of Jesus are based on completely false information and the descriptions of that moment and environment contradict one another. If Christians point to the Gospels as evidence that Jesus was killed, then they need to see that they cannot arrive at definitive and clear information from the four different versions of the canonical gospels. In order to see the truth they need to look at the Koran, which God says that He sent to confirm the Gospel. Almighty God reveals in the Koran that Jesus was not crucified, that he was definitely not killed, but that He created an environment that made unbelievers believe that it happened in that way. Our Lord reveals in the Koran that these claims about Jesus are invalid; the traps set by hypocrites and unbelievers for Jesus came to nothing, and Jesus was taken up into God's Sight. When the contradictions in the Gospel passages in question are analyzed in the light of the Koranic verses, the uncertainty between the four Gospels is immediately clarified: Jesus did not die, but a special image was shown to make people think he had been crucified.

Jesus (pbuh) Did Not Die, But Was Raised Into God's Sight

In the Koran God provides accurate information about the crucifixion of Jesus, which is described in the Gospel in a contradictory and doubtful manner. In the Koran, God makes it clear that plots against Jesus were thwarted and that they certainly did not kill him:

In the Koran, the fact that Jesus was not killed is stressed twice in the same verse. It says that those who advocate the belief that Jesus was killed have "no real knowledge of it, just conjecture." This is a very clear statement and one that cannot possibly be interpreted in any other way.

Someone resembling Jesus (pbuh) was crucified:

In the same verse in the Koran God reveals, "They did not kill him and they did not crucify him but it was made to seem so to them." (Koran, 4:157), and informs us that the person who was crucified was another person who resembled Jesus.

The individual who was crucified instead of Jesus was Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. As a great miracle, God made Judas Iscariot resemble Jesus. When they came to take Jesus to crucify him, they took Judas Iscariot, who was present there, instead and crucified him. Besides, since Judas Iscariot's face was covered with blood, people did not realize that it was not Jesus who was crucified. In the latter part of the verse 157 of the 4th surah, God relates, "They have no real knowledge of it, just conjecture." Those who set the trap and those around just went along with their own misapprehensions, and as set out in the verse, they have no other knowledge of it.

Indeed, in the Gospel, the last words of Jesus are given as "Elohi, Elohi, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?" This is a continuation of the same delusion and the expression of weakness of faith in question belongs to Judas Iscariot, whose plot was thwarted and who was crucified instead of Jesus. Indeed, it is obvious that Jesus, who was a servant of God, who wholeheartedly submitted to God and loved Him and who knew that everything comes from Him, could not have spoken these words. But one would expect such rebellious statements to come from the mouth of a hypocrite such as Judas Iscariot.

The disappearance of Judas Iscariot according to the Gospels:

Parallel to what is revealed in the verses of the Koran and also supported by various sources, there are passages in the Gospels that may provide evidence that Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus (pbuh), was crucified instead of him. According to these passages we need to notice that just after the crucifixion, Judas Iscariot disappeared. The authors of the Gospels tried to explain this away in various ways and contradicted one another because they did not know that Judas Iscariot had been crucified instead of Jesus. The contradictory explanations regarding the disappearance of Iscariot in the Gospels read as follows:

Despite the fact that some descriptions in the Gospel contradict one another, there is consensus on the certain disappearance of Judas Iscariot just after the crucifixion. Judas Iscariot disappeared, because the person who was crucified and killed was Judas Iscariot. Judas Iscariot, who normally looked like Jesus in the physical sense, was made to appear even more like Jesus as a miracle of God. The soldiers were duly mistaken and took him to the crucifix instead of Jesus. Just before this incident, by God's command, Jesus was taken up to the heavens by angels, into the Sight of God. For that reason, the officials who came to the room at the crucifixion of Jesus found only Judas Iscariot there.

In the Koran, God says that the plot against Jesus (pbuh) was "thwarted"

It is a known fact that under the leadership of Judas Iscariot, a hypocrite, unbelievers plotted against Jesus. The purpose of this plot was to kill Jesus. However, in the Koran God informs us that the plot against Jesus was thwarted. If Jesus had, in one way, died, this would mean the unbelievers' plot had worked, and this is impossible, because the promise of God is always fulfilled. That plot to kill Jesus was thwarted. Jesus did not die and was not murdered. God informs us of this as follows in the Koran:

If the plots of the unbelievers had succeeded, this would surely be related in the Koran. On the contrary, we know from the Koran that the plots against Jesus came to nothing and that he was raised into the Sight of God.

It is a great blessing for sincere believers that the sly plot against Jesus (pbuh) was thwarted:

Despite very clear evidence, those who insist on the claim that Jesus was killed should think wisely and re-read the Koran with an open mind and keep their minds free of any prejudices. Jesus did not die; he was honorably raised to the heavens. For a sincere Christian, it is pointless to insist on the claim that he was killed. For a Christian, it is a blessing to know and believe that Jesus did not die, that he was saved from the plots of unbelievers and that he is in our Lord's Sight. Christians who maintain this are unwilling to forego one of the basic beliefs of Christianity, that Jesus died to redeem Christians' sins. Yet there are various errors on this subject. This will be examined shortly.

Some Christians claim that Muslims object to the belief that Jesus died because they think it is unbecoming for a prophet to suffer. But the reason why Muslims believe as they do is simply because it is so stated in the Koran. The key point that deserves mention here is the following:

Surely God has tested prophets with various afflictions, hardships and trials. As required by the test in this world, He sometimes granted a temporary triumph to unbelievers. But He never let His prophets appear weak in the eyes of unbelievers. This also holds true for Jesus. Believing that Jesus did not die is also good for Christians. Indeed, in the End Times when he will be sent back to Earth, Christians will see that he has no scars on his palms or feet. In this age in which we are living, Jesus will come back to Earth with the clothes and belongings he had on 2,000 years ago, and money dating back 2,000 years. These great evidences will make Christians better convinced, by God's leave.

The Christian belief that their sins can be redeemed through the blood of Jesus (pbuh) is a huge error

The belief that Jesus died in order to expiate the sins of all Christians and that death lies at the remission of sins is a grossly mistaken one. In order to see the error in this belief, our Christian brothers need to reconsider God's justice and the purpose behind creation by using their minds and consciences, and to bear in mind the following points:

* The idea that people are born in a state of sin is a violation of God's infinite justice:

Everyone comes to this world to be tested. A person has a responsibility to spend every rational second serving God and living for His approval in the very limited amount of time bestowed on him. God says in one verse of the Koran:

Therefore, a person whom God created from nothing is tested from the moment he enters this world and will be held to account for all he does in it. People's sin or merit is based on the actions they perform in this world. It is impossible, under the law of God, for a baby, unaware even of its own existence, who has not begun to be tested and who has only just opened his eyes on the world, to be in a state of sin.

* It is a violation of the infinite justice of God for a person to assume the sins of another and to suffer for them:

It is impossible in the system of testing created by God for anyone to redeem the sins of anyone else, even if that person is Jesus. Everyone who exists or has ever existed in the world is responsible only for himself. Neither his parents nor his relatives nor the Prophet can assume responsibility for his sins. Nobody will be held responsible for the deeds of anyone else. Nobody can redeem anyone else. When the moment of death comes, every individual, Christians included, will give account, all alone and in the Presence of God for what they did in this world. God has revealed this to us in the Koran:

Almighty God has also revealed in the Koran that nobody will be able to assume the sins of another:

Giuseppe Molteni's picture La Confession, 1838 (Fondazione Cariplo) The belief that the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) died to expiate the sins of all Christians is a grave error. It is incompatible with God's justice for a person to assume the sins of another and then to be punished for them. A person is born without sin, but he only is responsible for the errors he makes throughout his life. There is always room for repentance and seeking the mercy of God in this world, of course.

Jesus is God's beloved servant and prophet. Just as there are sincere individuals in all societies and faiths, there are sincere Christians, and there are also ill-intentioned ones. Therefore, it is a terrible violation of good conscience to maintain that God took the soul of a holy servant beloved of Him because of the irresponsible behavior, sins and excesses of some of those who came after him; it is a failure to properly appreciate God. It is a matter of great urgency for our sincere Christian brothers to realize the major error here.

Jesus (pbuh) did not die

Another important point that completely rebuffs the idea in question, as we have seen in detail above, is the fact that Jesus did not die. Jesus was raised into the Presence of God. He is alive in body and spirit and was protected and taken into the heavens in a state of sleep. By itself this fact totally rebuffs the claim that "Jesus died as a redeemer of sins."

Those who fail to properly avoid sin by incorrectly imagining that Jesus' death will redeem their sins, who are flexible when it comes to what God has made unlawful, or who do not regard abiding by the obligations imposed by the religion of which they are a member as a matter of importance are making a grave error. Like everyone else, their every deed is written down. And everything they do will be held before them in the hereafter.

Sins are cleansed by repentance and regret, not by death

It is Almighty God Who creates people in this world, determines a destiny for them and also creates the environment of the test. Of course, God is He Who best knows His servants. He has created events and instruments by which they will be tested in this world.

Human beings, on the other hand, are created weak and ignorant. They can easily fall into error, make mistakes, forget the truth despite knowing it very well or unwittingly make a mistake despite having a great fear of God because people are tested in this world. Learning from their mistakes, seeing their weaknesses, repenting of their sins and intending never to repeat them are means whereby a person of good conscience draws closer to God.

This is part of the environment of the test our Lord creates in this world. In creating such a system in the world, Almighty God tells His servants that He is the "Ever-Pardoning, Ever-Forgiving" and opens the doors of repentance to them. God is the most merciful of the merciful. When a person makes a mistake, deliberately or otherwise, when he commits a sin, great or small, he has the privilege of repenting to God and begging His forgiveness.

To claim that death is the repayment for all sins is to fail to grasp and appreciate God's attribute of being very compassionate, merciful and accepting repentance. This claim is in total conflict with the purpose of human beings' existence in this world. Such a claim is also a violation of God's justice and nature of the test. If death were the reward for everyone's sins, and if Almighty God did not forgive people out of His own goodness, then God reveals that the whole world would be devastated:

God also reveals in the Koran that human beings have been given great favor because of His sublime mercy and acceptance of repentance:

The fact that God accepts repentance and forgives sinners is also revealed in the Gospel. It is of the greatest importance for our Christian brothers to consider these true and accurate statements in the Gospel:

To claim that death is the reward for all sins, and that this is His law, when God bestows the blessing of forgiveness on us, opens the doors of repentance and reveals that He is forgiving, loving and accepts repentance may turn out to be a most grave responsibility. In addition, this completely violates God's title of the Forgiver, He Who accepts repentance, in the Gospel. It is very important for genuine Christians to reflect on why this belief has been added on to Christianity and to make the appropriate decision by the use of their conscience.

It Is a Major Inconsistency for Christianity to Claim To Be a Religion of Love and Also to Espouse the Idea That Sin Is Cleansed with Death

All Christians maintain that Christianity is a religion of love and act in the name of love. It is of course true that Christianity is a true religion sent down by God, and that applies to all the other Divine faiths. Almighty God wants love from His servants, and true love is only possible through genuinely loving God – scrupulously abiding by all our Lord's commandments and prohibitions.

But this fact conflicts with the mistaken belief held by some Christians that death redeems sins. God is He Who loves His servants and wants to forgive them. God reveals in the Koran that:

The fact that our Lord is loving and forgiving is revealed as follows in the Gospel:

It is very important that our Christian brothers should fully understand these sublime attributes of Almighty God, Who loves His servants, protects and watches over them, feels affection for them and forgives and pardons them. That is because only people who can properly comprehend the titles of God can see what a grave danger the error in question poses.

Christians Are Responsible for Their Every Deed, at Every Moment of Their Lives, and They Will All Be Called to Account in the Presence of God

Like everyone who has ever lived, is living now or will ever live in the future, Christians will also be called to account for their actions. None of their sins have been redeemed. Just like everyone else, all Christians are responsible individually for their actions and will be repaid for all their sins and good deeds on the Day of Reckoning. Nobody will be able to say, in the Presence of God, "My sins have been paid for already, and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus (pbuh)." Nobody in the Presence of God will be able to claim he is free of sin, and nobody will attain salvation only by saying, "I had faith." On the Day of Reckoning, a book in which all his deeds are written will be placed before every individual, and all he did will be laid open.

No matter how much some Christians think that their sins have already been expiated, and no matter how much they seek to avoid their responsibilities before God, they will be unable to avoid the Day of Reckoning. The false belief they espouse in this world is invalid in the Sight of God. It is therefore of the greatest importance for devout Christians to be warned on this subject and see the truth. This is essential for their happiness and positions in the hereafter.

Indications from the Koran that Bestow a Special Status on Jesus (pbuh)

We must not forget that information or statements about Jesus in the Koran are not revealed in the context of the other prophets.

•     The word tawaffa (taking away of the soul) is not used for the death of any other prophet.

•     No other prophet is described as having been taught the books of the three revealed faiths as set out in the words "... I taught you the Book and Wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel..." (Koran, 5:110).

•     No prophet is described as "He is a Sign of the Hour."(Koran, 43: 61)

•     No prophet is described as having ascended in the way that Jesus ascended into the skies.

•     Of no other prophet are we told that "I will place the people who follow you above those who are unbelievers until the Day of Resurrection." (Koran, 3: 55)

•     Of no prophet is it revealed that "There is not one of the People of the Book who will not believe in him before he dies." (Koran, 4:159)

These are all evidence that God appointed Jesus a special destiny, in line with which Jesus is alive in the Presence of God and will return to Earth again.

The Prophet Jesus (pbuh) did not die. He is at this moment in the Presence of God. It is revealed that this blessed prophet will return to Earth in these times, the End Times, and he has been sent. He is living on Earth now and awaiting the time to appear. The time when all believers will embrace Jesus with love is close at hand. All these explanatory statements are directed toward our Christian brothers so they can prepare for this excellent time. Those Christian brothers and sisters who read this book must bear this very important fact in mind.