Rebuttal to Walid's book's "On the Coming and Death of Christ" section:
He wrote:
Read the following samples in your Bible to understand some of these prophecies:
It is astonishing when we examine only the following 8 prophecies concerning Jesus Christ.
The First Prediction: (Birth in Bethlehem)
_Old Testament Prophecy: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be ruler in Israel, whose going forth have been from of old from everlasting." (Micah 5:2).
_New Testament Fulfillment: "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold wise men from the east came to Jerusalem" (Matthew 2:1).
The Second Prediction: (preceded by a messenger)
_Old Testament Prediction: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: `Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God;'" (Isaiah 40:3).
_The New Testament Fulfillment: "In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!;" (Matthew 3:1,2).
The Third Prediction: (He would enter Jerusalem on a colt)
_The Old Testament Prediction: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey" (Zechariah 9:9).
_The New Testament Fulfillment: "Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own garments on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. And as he went, they spread their clothes on the road" (Luke 19:35-36).
The Fourth Prediction: (He would be betrayed by a friend)
_The Old Testament Prediction: "Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me" (Psalm 41:9).
_The New Testament Fulfillment: "And while He was still speaking, behold Judas, one of the twelve, with great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a sign saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him; " (Matthew 26:47,48).
The Fifth Prediction: (His hand and feet pierced)
The Old Testament Prediction: "For dogs have surrounded Me; The assembly of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet." (Psalm 22:16).
_The New Testament Fulfillment: "And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left." (Luke 23:33).
The Sixth Prediction: (Be wounded by His enemies)
_The Old Testament Prediction: "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities" (Isaiah 53:5).
_The New Testament Fulfillment: "Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered [Him] to be crucified" (Matthew 27:26).
The Seventh Prediction: (His betrayal for 30 pieces of silver)
_The Old Testament Prediction: "Then I said to them, `If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain.' So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver'" (Zechariah 11:12).
_The New Testament Fulfillment: "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you? And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver" (Matthew 26:15). Note: This was predicted 500 years in advance when silver was not used for money but gold.
The Eighth Prediction: (He will be spat on and beaten)
_The Old Testament Prediction: "I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting" (Isaiah 50:6).
_The New Testament Fulfillment: "Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palm of their hands" (Matthew 26:67).
_Other prophecies like these we can quote like:
Silent in front of accusers, prophecy in Isaiah 53:7; fulfilled in Matthew 27:12-14.
Crucified with thieves, prophecy in Isaiah 53:12; fulfilled in Matthew 27:38.
People gamble with His garments, prophecy in Psalm 22:18; fulfilled in John 19:23, 24.
His side would be pierced, prophesied in Zechariah 12:10; fulfilled in John 19:34.
None of His bones would be broken, prophesied in Psalm 34:20; fulfilled in John 19:33.
His body would not decay, prophecy in Psalm 16:10; fulfilled in Acts 2:31.
His burial in a rich man's tomb, prophecy in Isaiah 53:9; fulfilled in Matthew 27:57-60.
The darkness covering the earth, prophecy Amos 8:9, fulfilled in Matthew 27:45. For more on this read the Historical Evidence section.
Note: There are 456 prophecies fulfilled in Jesus alone written in the Bible.
My response:
While the Bible is full of Great Prophecies about Jesus peace be upon him, but unfortunately, this is where they fall into error. We Muslims don't believe that the Bible is all false. As I said above, the Bible does have lots of Truth in it. We also believe in the Prophecies about Jesus peace be upon him in the Old Testament. What we don't believe in are two things:
1- GOD Almighty was Jesus. Please visit: Answering Trinity - A proof from the Bible that Jesus was not the Creator of the Universe.
The "God" title was given to others before and after Jesus in the Bible. Answering Isaiah 9:6.
2- Jesus died for people's sins on the cross:
From www.answering-christianity.com/isaiah_53.htm:
Important Note: Both Muslims and Christians believe that the grave of Jesus today is empty. It doesn't have his body in it, because both believe that he was raised to Heaven. The difference between Muslims and Christians in this issue is that Muslims believe that Jesus never died on the cross but was raised to GOD Almighty. Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross and was RESURRECTED to GOD Almighty. This is, however, not supported at all and was never foretold in the Old Testament. I elaborated more and provided more evidence from both the Bible and the Noble Quran that support Islam's claim regarding this issue down in this article.
Please visit the article Contradictions in the resurrection story in the Bible.
In Isaiah 53, all it says is that he will get pierced which again it never mentioned the cross nor did it ever mention any sort of resurrection, not just in this chapter, but also throughout the Old Testament. If this servant is indeed Jesus peace be upon him, then him being pierced and never dying seems to perfectly support the Islamic teaching about Prophet Jesus peace be upon him NEVER died on the cross for anyone's sins.
Also notice that Isaiah 53:11 clearly states that "he will see the light". What is that light? Could it be the light of Heaven? Probably be raised to Heaven? Christians do believe that Jesus peace be upon him was indeed raised to Heaven, and so do Muslims too. However, we see no mention throughout the ENTIRE Old Testament including obviously Isaiah 53 any mention of resurrection, nor any mention for resurrection on the 3rd day or any day. So does this mean that the servant will get pierced (by being put on the cross perhaps) and then get raised without dying?
Let us look at the following Noble Verse from the Noble Quran (The Muslims Holy Scripture): "That they rejected Faith; That they uttered against Mary A grave false charge; That they said (in boast): 'We killed Christ Jesus The son of Mary, The Messenger of Allah.' But they killed him not, Nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjunction to follow, for of a surety they killed him not. Nay, Allah raised him up Unto Himself; and Allah Is Exalted in Power, Wise. And there is none of the people of the book (Jews and Christians) But must believe in him (Jesus) Before his death; And on the Day of Judgment He (Jesus) will be a witness Against them. (The Noble Quran, 4:156-159)"
Now compare the Noble Verses to Isaiah 52:13 "...he will be raised and lifted up....". Notice that Isaiah 52:13 did not say "....he will be RESURRECTED and lifted up...." Not even once, did the Old Testament predict for the foretold Servant (Jesus) to be raised to GOD Almighty after death. There absolutely no mention of any sort of resurrection in the Bible's Old Testament what so ever.
Also, "...he will be raised and lifted up...." seems to suggest that Jesus will be picked up right from the cross, or saved right from the cross by Allah Almighty. "raised and lifted" seems to suggest that Jesus will not die, nor get crucified, but rather be raised and lifted by GOD Almighty to Heavens.
It just seems odd to see both words "raised" and
"lifted", and not just one of them, in Isaiah 52:13, and yet think that they
agree with the fabricated crucifixion story about Jesus in the NT.
Why did GOD Almighty choose to say "raised" and "lifted" in Isaiah 52:13?
The very next verse also refutes the current New Testament:
It appears that Isaiah 52:14 "Just as there were many who were appalled at him - his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness-" further proves Islam's claims about Jesus peace be upon him never got crucified on the cross, because if Jesus was so badly disfigured beyond any human imagination, then this means his physical appearance (face and body) afterwards might have been very confusing to the people. In other words, people might not be able to recognize him, HENCE, THIS MIGHT CAUSE FOR ANOTHER PERSON TO HAVE BEEN PUT ON THE CROSS INSTEAD OF HIM (JESUS).
According to what we have in the New Testament, Jesus was never
"disfigured.....beyond human likeness"! Jesus in the New Testament of
today was NEVER DISFIGURED!
And certainly, the crucifixion does not cause for the person, NOR DID IT CAUSE FOR JESUS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, to be disfigured beyond any human recognition!
According to Islam, Jesus peace be upon him might have been put on the cross and might
have got "pierced", but he never died.
According to Islam, he was raised to Allah Almighty and saved from death. We
Muslims believe that Prophet Jesus peace be upon him will come back again to earth and fight the army of Satan and defeat it, and
then the Judgment Day will come. According to Islam, every person (including Jesus)
must taste death (The Noble Quran, 44:56).
Which ever possibility is correct, whether it was another person got crucified, or Jesus himself was put on the cross and never got crucified, the claim of Islam is still supported by the Bible in either case as we clearly saw above in both Isaiah 52:13 and 52:14.
Please visit the article Did Jesus get crucified according to Islam?
The point is that Chapter Isaiah 53 agrees a lot more with Islam's claims than with the current Christianity's claims, and it is confirmed in Isaiah 52:13.
There are several other Noble Verses in the Noble Quran that talk about Jesus such as the following:
"So peace is upon me [Jesus] the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life. (The Noble Quran, 19:33)"
To see detailed explanation of this Noble Verse and about Jesus peace be upon him in Islam, please visit the following links:
Does the Noble Quran in Verse 19:33 confirm Jesus' crucifixion?
Ask me any question section. See responses to many questions about Jesus in Islam.
Please visit: Did Isaiah 53
really prophesies about the crucifixion of Jesus? It supports Islam's claims
about Jesus peace be upon him never died on the cross. I also addressed John
19:36-37 from the Bible and proved that Jesus never got crucified, since GOD Almighty
promised that he will protect Jesus' body and not let even a single bone be broken.
My question to all Christians is: How in the world is it possible
for the feet to get nailed on the cross without any penetration to the bones by the nails,
hence breaking part of the feet's bones?! I also added
refutations to Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12, Zechariah 12:10
and Psalm 34:20, which supposedly prove the Christians' belief about Jesus
crucifixion. I proved that this dogma has no truth what so ever and exposed the
wrong Trinitarian English translation of Zechariah 12:10. I also showed in Isaiah 52:13 "...he will be raised and lifted up....", which clearly and perfectly agrees with Islam about Jesus never died on
the cross. "Raised and lifted" suggests that Jesus will be picked
up right from the cross, or saved right from the cross by Allah Almighty. It
suggests that Jesus will not die, nor get crucified, but rather be raised and
lifted by GOD Almighty to Heavens.
Back to my rebuttal to Walid's "Dear Muslim, Let Me Tell You Why I Believed" Book.