Islam’s proof that Jesus did not die on the Cross

Most religions that are non-Christian do accept the fact that if the Bible writes that Christ died on the cross, he actually did. There are a few with very apparent reasons that want to change this. Bahai’s spiritualize the meaning and in so doing change the facts. Islam denies the account so absolutely that they just chalk the whole story up to corruption and reinvent it. Ignoring the fact that these accounts are written by eyewitnesses of not only his death, but many more of his resurrection. Some of who would be classified as hostile witnesses.

Muslim Claim – They took another in his place. Everyone knew this was Jesus he was on trial in front of the Jews when they cried out to crucify him! He was then taken to be given 39 lashes (40 –1 as mercy). When the centurion in charge determined that the prisoner is near death, the beating is finally stopped, then they are taken to crucifixion. Most did not survive the whipping. Jesus if alive, would never have allowed another to take his place when it was his mission to take ours. Only he could die in the place of sinful man. What the Muslims are saying is that this is a sham, he purposely deceived the Romans, his brethren, as well as us today. Hardly a tenable position to hold for a man called upright and sinless even in the Koran.

Muslim Claim- They broke the legs of the other two who were crucified with him, but did not do so to Jesus, because he looked as if he was dead, so instead of going through all the trouble he pierced him with a spear, and blood gushed out showing a sign of life.

Any doctor will tell you this is not sign of life. Jn.19:33-34 tells us he was thrusted by a sword after he was pronounced dead by the Roman guard who was trained in crucifixion's. If one is to be punished by this means it was unto the death, the Romans were experts at crucifixion's. It states in John 19:35"And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe." Blood and water came out from his side after. This is proven medically that he had a ruptured heart. When watery fluid from the sac surrounding the heart and blood from the interior of the heart is ruptured, fluid in the pericardium shows death, not life. Romans don’t bury live people, but dead ones. He was to them a criminal and needed to be punished by Roman law, to neglect this is disobedience to their laws and the centurion would be punished.

Muslim Claim- the sign of Jonas: Matthew 12:38-30 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the Earth. It is not that he entered the whale's belly dead and came out of it alive; his sign was that he entered the whale's belly alive, remained there alive, and came out of there alive.

Muslim Claim -There proof from the scripture. Heb.5:7-9 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.9And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him," To a Muslim this is proof that he did not die, because he was saved from death. But it does not mean the death of the cross, because the very same book declares Heb.2:9 "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone." Notice they use the parts of the scripture to try to prove the Christian (and bible) is wrong, but ignore the whole of Scripture and the testimony of the WHOLE New Testament Jn.12:27.

The fact is that he did die, so when would this have occurred? It points to the fact of Ps.22:19-22 and Isa.53:5 "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." 6 "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all."7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth." The lamb slain, the Passover lamb.

Going back to He.5:7-9 "save Him from death" the Greek preposition ek out of death means he did not stay permanently in this state, he resurrected. That his "soul would not be left in Hades ", and was heard" his prayer was answered because he reverently submitted. So instead of proving the Muslims point it actually upholds someone rising from the dead. Ps 16:9-11 "Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. Peter quotes this in Acts 2:30-32 "Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,  "he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.   "This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses."Thus fulfilling the Old Testament prophecy.

All through the book of Hebrews teaches about Christ and his death so the author is very much aware of this fact. Chapters 2,4,5,7, 8:3,6, 9:12,10:5-10,12,12:2,24,13:12,20. Actually I would highly recommend for a Muslim to read through the book of Hebrews as it is a commentary on Leviticus, the priesthood, tabernacle and sacrifices.

Heb.2:14 "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil," If Jesus did not rise then the devil still has claim to everyone.

The reasoning behind their position is that the Koran denies that one person could die for another (17:13-15; 35:18). Actually, it says that no "soul laden (sinner) bears the1oad (sin) of another." Since Jesus was without sin, He certainly would be an exception. The Koran teaches that Muhammad was a sinner (9:43; 40:55;47:19; 48:2;294:1-3,) but the Koran teaches Jesus was sinless (19:17-19).

The Quran in 4:157-158. "They said in boast, 'We killed Christ Jesus the Son of Mary, the Apostle of Allah,' but they killed Him not, nor crucified Him, but so it was made to appear to them..." There are passages, that seem to declare that Christ did indeed die Sura 3:33,55; 5:117, 19:33

Was Jesus mistaken that he was to die? Was he mistaken of his resurrection? If so, not only do we throw away numerous statements in the New Testament, but the Old Testament as well. When Christian's say Muslim's do not believe the bible, this becomes the proof. Because the resurrection is the capstone of the Christian religion and if it is removed, it becomes equal to all the others, including Islam.

Job 19:25-27 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God." Notice he says he will be resurrected in the flesh and see God.

Zech.12:10 "and they will look upon me (the word "me" is given two letters the Aleph and the Tov in Hebrew which is equal to the alpha and omega in the Greek) whom they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for his only Son."

Jesus called John the Baptist was the greatest prophet because he announced his coming John fulfilled an important role and Scripture in the Old Testament. Mal.3:1 " Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts." Malachi speaks of one that will prepare the way for the Lord. This is none other than John the Baptizer who is foretold in Isa.40:3-4 "The voice crying out in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God". Clearly Isaiah is saying, God will visit them, Isa.7:14 Immanuel, Mt 1:23. V.25 tells us it is Jesus.

The Jews- John 19:7 The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God." Are we to believe that the Muslims teach that he had someone else die in his place when the Jews wanted him dead. And he continued to live among them while someone else went to the cross instead.

Matt. 16:21 " From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

Matt 17:22-23 Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 "and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up." And they were exceedingly sorrowful. Matt 20:18-19

He taught this in plain language as well as in story fashion called parables Matt 21:37-39 The parable of the vineyard in which Christ explains all the messengers, prophet's He sent. "Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'  "But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.'  "So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him."

Mark 8:31 "And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again."

Luke 18:32-34 "For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.33"They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."

Luke 24:44-47 "Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me. "And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, (also Lk.9:22

It was in Jn.5:39 the scriptures testify of him, not another.

John 2:19-22 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?"  But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said." Muslims are found not believing the prophets words and go against the testimony of God himself who said he would raise his son.

John 12:32-33 "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.  This He said, signifying by what death He would die."

Paul wrote in Acts 26:22-23 "Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come--"that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."

The religious leaders-Matt. 27:62-63"Now on the next day, which is the one after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate and said, 'Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I am to rise again.'"

John 21:14 "This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead."

Col. 1:18-20 "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning (architect), the firstborn from the dead." Jesus is not the head of a religion but a Church who are the people that are born of Gods spirit . They are those who believe the testimony of the Scriptures.

Rom.6:3-5 " For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, to be made alive means something must die.

Phil 2:8 "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the DEATH OF THE CROSS." It was Gods will for Christ to be crucified.  Acts 2:23" Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain."

Jesus Rev. 1:5 "and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood," This means his death was real and he is privileged to be the first raised unto eternal life in the body.

But the Koran also says he died "I was a watcher over them as long as I was present among them, but since Thou didst cause me to die, Thou has been the One to watch over them.' (Quran 5:117-118)

Surat Maryam 19-33 In reference to Jesus "Peace be upon me the day I was born and the day I die and the day I shall be raised alive." Muslim explains this away as he when he comes back he will die and then be raised. But this makes no rhyme or reason for this to be done in this time except to avoid the Bibles record.

He was put in the coldness of the tomb he then revived 3 days later and walked away?

Three days later the tomb was empty. The followers of Jesus said He had risen from the dead. They reported that He appeared to them during a period of 40 days, showing Himself to them by many "infallible proofs." Paul the apostle recounted that Jesus appeared to more than 500 of His followers at one time, the majority of whom were still alive and who could confirm what Paul wrote. So many security precautions were taken with the trial, crucifixion, burial, entombment, sealing, and guarding of Christ's tomb that it becomes very difficult for critics to defend their position that Christ did not rise from the dead.

Consider the facts: The disciples of Christ did not go off to India or Asia immediately afterwards to preach that Christ was raised from the dead. They went right back to the city of Jerusalem, where it all happened. If what they were teaching was false, It would immediately be refuted. The same people that called for his crucifixion would have all came out to deny this. If he was still alive and didn’t die they could all point to him and say "see here he is." If he did die and not rise, all they had to do is produce the body. All the testimonies would have fallen on deaf ears, but they didn’t because they couldn’t and so the truth continues to affect those who have a heart after Gods testimony. The resurrection could never have been preached in Jerusalem for a single day, they would have been laughed out of town. The emptiness of the tomb is an established fact for all that investigate the written accounts and history. Otherwise 3,000 and 5,000 would never have been converted. Another claim is that Jesus went to India after he rose. Really, then this denies even the Muslim account that he was taken to heaven would also be a lie. This would be an intentional means to deceive masses of the people, the very ones he cared and died for. This would make him and the apostles ALL false prophets. Something even a Muslim would not want to conclude.

10 of the 11 apostles died horrendous deaths for a lie! Each of the disciples faced the test of torture and martyrdom for his statements and beliefs. Are we to believe all 11 and thousands afterward died for what they know is a lie. They made it all up! Why would the disciples risk death and steal the body for what they knew was a lie. This was not part of their character. They were all hiding out scared thinking that it was over and there was no hope. The ecclesiastical leaders were seething with rage and did everything possible to prevent the spread of this message and to suppress it (Acts 4). They arrested Peter and John and beat and threatened them attempting to shut their mouths. The Jewish leaders did everything they could to suppress the message, by even arresting Peter and John beating them could not stop what they knew was true. If this was a lie, it would not be necessary. The only lie is from those who say this did not happen.

Both Jewish and Roman sources and traditions admit of an empty tomb. Resources range from Josephus a non believing Jew to a compilation of 5th-century Jewish writings called the "Toledoth Jeshu." Dr. Paul Maier calls this "positive evidence from a hostile source, which is the strongest kind of historical evidence. In essence, this means that if a source admits a fact decidedly not in its favor, then that fact is genuine."

The apostle appealed to his audience's knowledge of the fact that Christ had been seen by more than 500 people at one time. Paul reminded them that the majority of those people were still alive and could be questioned. Dr. Edwin M. Yamauchi, associate professor of history at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, emphasizes: "What gives a special authority to the list (of witnesses) as historical evidence is the reference to most of the five hundred brethren being still alive. St. Paul says in effect, 'If you do not believe me, you can ask them.' Such a statement in an admittedly genuine letter written within thirty years of the event is almost as strong evidence as one could hope to get for something that happened nearly two thousand years ago." Someone had written that if we take the more than 500 witnesses who saw Jesus alive after His death and burial, and place them in a courtroom. Do you realize that if each of those 500 people were to testify for only six minutes, including cross-examination, you would have an amazing 50 hours of firsthand testimony? Add to this the testimony of many other eyewitnesses and you would well have the largest and most lopsided trial in history.

1 Cor.15:20-21: "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead."

The Testimony of Jesus himself Rev. 1:18: "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I AM ALIVE FOREVER MORE. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death." Did Jesus tell the truth? If not then he is a false prophet