Texto:Mc 15:23-39

"Le ofrecieron vino mezclado con mirra, pero él no lo tomó. Después lo crucificaron. Los soldados se repartieron sus vestiduras, sorteándolas para ver qué le tocaba a cada uno. Ya mediaba la mañana cuando lo crucificaron.

Al verlo expirar así, el centurión que estaba frente a él, exclamó: 'Verdaderamente, este hombre era Hijo de Dios'."

Aspectos para meditar:

El Triunfo de Dios:
Este aparente triunfo del mal es en realidad el Triunfo de Dios. La muerte de Jesús es el cumplimiento de la promesa de Salvación que Dios había hecho al hombre luego de la caída de este. Así la cruz, motivo de escándalo y vergüenza para los hombres, es el instrumento usado por Dios para nuestra salvación. Así Jesús es el Cordero de Dios que derrama su Sangre para el perdón de los pecados de todos los hombres.

I really shouldn't be writing because I have one more midterm left (SPANISH!  Ahh!), but I just can't help myself.  In fact, I'm surprised at how much I've missed blogging over the past few days.

I just had to read a short play for my English Literature class, and it really struck me, so I thought I'd take my 10, er, um, 11 minutes to talk about it.

Its called "The York Play of the Crucifixion," and it got me thinking about some really fascinating concepts.  Since I'm sure most of you aren't really up on your middle age literature, I'll fill you in a little on the content of the play.

It consists of 5 characters: 4 soldiers and, of course, Jesus.  The soldiers are talking as they work to nail Jesus to the cross, hoist it up, and cast lots for His clothes.  They talk about nailing his hands and feet, about how it will boar through the sinews in His arms and hands.  The discuss how much pain all of this will cause Him.  They talk about it as if they were talking about the wood they were using to build a house.  The make fun of Him, claiming that if He were really God, He could have obviously saved Himself from all of this pain and torture.  Once they finally hoist the cross (after several tries), they comment on how painful it would have been for the cross to be dropped into the hole, the most painful thing of all!

It seemed that the soldiers (at least one or two of them) just got to the brink of understanding what they had just done, when they decided to shrug it off and go on with their daily activities. In a fascinating irony the job that they carry out so cumbersomely is the job that will prove to be the salvation of mankind.  They are blind to the bigger idea of who Jesus really is.

I think the callousness of the soldiers saddened me more than any other thing I’ve read about the crucifixion.  It is quite distressing to see images (such as in the Passion of the Christ), but most often we see it within the viewpoint of someone who is utterly grateful for the gruesome death.  The person witnessing His is death is most often acutely aware of the fact that they are the reason Christ was on the cross.  The most ironic part of the play was the fact that the soldiers were nailing Christ to the cross on two levels:  physically and spiritually.  It was heartbreaking because they did not even know it.  They were not aware AT ALL that He alone was saving them, was experiencing all the pain they were discussing FOR THEM.

It made me think of all the people in our world that know the story of the crucifixion.  Maybe they have even seen Passion of the Christ, but they are missing the bigger picture.  They are missing the point that the death they have heard about was true and deep and spiritual and imperative.

It really breaks my heart...

10:51pm

Read the play online here.

If I were to candidly sum things up concerning my inner life since entering the Church, I might be tempted to say some pretty horrible sounding things. I might be tempted to say, for instance, that I am worse now than I have ever been. Depression, anxiety, anger -- my poor wife is having one hell of a time dealing with me at times, and I do not mean that in the vulgar sense. I find myself feeling as though I'm at wits' end all too often these days.

However, despite my tendency to dwell only on that half of the story, that's not all there is to it. With my time in the Church, things are getting clearer, far clearer than my eyes care to see. Bl. Fr. Seraphim Rose said that the Christian should expect nothing less than to be crucified, and God help me, it's one of the most insightful things I've ever read about the Faith apart from Scripture. I look in the mirror, and I don't like what I see. I'm not talking about sins here and there that I fall into anymore. I'm talking about the fundamentals of what have made me who I am, roots that only now are being exposed; and while the faithless man might despair to learn such things about himself, I am finally learning from them about how to fight this fight.

I've never understood until entering into the Church just how deeply sin -- or, perhaps better put, death -- is rooted in me. I can't hide from it. There were months where I confessed the same exact sins to my spiritual father over and over again, and it was only when I grew so despairing and despondent that I began to give up on the Faith that the Lord again showed His face, which revealed in me darkness I have always hidden from. How often it is that we only notice God's presence when we can no longer bear to notice anything else, and how humbling it is!

This is why theosis takes longer than our lifetimes. I am rapidly finding that theosis is more than just beating a few habitual sins and establishing a decent prayerlife -- no, most of us are so tangled up in the passions that we can barely even move our eyes around to see how bad it is, and indeed, perhaps we can't because without God's grace, we can't find it in ourselves to try. Thankfully, it is not solely up to us to escape, for Christ gave us Himself and His Church for the defeat of the passions and the healing of the soul.

Those who suffered and knew themselves to be "lowlives," so to speak, were often the ones most receptive to Christ while He walked in the flesh on this earth. Why? I think they were the most self-aware. They couldn't free themselves, but they recognized the Lord Who could. Those who rejected Him -- Pharisees, temple authorities, and the like -- could not recognize Him, because they did not even recognize themselves for what they were, sinners. A broken heart and a contrite spirit; these, O God, Thou wilt not despise.

I am often tempted to look at myself and say that since entering the Church, I've gotten worse. Perhaps by worldly standards, that's so, but I'm not blind to myself anymore. The Church with Her grace has exposed corruption in me that I couldn't see before, and though it hurts worse than anything I've experienced to date (remembering what Fr. Seraphim said about crucifixion), the Lord Almighty has the power to raise us from corruption.

This line, from one of the Paschal hymns, comes to mind: I desire My creation to shine with joy, and all sorrow will pass away.

"We're on an express elevator to hell; going down!" --Hudson

Hell is a lonely place.

And I was confounded... having for so many years thought there were only 3-4 women at the cross, but now I think there were many more women "disciples" than men. And the thing that kept them there was their FAITH! Their faith despite the circumstances... their faith despite the pain and disappointment... their faith despite the loss. This is my goal: steadfastness. [Special thanks to Chris Gollon for the use of his painting, Stations of the Cross VIII, Jesus speaks to the Women of Jerusalem, used by permission.] ]]> http://mathieubernier.wordpress.com/?p=1099 Sat, 04 Oct 2008 14:46:27 +0000 M.B. http://mathieubernier.wordpress.com/2008/10/04/prechons-pour-le-ipod-touch/ Maintenant que je suis totalement accroc à mon iPod Touch - je m'en sers pour vérifier s'il y a des commentaires sur mon blogue, pour regarder la météo le matin, pour jouer au Sudoku et au Mahjong, pour lire le New York Times, comme télécommande multifonctions pour contrôler iTunes sur mon MacBook sans avoir à toucher à l'ordi, etc. - il est temps de répandre la Bonne Nouvelle. Et pas celle du bonhomme crucifié de Sarah Palin, évidemment.

Hier soir, j'ai donc commencé à vanter le iPod Touch à la personne la plus exposée à mes sermons: ma soeur. Après seulement quelques minutes à me voir m'amuser sur mon bidule au beau design, elle s'en est emparée et a essayé toutes les fonctions une par une, s'exclamant avec un enthousiasme croissant "j'en veux un !" La conversion est en cours. Bientôt son âme sera sauvée ! Il faut dire que c'est un cheminement facile pour elle, puisqu'elle fait déjà partie des ouailles d'Apple (elle a un iPod vidéo 5ème génération, un iPod Shuffle, et elle m'envie ouvertement d'avoir un portable qui ne bogue pas).

Maintenant, vers qui d'autre tourner mes missionnaires préoccupations ? Mes collègues en médecine vont-ils délaisser le Palm et se convertir au iPod Touch ?

20-25 minutes

Description

This object lesson teaches about the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross and helps children to recognize that He did it for all of us – even those of us who choose not to accept His gift. (It’s called “Mr. Bobby’s Sacrifice in honor of the big man with a bigger heart who always volunteers for this strenuous activity.)

This activity works best with a larger group of kids. However, if you have a small group, try having each child make several trips up to put their rocks in the bucket. Only on the last trip can they get the incentive.

Materials

• Two buckets with strong handles
• A place where children can pick up at least two rocks each
• Some type of incentive for the children (I’ve used individually wrapped packages of fruit snacks and candy before.) If you can get something that most of the kids will like but that a few will not, you will have more success with the activity. (In this case, be sure to have another incentive hidden that these children can choose at the end of the activity.)
• Two signs that say, “SIN.”
• Tape

Preparation

· Find a strong volunteer, and explain the object lesson to him.

· Put your incentives in a place where they will be easily seen by the children and where they have easy access to them.

· Put tape of your “SIN” signs, and lay them close to the teaching area

· Ask the children to each grab at least two rocks for a special activity in class. They can grab more than two rocks if they want, but they must have at least two. Rocks can be the size of a small egg or larger.

· Practice the script.

Procedure

Use the following script (or modify to suit your needs):

· “Hey, everyone! Did each of you grab at least two rocks before you came in here?” (Have the children hold them up so that you can see them.)

· “Fantastic! Hey, I’ve got great news! Mr. (supply the name of your volunteer) wants to buy everyone some (supply the name of your incentive)!”

· “How many of you want some (incentive)?”

· “Okay, Mr. (volunteer) is going to earn those for you by showing us how strong he is.”

· “Everyone who wants (incentive) has to line up with your rocks right here.”

· “When I tell you to, you will trade your rocks for the (incentive) by putting at least one in each of Mr. (volunteer’s) buckets.”

· “He will earn the incentive for you by carrying your rocks.”

· “Isn’t Mr. (volunteer) great!” (Encourage enthusiastic responses.)

· (Have Mr. (volunteer) stand at the front of the room with a bucket in each hand. As well as he is able, he should stretch his arms wide like Jesus on the cross. It’s important for the kids to be able to tell that this is challenging and painful to the volunteer. Have the children line up with their rocks.)

· (Ask the first child.) “Do you want a (incentive)? Okay, then divide all your rocks between the two buckets.”

· (After the child puts his/her rocks into the two buckets, allow him/her to get the incentive and then return to his/her seat. Keep working your way through the children, occasionally pointing out your volunteer’s straining or facial expressions.)

· (If a child says, “no” to the incentive, he or she should lay his or her rocks down on the floor and return to his/her seat. Your volunteer should then set down the buckets, pick up the rocks and divide them between the two buckets. Then, he should resume his former position. This typically doesn’t happen until later in the object lesson, and it usually requires some prodding to get the first child to lay down his/her rocks.)

· “Did you notice that he still picked up the rocks? You see, Mr. (volunteer) already agreed to pay for everyone. Even if you don’t want your (incentive), he will still pay for it for you.”

· (Continue having children put their rocks in and take their incentives. If you get three-fourths of the way through the children without one of them laying down his or her rocks, you will need to do some prodding using the following script.)

o “Wow! Mr. (volunteer) is really sweating! It looks like a real struggle holding up those buckets?”

o “How do you feel about that?”

o “Mr. (volunteer), how are you feeling?” (Have him be honest about the pain and struggle.)

o “If it’s that difficult, why are you doing it?” (Have him share about his love for the children.)

o (Back to the children) “Is it okay with you that he is having to work so hard for you to you’re your (incentive)?”

o “Do you think it is fair that he is having to go through so much pain?”

o “Are you sure, you want to put your rocks into his buckets”

· (After all have made (or not made) the trade, allow your volunteer to put the buckets down.)

· “Kids we did this activity to give you a picture of how much Jesus loves you. Just like Mr. (volunteer) loves you enough to pay for your (incentive), Jesus loves you enough to pay for you to join Him in heaven.”

· “The rocks you brought today represent your sin, the bad things you’ve done.” (Label both buckets with the “Sin” signs.)

· “You may have noticed that some of you brought small “sins,” and some of you brought big “sins.” Some of you brought just two “sins,” and some of you brought several handfuls!”

· “When we go before God, some of us will just have a few sins compared to the others. And our sins might not seem that bad compared to theirs, but to God, sin is sin – no matter how small and no matter how few.”

· “The Bible says that the payment, the punishment for sin is death. It’s what we owe to pay for our sins.” (Romans 6:23)

· “Unfortunately, none of us can pay for our sins. We owe too much.”

· “The only One who could pay was someone who didn’t owe anything of his own.”

· “And the only Person who has ever lived and not sinned is Jesus. He’s the only One who could pay what we owed for our sin.”

· “Just like Mr. (volunteer) spread his arms to pay for your (incentive), Jesus spread His arms on the cross to pay for your sins and mine.”

· “But do you remember that not everyone wanted their (incentive), but Mr. (volunteer) paid for them anyway?”

· “You see, Jesus paid for everyone’s sins - even those of us who don’t want to believe in Him.”

· “And isn’t that a shame? To leave something that is already paid for on the table?”

· “Shouldn’t we enjoy it if Jesus went to so much trouble to get it for us?”

· “Jesus paid for it! He didn’t just die for a few. He died for ALL of us!”

· “But Jesus loves us so much that He won’t force us to take what He bought for us. He still lets us choose.”

· “You have to want it and accept it, but you don’t have to do anything to earn it.”

· “If you want what Jesus has bought for you on the cross… if you want life with Him forever in heaven, all you have to do is tell him in your prayers.”

· “Tell Him that you want what He bought. Tell Him you want to follow Him and to go to heaven.”

· “And then, tell all of us so that we can celebrate with you!”

· “I know that some of you who didn’t take your (incentive) did it out of your love for Mr. (volunteer).”

· “If you are one of those people, Mr. (volunteer) wants to see you after we finish.” (Have your volunteer tell these children how much he appreciates the sacrifice they made for him and that they really helped with the lesson. Then, he can give them the choice of taking the incentive – no rocks this time.)

I came across an interesting article tonight that talks about his suffering from a medical point of view.

Check it out here.

On the second point, the study guide takes us to the baptism of Jesus and the transfiguration. In each scene the clouds part and a voice from heaven says "I love you Son". At the crucifixion, the clouds are dense, impenetrable and Christ's voice seems to bounce off them. God the Father is seen to cut Christ off.

The third image is of the temple curtain being torn in two, making God accessible to sinners. The doctrine of imputed righteous is found in this image. Before the crucifixion God is behind the curtain in the holy of holies. The temple curtain protects unclean, sinful people from God's all consuming purity. The torn temple curtain indicates a change. The change is not in God but in those who believe. Christ's death has made believers holy. All who are in Christ can now approach God without fear of being consumed.

My first thought is that God doesn't ask us to do anything that He wouldn't first do himself.

He asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son.  He asked the Hebrews to turn over all the first borns.  But he gave Isaac a bail-out.  He told the Hebrews how to exempt their own first borns.

But he didn't exempt Jesus.  I'd go so far as to say that it was because of Jesus that Abraham didn't have to sacrifice his son; because of Jesus the Hebrews were able to spare their own first-borns.

Before I was a Christian, I used to think that God didn't have the right to ask us of things, that he was so totally other that he couldn't possibly truly know what it's like to be human.  When I became a Christian, I got it that Jesus experienced it first hand. 

God the father subjecting Himself to the most horrifying expectation of the whole of the bible: the sacrifice of his son.  If he was willing and able to do this, what wouldn't he do?

CHAPTER 1

THE ONLY SALES-POINT

"MOST INFLUENTIAL MEN"

Recently, an American historical researcher and mathematician, Michael H. Hart, published a book : "THE 100, THE TOP HUNDRED OR THE GREATEST HUNDRED IN HISTORY." In his book he gives the names of the 100 "Most Influential Men in History" and his reasons for their positions in his list. Amazingly, he (most probably a Christian) puts Muhummed (peace be upon him) FIRST¹ in his hundred, and with good reasons too. And with equally good reasons he places Jesus Christ (peace be upon him), the man accepted as "Lord" and "Saviour" by nearly all his fellow Americans, number THREE.

1. You can read this chapter here – Muhammed (pbuh) No.1, A Chapter by Michael H. Hart. I have also placed the chapter on Jesus Christ along side it

REAL FOUNDER OF CHRISTIANITY

Though there are at the moment 200 million more nominal Christians in the world than the 1000 million Muslims, Mr. Hart divides the credit for founding Christianity between Paul and Jesus, and he gives the greater portion to Paul. Hence the 3rd position for Jesus. Every knowledgeable Christian concedes that the real founder of Christianity is St. Paul and not Jesus Christ (peace be upon him).

REASON FOR DIFFERENCE

In any event, if there is any division between a Muslim and a Christian on the grounds of dogma, belief, ethics or morality, then the cause of such conflict could be traced to an utterance of Paul found in his books of Corinthians, Phillipians, Galatians, Thessolanians, etc., in the Bible.

As against the teaching of the Master (Jesus) that salvation only comes through keeping of the commandments (Mathew 19:16-17), Paul nails the law and the commandments to the cross Paul nails the law and the commandments to the cross (Colossians 2:14) ¹ and claims that salvation can only be obtained through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ:-

"If Christ be not risen from the dead, then our preaching is vain, and your faith is also vain."

(1 Corinthians 15:14)

1. One of the multifarious letters/correspondence of Paul among the 27 Books of the New Testament.

THE KING-PIN OF CHRISTIANITY

According to St. Paul, there is nothing that Christianity can offer mankind, other than the blood and gore of Jesus. If Jesus did NOT die, and he was NOT resurrected from the dead, then there can be NO salvation in Christianity! "For all your good deeds", says the Christian dogmatist, "are like filthy rags" — (Isaiah 64:6).

NO CRUCI-FICTION — NO CHRISTIANITY

"THE DEATH OF JESUS ON THE CROSS IS THE CENTRE OF ALL CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY. . . ALL CHRISTIAN STATEMENTS ABOUT GOD, ABOUT CREATION, ABOUT SIN AND DEATH HAVE THEIR FOCAL POINT IN THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST. ALL CHRISTIAN STATEMENTS ABOUT HISTORY, ABOUT THE CHURCH, ABOUT FAITH AND SANCTIFICATION, ABOUT THE FUTURE AND ABOUT HOPE STEM FROM THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST", says Professor Jurgen Moltmann in his — "The Crucified God".¹

1. "GOD": The bulk of Christendom accept Jesus Christ as God incarnate — God in human flesh. According to the Christian dogma, Jesus must die as God, for a million human sacrifices cannot redeem mankind from their sin.

In a nutshell. No CrucifixionI — No Christianity! This is the experience of us Muslims, in this ocean of Christianity, which is South Africa. A thousand sects and denominations of Christianity are vying with one another to redeem the "heathen" (as they say) from hell-fire. However, in this battle no Christian priest, parson or predikant, or hot-gospeller, local or imported, will ever endeavour to teach the Muslim something about hygiene; for we Muslims can claim to be the most hygienic people (I am talking about personal hygiene). Nor do they endeavour to teach us about hospitality; for we are the most hospitable of people. Nor about ethics or morality; for we are the most moral people — (as a whole) i.e. we don't drink, we don't gamble, we don’t date, court or dance; we pray 5 times a day, we fast for one whole month during the Muslim Holy month of Ramadaan; and we take pleasure in being a charitable people. Despite any of our shortcomings, we venture to suggest that there is not another group of people that can "show a candle" to us in brotherhood, in piety or in sobriety.

BLOOD FOR SALVATION

"Yes! Yes!" says the Christian missionary, "but you do not have salvation." Because salvation comes "only through the blood of the lord Jesus". "All your good works are like filthy rags", he says. "If only you Muslims would accept the redeeming blood of Jesus, and take Jesus as your 'Personal Saviour', you Muslims, then would be like angels walking the earth."

AN ANSWER SUPREME

What are we Muslims to say to this Christian claim? Nothing better than Allah's shattering reply to the Jewish boast!.

(SURA NISAA) Holy Qur’ân 4:157

1. Allah: Allah is the name of God Almighty in the Semitic languages, i.e. in the language of Moses, Jesus and Muhummed (May the peace of God be upon them all). Read — "What is His Name?" for elaboration.

2. "Full of Doubts!" — In a state of confusion.

3. "Without Knowledge!" — In ignorance.

4. "Only follow Conjecture!" — Guess work—Fiction!

Could anyone have been more EXPLICIT, more EMPHATIC, more DOGMATIC, more UN-COMPROMISING in rejecting the dogma of a faith than this? "IMPOSSIBLE!" is the answer. The only One Who could, would be the All-Knowing, the Omniscient, the Omnipotent Lord of the Universe — GOD ALMIGHTY Himself!

The Muslim believes this categorical Qur’ânic statement to be from God. Hence he asks no questions and seeks for no proof.

Had the Christians accepted the Holy Qur’ân as the Word of God, the problem of the crucifixion would never have arisen. They vehemently oppose the Qur’ânic teaching and attack everything Islamic. In the words of Thomas Carlyle — "THEY (the Christians) HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO HATE THE MAN MOHAMED AND HIS RELIGION.

CHAPTER 2

CALL YOUR WITNESSES

HIGH-PRESSURE SALESMANSHIP

In trying to prove their dogmas ¹, they invent shocking statements and posers — one of which has been used as the title of this book — "CHRIST CRUCIFIED - Hoax or History?" ² No doubt it sounds provocative; but it is a borrowed title — from the Christian's own extravagances; from his own vocabulary.

Garner Ted Armstrong, the Executive Vice-President and Co-Publisher of the "PLAIN TRUTH" (a Christian Magazine from America, which boasts a current, FREE, world-wide circulation of 6 million copies a month) ³, attempts to answer his own puzzle under the heading:

"WAS THE RESURRECTION A HOAX?" This is the typical American way of selling religion. He elucidates his poser -"HOAX?" - with the words, "THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH IS EITHER THE SUPREME FACT OF HISTORY OR A FLAGRANT. DELIBERATE FABRICATION FOISTED OFF ON THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRISTIANITY."

Another budding, young "Billy Graham" from America, Josh McDowell effuses in his book "THE RESURRECTION FACTOR", saying, "I WAS FORCED TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST IS EITHER ONE OF THE MOST WICKED, HEARTLESS, VICIOUS, HOAXES EVER FOISTED UPON THE MINDS OF MEN, OR IT IS THE MOST FANTASTIC FACT OF HISTORY." Since it is not possible for an Oriental to match American superlatives and extravagant verbiage, I do not have to apologise for humbly borrowing their words for the title of my book: "CHRIST CRUCIFIED -Hoax or History?" ⁴

1. Dogma: "Principle, tenet, doctrinal system; arrogant declaration of opinion." — Oxford Dictionary.

2. Original title of this book.

3. As claimed in their February 1984 issue.

4. Now changed to — "CRUCIFIXION or CRUCI-FICTION?"

CHRISTIAN OBJECTION

To the Muslim belief that Jesus Christ was "neither killed nor crucified", the Christian objects, "how can a man (Muhummed pbuh) a thousand miles away from the scene of a happening, and 600 years after an event, pronounce as to what had transpired?" The Muslim says that the words Muhummed (pbuh) uttered were not his own, but that the Words were "put into his mouth" by the All-Knowing, All-Seeing God. The Christian retorts that he is not prepared to accept the metaphysical aspect of Muhummed's revelation; moreso, in view of the written records by "eye-witnesses" (?) and "ear-witnesses" (?) as regards the happenings on that Easter week-end some two thousand years ago.

The Christian plea is valid. Their logic is good. To entertain their plea we will call up their witnesses and cross examine them to discover the truth or falsity of the matter from their own authorities. Admittedly, the key witnesses in the case are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John — the alleged authors of the Canonical Gospels. But they have all died and are in their graves. "Yes, that is true, but we have in our possession their sworn affidavits!" says the Christian.

DEMAND FOR PROOF

When confronted by the extravagant and conflicting claims of the Jews and the Christians to their exclusive rights to salvation, Allah subha nahu wa-ta aala¹ commands us to demand for proof. He says:

(SURA BAQARA)Holy Qur’ân 2:111

And they have produced the only proof they have; in over fifteen hundred different languages! Eleven different dialects of the Bible for the Arabs alone! Are we going to swallow them hook, line and sinker? No! It is presupposed that when Allah commands us to demand for proof, that we would be in a position to analyse the proof, once it is produced. Otherwise, it makes no sense to demand for proof; it would be nonsense!

1. subha nahu wa-ta aala meaning, Glory Be To Him!

CHAPTER 3

ESTABLISHING GOD'S KINGDOM

THIRD-PARTY EVIDENCE — "ACCORDING TO . . ."

The amazing thing about the Christians' sworn affidavits (writings attributed to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) is that not a single one of them is duly attested. Not a single one bears the signature, mark or thumb-print of its author in the so-called originals. They now boast of being in possession of over 5000 "originals" of which no two "originals" are identical. Amazing! Little-wonder the Christians themselves label their Gospels as — "The Gospel according to St. Matthew", "The Gospel according to St. Mark", "The Gospel according to St. Luke" and "The Gospel according to St. John".

When Christian scholars are asked why the words "according to" ¹ are repeated at the beginning of every Gospel, the obvious implication is that they are not autographed. It is only assumed that they are authored by the names the Gospels carry today. The translators of the "New International Version" have unceremoniously expunged the "According to’s" from the four Gospels in their latest translation. Of the alleged Gospel writers, viz., Matthew, Mark, Luke and John it can be categorically stated that 50% were not even the elected Twelve Disciples of Jesus (pbuh).

1. "According to"; This aspect is dealt with in detail in the book — "Is the Bible God's Word?"

PRIMA-FACIE CASE

I dare humbly claim that such unattested documents would be thrown out of hand, in any Court-of-Law, in any civilised country, in just two minutes. Furthermore, one of the alleged witnesses, St. Mark, tells us that at the most critical juncture in the life of Jesus — "All his disciples forsook him and fled"- (Mark 14:50). Please ask your Christian friend, "Does "all" mean all in your language, you Englishman?" (This applies to the North American as well) And he will no doubt say — "Yes!"; "Does "almal" mean almal in your language, you Afrikaner?" And no doubt he will say — "ja!" (pronounced Yaa); "And does "bonke" mean bonke in your language, you Zulu?" And he will say — "Ahe!" This is true of every language. Why not memorise this verse from the Bible in your own dialect? Even in some additional languages?

So the so-called "eye-witnesses" were not really eyewitnesses to the happenings, unless St. Mark is not telling us the whole truth, the "gospel truth". Yet he is supposed to be speaking under oath! You will agree that a case based on such hearsay evidence would be thrown out of Court, TWICE in two minutes, in any Court-of-Law, in any civilised country; that is TWICE in just 120 seconds flat! But a ghost (dogma) of two thousand years standing, upon which hangs the salvation of 1200 million Christians, should not be summarily dismissed. It deserves a little more circumspection. We will therefore entertain the alleged testimonies of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as if they were duly attested.

WHERE DO WE BEGIN?

At the beginning of course! — Exactly as the Bible does ("In the beginning. . ." - Genesis 1:1) — just 24 hours before the cataclysmic events of "a thunderstorm; an eclipse of the sun; an earthquake; rocks being rent; the veil of the temple being torn from the top to bottom; graves being opened and sleeping corpses marching through the streets of Jerusalem . . ." as narrated by the Christians' Witnesses. What a scenario for a billion dollar, record-breaking, film production!

We must not forget that the Jews are in the dock, alleged for the murder of Jesus Christ; and we as Muslims are constrained to defend them against the Christian charge, because justice must be done. Whatever their sins of commission and omission, Allah exonerates them from the charge of murder. He says:

FOR OF A SURETY

THEY KILLED HIM NOT.

(Holy Qur’ân 4:157)

PLAYING THE "CRUCI-FICTION" CARD

The Christian world has been unjustly persecuting, and hounding and killing our Jewish cousins for nearly two thousand years for a murder they did not commit. Attempted murder? — may be! But murder? — NO! By absolving the Jew of a crime he did not commit, we are also taking the wind out of the hot-gospellers' and the Bible-thumpers' sail. In the battle for the hearts and minds of mankind, "cruci-FICTION" is the only card the Christian holds. Free him from his infatuation and you will have freed the Muslim world from missionary aggression and harrassment.

AROUND THE TABLE

On the eve of the Passover Feast, Jesus and his twelve disciples are seated around a huge Table with their host — the "beloved disciple", whose name also happened to be JOHN. Johns' and Jesus' ¹ were names, common among the Jews in the year 30 A.C. as Toms, Dicks, Johns and Jimmys are with us in the twentieth century. There were at least 14 men at the table (count them if you wish) and not the unlucky thirteen of Western superstition. ²

1. Of the three candidates for the 3 crosses at Golgotha on the 1st Easter week-end, there were 2 Jesus'. The one released was Jesus Barabbas. See Christ in Islam.

2. A country as advance as South Africa, like an adjunct of the U.S.A., has no Row 13 on any of its Aeroplanes!!

MARCH INTO JERUSALEM

Jesus (pbuh) made his triumphant royal entry into Jerusalem at the head of an excited and enthusiastic following, with high hopes of establishing the "Kingdom of God" any minute; riding a donkey to fulfill prophecy (Zechariah 9:9) –

Tell ye the daughter of Zion, behold, thy KING cometh. . .
sitting upon an ass. . .
And a great multitude spread their garments. . .
and branches in the way. . .
and the multitude cried, saying,
"Hosanna to the SON OF DAVID. . .
Hosanna in the highest . . ."

(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 21:5-9

Let Luke the beloved physician, add his strokes to clarify the picture.

". . . because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should IMMEDIATELY appear"- (HOLY BIBLE) Luke 19:11

HEAVENLY KINGDOM???

"But those mine enemies, who would not that I should REIGN over them, bring them hither, and SLAY them before me"- (HOLY BIBLE) Luke 19:27.

. . . Blessed be the KING who cometh in the name of the Lord. . . (HOLY BIBLE) Luke 19:38.

And John adds that the excited throng exclaimed —

"Hosanna! Blessed is the KING of ISRAEL, that cometh in the name of the Lord"- (HOLY BIBLE) John 12:13.

"The Pharisees said. . . Behold, the world is gone (mad) after him (Jesus)"- (HOLY BIBLE) John 12:21.

"NOW is the judgement of this world; N-O-W shall the prince of this world be CAST OUT"- (HOLY BIBLE) John 12:31.

Who would withstand such heady-wine of impending glory? Little wonder that Jesus was tempted physically to oust those that bought and sold within the temple precincts. He overthrew the money-changer's tables and drove them out with a "whip of cords"-(John 2:15).

AN ABORTED COUP

The overthrow of the Temple Authority was imminent, and a forerunner to the expulsion of the Romans, heralding the "Kingdom of God." But alas his high hopes did not materialise. The whole performance fizzled out like a damp squib, despite all the "Hosannas" and hoorays to the "Son of David" and the "King of Israel." All this ballyhoo was only forty years premature. Jesus had failed to heed the warning of the Pharisees to curb the over exuberance of his disciples (Luke 19:39). He had miscalculated. Now he must pay the price of failure. His nation was not ready for any sacrifice, in spite of all their infantile clamour.

JEWISH REASONING

The Jewish leaders reasoned that this one man had almost brought the nation to destruction. Therefore,

"It is expedient for one man to die for the nation – (HOLY BIBLE) John 11:50.

But with all the mass hysteria surrounding him, it was also NOT expedient to apprehend Jesus in public. They waited for the opportunity of a clandestine arrest. As luck would have it they found in Judas, an elected disciple of Jesus (pbuh), a traitor who would sell his Lord and Master for thirty miserable pieces of silver.

JUDAS WAS DISGRUNTLED

In the opinion of Christian divines it was the greed of gold which enticed Judas to do his dastardly deed. But he had more money-sense then the Christians gave him credit for. As a purser for the elect group of Jesus he had endless opportunities of pinching pennies permanently. Why jeopardise that for all times for 30 paltry pieces? There is more to that than meets the eye. Judas was disgruntled, after all those mass demonstrations on Jesus' regal entry into Jerusalem — those hot out-pourings of: "The HOUR is come — and NOW is — the Prince of this World will be CAST OUT — I should REIGN over them — bring them HITHER and SLAY THEM before me." Jesus had now developed cold-feet. If only Jesus could be provoked, he might react with miracles, and bring down fire and brimstones from Heaven upon his enemies; and, of course, the legions of angels (which he boasted were at his disposal), which would enable him and his disciples to rule the world.

From close contact with the Master, he had learned that Jesus was kind, tender and loving. But, he was not a mealy-mouthed man; he was no milk-and-water Messiah. But Judas could not understand the "hot and cold" blowings of Jesus. Perhaps if Jesus was accosted, he would yet deliver the goods. To this end Judas schemed.

THE TRAITOR KNOWN

The furtive looks and the suspicious behaviour of Judas had revealed everything to Jesus (pbuh). He did not need the Holy Ghost to interpret the misgivings in Judas’s mind. At the Table in the Upper-room where Jesus and his disciples were having that "Last Supper", Jesus dismissed Judas with the words:

". . . What thou doest, do quickly." (HOLY BIBLE) John 13:27

And Judas took off to put the seal on the deal to the stab-in-the-back.

CHAPTER 4

PREPARATION FOR JIHAAD

POLICY CHANGE

Jesus will not be a sitting-duck for a clandestine arrest by the Jews. He prepares his disciples for the impending showdown. Discreetly, so as not to frighten his disciples, he introduces the subject of defense. Gently he begins:

"When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye anything?" And they said, "Nothing" Then said he unto them, "But now, he that hath no purse, let him take it, and likewise his bag; and he that hath no SWORD, let him sell his garment and buy one!"

(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 22:35-36

This is a preparation for Jihaad, a Holy War — Jews against Jews! Why! Why this somersault? Did he not advise them to "turn the other cheek"; "to forgive seventy times seven" (70 x 7 = 490)? Did he not send his chosen Twelve with the advice:

"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye, therefore, as wise as serpents, (?) and as harmless as doves." (HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 10:16

TO ARMS! TO ARMS!

The situation and the circumstance have changed and as with any wise and able general, the strategy must also change. The disciples were already armed. They had some foresight. They had not left Galilee with bare knuckles. They responded:

". . . Lord, behold, here are two SWORDS." And he said unto them, "It is enough". (HOLY BIBLE) Luke 22:38

The missionary, so as to retain the impression of the "meek and gentle Jesus", "the Prince of Peace", pleads that the SWORDS were spiritual! If the swords were spiritual, then the "garments" must also be spiritual. If the disciples of Jesus were to sell their SPIRITUAL garments to buy SPIRITUAL swords, in that case they would all become SPIRITUALLY naked! Furthermore, one does not lop off people’s physical ears with spiritual swords —

"And, behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his SWORD, and struck a servant of the high priests, and cut off his ear." (HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 26:51

The only purpose of swords or guns is to maim and to kill. People did not carry swords to pare apples and bananas in the time of Christ.

WHY COUPLE OF SWORDS ENOUGH?

If this was a preparation for war, then why should two swords be "enough"? The reason is that Jesus was not contemplating a battle against the legions of Rome. Since his "friend" Judas was in league with the Temple authorities, he was expecting a clandestine, underhand attempt by the Jewish oligarchy to seize him. It would be a question of Jews against Jews. In such a battle against the Jewish temple servants and the riff-raff of the town, he would prevail. Of that he was sure. He had with him Peter (the Rock) and John and James (the sons of Thunder) together with the other eight, each vying with one another to go to prison for him; to die for him. ¹ These were all Galilians. They had a reputation of Zealotism, terrorism and repeated insurrections against the Romans.

Armed with sticks and stones, and the swords, and fortified with the spirit of self-sacrifice which they had avowed for their Master, he was sure to knock hells into any Jewish rabble that dare confront him.

1. "Likewise also said all the disciples."- (Mathew 26:35)

A MASTER TACTICIAN

He had proved himself a skilful strategist and planner, alert and resourceful. This was not the time to sit and twiddle thumbs; to be a sitting-duck, cooped up with his disciples in the upper-room! No, not for him. He leads his platoon, in the middle of the night, to Gethsemane-Gethsemane — an olive press — a courtyard built of stone walls some 5 miles out of town.

On the way, he unburdens to them the seriousness of the situation. The implications and the explosive nature of the coup that failed. Now he must bear the wrath of the powers that be. The price of failure!

You do not have to be a military genius to appreciate that, Jesus (pbuh) deploys his forces as a master tactician, in a manner that would bring credit to any Officer out of "Sandhurst"¹. He places eight of the eleven disciples at the entrance to the courtyard, commanding them:

"... Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder." (HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 26:36

1. A leading military academy in England.

The question that would bug any thinker is: "Why did they all go to Gethsemane? To pray? Could they not have prayed in the upper-room? Could they not have gone to the Temple of Solomon, a stone's throw from where they were, if prayer is all that they wanted to do? No! They went to the Garden so that they might be in a better position to defend themselves!

Observe, Jesus does not take the eight with him to pray. He positions them strategically at the entrance to the courtyard; armed to the hilt, as the circumstances would allow:

"And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee. . .
Then saith he unto them. . . tarry ye here and watch with me." (HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 26:37-38

Where is he taking Peter and John and James now? Further into the Garden! To pray? No! To make an inner line of defence — he had put eight at the Gate, and, now these zealous Zealots (the fighting Irishmen of their day), armed with SWORDS, to "wait and watch " — TO KEEP GUARD! The picture is very vivid; Jesus leaves nothing to our imagination. A-n-d HE (alone) prayed!

JESUS PRAYS FOR RESCUE

". . . and began to be sorrowful and very depressed. Then saith he unto them, ‘my soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death' . . ."

"And he went a little further, and fell on his face (Exactly as the Muslim does in Salaat), and prayed, saying, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." (This is the quality of a good Muslim who submits his will to the will of God). (HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 26: 37-39

"And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat was, as it were, great drops of blood falling down to the ground’’ (HOLY BIBLE) Luke 22:44

MESSIAH SOBS FOR HIS PEOPLE

Why all this bewailing and lamentation? Is he crying to save his skin? It would be highly cynical on his part to do that! Did he not advise others:

"And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out . . . And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee; for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." (HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 5:29-30

We would be doing Jesus a grave injustice if we thought that he was crying like a woman to save his body from physical harm. He was crying for his people — the Jews. They held a queer logic, that if they succeeded in killing any would-be Messiah (Christ), it would be a sure proof of his imposture. For God Almighty will never allow His truly "anointed one" (Christ) ¹ to be killed — (Deuteronomy 18:20). Hence the insistence of the Jews as a people, as a whole, in rejecting Jesus, the son of Mary, as their promised Messiah — "The eternal rejection."

1. Messiah. "Anointed," Christos, "Christ." For full explanation, see — "Christ in Islam."

IMAGINATIVE VERSION

This harrowing sob-story, the blood-curdling cries and lamentations would evoke sympathy in the hardest of hearts. And the hot-gospeller and the Bible-thumper is not averse to its effective exploitation. We are told that Jesus was destined to die for the sins of mankind. That he was "being prepared for this vicarious sacrifice before the foundation of the world". That even before the material universe came into being, there was a contract between "Father and son," and that in the year 4000 A.A. (After Adam) ¹, God himself in the form of Jesus, as the second person from the enigmatic Trinity², was to get himself hanged to redeem mankind from the Original Sin and their actual sins.

1. According to Christian calculations the world and everything in it is 6000 years old.

2. "Trinity": The closest approximation to the Christian dogma of the trinity as found in the Bible — "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one" - (1st Epistle of John 5:7) — has now been unceremoniously thrown out as fabrication in the R.S.V., the most up-to-date translation of the Bible. See — "Is the Bible God's Word?" for further Biblical interpolations.

JESUS UNAWARE OF HEAVENLY CONTRACT

From the "call to arms" in the upper-room, and the masterful deployment of forces at Gethsemane, and the blood-sweating prayer to the God of Mercy for help, it appears that Jesus knew nothing about the contract for his crucifixion. It reminds one of the Biblical Abraham, leading his son to the slaughter with the bluff that the Lord will provide a 'scape-goat.'

AN UN-WILLING VICTIM

If this was God's plan for a vicarious atonement to redeem mankind, then obviously He had chosen a wrong substitute. This candidate was most reluctant to die. Arming! Wailingi Sweating! Crying! Complaining! ¹ Contrast these responses with those of Lord Nelson, a war-hero, who gave up the ghost with these undying words:

"THANK GOD, I HAVE DONE MY DUTY!". There are millions today, who would happily immolate themselves for king and country, with smiles on their faces, with shouts of "Amandhia!" or "Allahu-akbar!" or "God save the Queen!" Jesus was an un-willing victim. If this was God's scheme of salvation, then it was a heartless plot. It was murder in the first degree, and not redeeming self-sacrifice.

Major Yeats-Brown, in his "Life of a Bengal Lancer", summarises the Christian Doctrine of the Atonement in just a single sentence:

"NO HEATHEN TRIBE HAS CONCEIVED SO GROTESQUE AN IDEA, INVOLVING AS IT DOES THE ASSUMPTION, THAT MAN WAS BORN WITH A HEREDITARY STAIN UPON HIM: AND THAT THIS STAIN (FOR WHICH HE WAS NOT PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE) WAS TO BE ATONED FOR: AND THAT THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS HAD TO SACRIFICE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON TO NEUTRALISE THIS MYSTERIOUS CURSE."

3. "Eli, Bi, La'ma sabach'thani? ... Why hast thou foresaken me?" For fuller explanation of this cry, see "What is His Name?"

GOOD FOR EXPORT

"No heathen tribe!" proclaims this Britisher. But the mighty nations of the West, live and die by this "Fiction". If it is no longer fit for home consumption, then it is still good for export! More than 62,000 full-time missionaries (Modern-day Crusaders) are raising the dust throughout the world. Harassing the "heathen" as they call them. Over 40% of these cultists are "born-again" Americans! ¹

Strange as it may sound, after every outpouring of prayer, Jesus Christ found his disciples lulled to sleep at their post. Again and again he bewailed:

"What could ye not watch with me for one hour?" — (HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 26:40.

"And again he (Jesus) went away, and prayed, and spoke the same words. And when he returned, he found them sleep again …" — (HOLY BIBLE) Mark 14:39-40.

Poor St. Mark bemoans that the disciples could give no excuse for their lassitude, their somnambulism. He records:

"neither knew they what to answer him", — (HOLY BIBLE) Mark 14:40

However, the most lucid, the most coherent and systematic of all Gospel writers, St. Luke, hazards a guess for this anomaly. He says:

"And when he (Jesus) rose from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for SORROW." (HOLY BIBLE) Luke 22:45

1. "Born-Again:" The latest cult among the Christians. Billy Graham claims that there are 70 million such cultists in America. Immaculate people, veritable angels! Yet in that nation over a quarter million "gays" gathered in San Fransisco last June on a pilgrimage, led by 50 lesbians on motorbikes. In New York, there are only one million more women than men and of the "men" it is said that one third are sodomites! Overall there are 10 million "problem drinkers" (meaning DRUNKARDS), in the U.S.A. If all this is true with 70 million veritable angels ("Born-Again") in their midst, then it gives a lie to Paul's : "…a little leaven leaveneth the whole ..." — (1 Cor. 5:6). Here in the Christian West not even one third can ferment the loaf. Strange!

UNUSUAL REASONING

St. Luke, though he was never one of the elected Twelve disciples of Christ, holds numerous distinctions according to Christians. Among them, the "most historical", the beloved "physician", etc. As a Physician, his theory of men "SLEEPING FOR SORROW" is unique. Cries and waitings, sobs and sorrows were in abundance from Jerusalem to Gethsemane on the lips of Jesus (pbuh) which would shock and alert to wakefulness any un-ebriated¹ person. Why were the "lullabies" of woe, lulling the disciples to slumber? Was their psychological make-up any different from that of twentieth century man? Professors of physiology opine that under shock, stress and fear the adrenal gland secretes a hormone into the bloodstream — nature's own injection — which chases away all sleep. Is it not possible that the disciples of Jesus had eaten too much and drunk too much: remembering that food and drink was all "on the house," ², i.e. FREE!

1. "Un-ebriated": a sober person, not drunk.

2. Note to translators: please do not attempt a literal translation of English idiom and figures of speech.

CHAPTER 5

DISCRETION OR VALOUR?

SECOND MISCALCULATION

Jesus had doubly miscalculated:-

1. Regarding the enthusiasm demonstrated by the disciples in that upper-room. Believing that he would only have to contend with the Jews in a clandestine arrest.

2. The Jews were more wily then he had thought. They brought with them Roman soldiers.

The Christian scholars are no less wily in their translations and manipulations of the Bible. They have changed the words "Roman soldiers" to simply "soldiers" and from the word soldiers to now "band of men" and "the guard".

"Judas then, having received a BAND OF MEN¹ and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh there with lanterns and torches and weapons" (HOLY BIBLE) John 18:3

1. "Band of men": here and in verse 12 following, the words in the so-called original manuscripts are speira and chiliarchos respectively. Both Roman military terms, meaning "cohort" and "tribune". "That John is the first Evangelist to mention Roman soldiers among the party which went out to arrest our Lord . . ." See Knox's — "A New Testament Commentary", page 260.

CAUGHT NAPPING

The disciples were caught as the Englishman would say with their "pants down".¹ Literally they were caught napping. The enemy trod over them roughshod. Only one of the soldiers of Christ had the presence of mind to ask:

". . . Master, shall we smite them with the sword?" (HOLY BIBLE) Luke 22:49

But before Jesus could attempt a reply, the impetuous Peter struck out with his sword and cut off the right ear of one of the enemy. Jesus had not anticipated Roman soldiers. Realising that the tables were turned against his misconceived strategy, he advises his disciples:

". . . Put up again thy sword into its place; for all they that TAKE THE SWORD shall PERISH WITH THE SWORD." (HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 26:52

1. "Pants down": a figure of speech, meaning caught in an unguarded moment; unawares.

CHANGE OF STRATEGY

Did Jesus not know the truth of this statement when he ordered his disciples to sell their garments and buy SWORDS? He surely did! Then why the contradiction now? . There is really no contradiction! The situation changes, so the strategy must also change. He had sense enough to realise that against trained and well-equipped Roman soldiers it would be suicidal for his sleepy warriors to offer even a pretence of resistance.

PRINCE OF PEACE???

Why do not the Christian controversialists give their "Lord and Master" credit for this simple common-sense? Because they have been programmed for a period of two thousand years that Jesus, the "lamb", the "prince of peace", couldn't harm a fly. They overlook the other side of his nature which demanded blood and fire! They forget his instructions to his soldiers regarding those of his enemies who would not like him to rule over them, to bring them forth:

. . . and SLAY¹ them before me." (HOLY BIBLE) Luke 19:27

"Think NOT that I am come to send PEACE on earth; I. came NOT to send PEACE, but a SWORD." (HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 10:34

"I am come to send FIRE on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
Suppose ye that I am come to give PEACE on earth? I tell you, NAY; but rather DIVISION." (HOLY BIBLE) Luke 12:49 & 51

In view of these solemn pronouncements and his repeated vitriolic outbursts against the learned men of his time, if the sword of Peter had prevailed, we would have witnessed a massacre without compunction, equal to that of his ancestor Joshua (meaning Jehova — Saviour)² who utterly destroyed all that was in Jericho:

"both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the SWORD." (HOLY BIBLE) Joshua 6:21

And the Gospel writers would not have been slow in putting words into the mouth of Jesus, word for word, as fulfilment of prophecies VATICINIUM EX EVENTU (prophecies after the event) as recorded³ of his "father" (?) David.

1. Means to KILL. Breaking the commandment — "Thou shalt not kill. —