And their saying: "We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, GOD's messenger - they slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them; and surely those who disagree concerning it are in doubt about it; they have no knowledge about it except following a conjecture; for of a surety they killed him not. [Quran 4:157]
JESUS PRAYED TO BE SAVED
I was in a church class the other day, and one of the students was reading from the book of Hebrews, which can be found in the New Testament of the Bible. The book of Hebrews, which was canonized to be a part of the New Testament, has no authorship to it; however, many scholars have attributed it to Paul. We were reading the first two verses from Chapter 5, which was speaking of Jesus Christ, but my eyes wandered off to verse 7:
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared. [KJV Hebrews 5:7]
Now wait a minute--am I reading this correct? Is this verse not stating that Jesus would offer prayers and ask God to save him from death, or perhaps murder? And his prayers were heard!? What I quoted was from the King James Version, which is a not-so-accurate translation of the Bible. Here is another translation from the New International Version:
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the One who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
[NIV Hebrews 5:7]
I asked the teacher if this verse was speaking about Jesus. He glanced over the verse, but he ignored my question and made no remarks regarding it. I do not think highly of Paul's books, because they seem to create a new religion very different from what Jesus taught, but was this a speckle of truth left behind? I could not believe my eyes, yet I was not surprised because I had come to know these verses left in the Gospel:
[NIV Hebrews 5:7]
I asked the teacher if this verse was speaking about Jesus. He glanced over the verse, but he ignored my question and made no remarks regarding it. I do not think highly of Paul's books, because they seem to create a new religion very different from what Jesus taught, but was this a speckle of truth left behind? I could not believe my eyes, yet I was not surprised because I had come to know these verses left in the Gospel:
And he [Jesus] went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as You will." [Matthew 26:39]
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” [Mark 14: 35-36]
. . . [He] knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. [Luke 22:41-43]
Now the verses seem to fit all quite well together. There is much more scriptural evidence from the Gospel suggesting that Jesus was saved from the crucifixion. I will be adding them as time progresses. Although one question remains: Was Jesus really murduered as a human sacrifice to purge sins, as the cultic High Jewish Priests would have us believe, or was he saved by the Almighty? Perhaps this verse explains what the Ascension really was:
And they planned and GOD (also) planned, and GOD is the best of planners. (And remember) when GOD said: O Jesus! Behold, I am gathering you and causing you to ascend unto Me, and am cleansing you of those who disbelieve and am setting those who follow you above those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then unto Me you will (all) return, and I shall judge between you as to that which you used to differ. [Quran 3: 55-56]