Deliverance from the Cross — Page 54
The grave in which his body would be buried in case of death was not yet dug. The chamber in which he was placed was wide enough to permit people to enter into and move about in. Thus, nothing whatever had happened from which an inference of death could reasonably be drawn. That is why Pilate, who must have possessed a good deal of knowledge of these things, when told that Jesus had died, marvelled if he were already dead. As, however, he had been favourably inclined towards Jesus throughout, in consequence of the dream of his wife, he professed himself satisfied with the statement of the centurion about the death of Jesus and readily gave the order that the body may be handed over to Joseph of Arimathaea. This is in exact accord with the affirmation of the Quran on the subject. We have already drawn attention to God's assurance to Jesus, according to the Quran, that he would die a natural death and would be spiritually exalted towards God, that is to say, he would not suffer death upon the cross. But there is a very significant and most emphatic affirmation in the Quran which confirms that which we have just stated: And their claiming: We did kill the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary who claimed to be the Messenger of God, whereas they slew him not, nor did they compass his death upon the cross, but the semblance of death was created for them. . . . They have no definite knowledge about it, but only 54