Islam - The Summit of Religious Evolution — Page 85
85 He was fully conscious that he had to conform to and carry out the Divine will, whatever it might be. Incidentally, this attitude confirms that his relationship with God was that of a prophet and not that of an equal partner in the Godhead. He had full confidence that his prayer would be accepted, as he had himself told his disciples: And all things, whatsoever, ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. 23 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 24 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. 25 Indeed his prayer was accepted: 26 'and there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him'. Thus, Jesus knew that he would be delivered from death upon the cross, though he did not know how it would come about. His enemies had devised a plan for his ruin and God had devised His plan for his deliverance, as is said in the Quran: 27 The enemies of Jesus devised their plans and God devised His plan; God is the Best of planners. God reassured Jesus: I shall cause thee to die a natural death, and shall exalt thee to Myself, and shall clear thee from the calumnies of those who disbelieve, and shall place those who follow thee above those who disbelieve until the Day of Judgment; then to Me shall be your return and I will judge between you concerning that wherein you differ. God's plan was to be successful. It could not be frustrated. Soon after his supplications in the garden of Gethsemane Jesus was apprehended, whereupon one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest and smote off his ear, on which Jesus rebuked him and said: 28 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and He shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be. All this makes it clear that Jesus supplicated most earnestly to be delivered from death upon the cross and was reassured in answer to his supplications that God would deliver him from such a death. A question, however, arises that calls for an answer from those who believe that Jesus was a partner in the Godhead and had appeared in human form to lay down his life on the cross so as to become atonement for the sins of mankind. If that were so, his death upon the cross would be the fulfillment of the very purpose of his coming and he would welcome its approach rather than seek to be delivered from it. Indeed, as a partner in the Godhead, he was in no need of any supplication but if, nevertheless, he did supplicate his supplication would be acted upon, he would be delivered from death upon the cross and would thus himself frustrate the very purpose of his coming. His supplications in the garden of Gethsemane, therefore, furnish a complete refutation of the fiction