Did Jesus Redeem Mankind? — Page 127
127 been sent at the time was a Jew from his mother's side and was not so from his father's side, but that in future a. Prophet would be raised who, though of Abram's stock, would be a non-Israelite. . Accordingly, after that Allah sent Muhammad the. Prophet (peace and the blessings be on him), who was an. Ishmalite, and chain of prophethood was cut off for ever from the Israelites. Therefore our belief in the Messiah being without a father is noto pen to any criticism. According to us, a deep philosophy underlies it. But the theory they advance in this behalf has been turned down by us, our stand being that it does not make the Messiah sinless and that, on the contrary, it shows him to be a greater sinner than others and nullifies vicarious atonement. . INADEQUACY OF MESSIAH'S SACRIFICE. Another point which deserves consideration in respect of the theory of vicarious atonement is whether the death of. Jesus on the Cross could redeem the world. The answer is that even if we accept the New Testament version of the incident of crucifixion of Jesus, it is an event a study of which does not convince us that the Messiah made any sacrifice at all. For, according to the New Testament, the Messiah remained in the tomb for a day and a half; his cruicifixion happened on Friday in the afternoon and on Sunday morning he was up and about (St. Mark, Ch. 16). . From Friday night to Saturday evening it would be a period of 24 hours and from Saturday evening to Sunday morning another 12 hours It would thus mean that, in the light of the New Testament account, the Messiah stayed in the tomb for a total period of 36 hours. Suppose, the Christian belief that Jesus stayed in hell for a day and a half was correct, the