The True Story of Jesus — Page 51
Chapter Eight—Trial of Jesus 51 clear from the Biblical account that the Jewish community had colluded against Jesus as and was determined to have him pun- ished. So a decision by Pilate contrary to the wishes of Jewish clergy would have resulted in a riot. Friday afternoon was fixed for the crucifixion. Jesus as prayed: ‘Father, my Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup of suffering away from me. ’ He prayed fervently because the truth of his claim was at stake. Jesus as knew that if the Jews succeeded in their attempt to kill him by crucifixion, they would proclaim him to be an impostor whose falsehood had finally been proved on the authority of divine scripture, which states, ‘A hanged man is accursed by God. ’1 God’s Promise to Save Jesus as from the Accursed Death The prayers of Jesus as were accepted and God assured him that he would be saved from the accursed death on the cross. According to the Holy Quran, God said to him, ‘I will cause thee to die a natural death and will exalt thee to Myself, and shall clear thee of the charges of those who disbelieve. ’2 The Bible seems to give a similar message. When the Jews demanded a sign from Jesus as, he replied, ‘A wicked and adulter- ous generation asks for a miraculous sign; But none will be given to it except the sign of the Prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three 1. Deuteronomy 21:23 2. Holy Quran 3:56