Lecture Lahore — Page 25
2 5 Again, the plan [devised by the Christians] for attaining salvation is not practicable, for it never stops people from sin, and it is a sin in itself to commit suicide for the deliv- erance of others. I swear by the Almighty that the Messiah never willingly accepted crucifixion, and the mischievous Jews had treated him as they liked. He spent the whole night weeping and praying in a garden, and God accepted his prayers on account of his righteousness, and—as the Bible itself admits—saved him from an accursed death on the cross. It is, therefore, sheer calumny to say that the Messiah willingly committed suicide, and it is unreason- able to suggest that one can cure the headache of another by striking one’s own head. It is our belief that the Messiah as was a Prophet and one of the Perfect Ones whom God purifies with His own Hand, but we can never ascribe Godhood to him, or to any other Prophet, on the basis of what is written about them in the holy scriptures. I myself am experienced in these matters. The praise and honour that God has conferred upon me in His holy revelations is far greater than what has been written about the Messiah. Would I then be justified in calling myself 'God' or 'Son of God'? Let us now look at the teachings contained in the Gospels. I believe that a perfect teaching must nurture all of man’s faculties, instead of emphasizing any particular aspect. I truthfully declare that the perfect teaching, which is al- ways consistent with truth and wisdom, is only to be found in the Holy Quran. The Gospel teaches its follow-