Truth About The Crucifixion — Page 87
THERE are three currents of thought regarding the event of the crucifixion of Jesus: (a) The Jews and the Christians both hold that Jesus was put upon the cross and expired on the cross and thus suffered an accursed death. The Jews consider such death as proof that Jesus was a false prophet as according to their scriptures such death is accursed. For instance,. And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is accursed of God. (Deut. 21: 22, 23). And again, • but that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the Lord your God. (Deut. 13:5). The Christians believe that Jesus submitted willingly to an accursed death so that he might thereby atone for the sins of mankind. (b) A large majority of Orthodox Muslims altogether reject the death of Jesus upon the cross. According to them,. Jesus was never put upon the cross. When the Jews conspired to seize Jesus so that he might be crucified,. God Almighty invested another person with the appearance of Jesus who was seized by the Jews and was crucified, while Jesus was raised by God bodily to heaven. (c) The Ahmadi Muslims believe that Jesus was put upon the cross but God Almighty so planned that he was removed from the Cross while he was still alive and was ministered unto and having recovered completely he departed from Judea in search of the lost sheep of the house of Israel. He lived to a good old age and died and was buried in Kashmir. They base themselves upon the Holy Quran, the traditions of the Holy Prophet and the writings of the ancient divines. They also rely upon 90