The Truth About Salvation — Page 23
23 Then he said to them, ‘ I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me. ’ And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, ‘ My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me ; Yet not what I want but what you want. ’ 7 T his suggests that the Messiah as was forcefully put on the cross. Christians argue that while his soul was ready [for cruci f ixion ] his body was frail, but if that were the case, the body ought to have been saved since it did not wish to be put on the cross , and yet it was still punished. If the argument that the Messiah as , despite his unwillingness, was put on the cross for the atonement of humankind’s sins is to be believed, then any other community can also claim that the murder of one of their people was for their own atonement. T his is a feeble contention, and until we have a reasonable argument in favour of atonement, it is unacceptable. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ATONEMENT AND SACRIFICE When Christians are unable to support their claims, they object that the concept of sacrifice is also existent in Islam. They ask that if the sacrifice of a goat can lead 7 Mathew , New Revised Standard Version, 26:38-39 [Publishers]