The sign of Jonah is related in the Bible:
The Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights. From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry. (Jonah 1:17, 2:1,2)
The sign given to the Ninevites by Jonah was he was saved from certain death. He stayed for a period of time in danger, but ultimately recovered. He went alive into the belly of the fish, stayed alive for days, and came out alive.
The same fate was prophecied for Jesus. He would enter the tomb alive, stay alive for days, and come out alive. If Jesus had died, there would be little resemblance to Jonah.
The story of Jonah is one of survival — not revival.
Blood and Water: Gushed from the spear wound, a sign of a beating heart. Corpses Do Not Bleed
An important piece of information is mentioned in the Gospel of John which supports the view that Jesus did not die on the cross:
"One of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water" (John 19:34).
Blood pouring out is a sign of intact circulation, with the spear injuring an arteriole. Note the words 'sudden flow' which implies blood pressure. The 'water' was perhaps pleural fluid, present between the rib cage and lungs.
As blood does not rush out of corpses, the quoted verse did present a problem to at least one Church Father, Origen. In his exegesis of John 19:34, he admitted that blood coagulates after death, but the flow of blood in this case constituted a miracle and thus needed no explanation. (Contra Celsus, by Origen, translated by H. Chadwick, Cambridge U).
The spear thrust into the side of Jesus was not meant as a kind of definitive blow, but as a rough (and actually inaccurate) indicator if death had occurred. If the intent were to kill, the soldier would have stabbed into the front of the chest to injure the heart. However, in the event the person was not on the cross for sufficient length of time, death was usually caused by breaking the legs, as was done with the individuals hanging along side Jesus.
Breaking with Protocol
The Gospel testimony it should be pointed out is inconsistent on the point of the centurion wanting to ensure the death of Jesus. On the one hand, the centurion saw that Jesus was 'already dead' so he did not bother to break his legs (see "Legs not Broken") as against the demand of the Jews to hasten death by breaking his bones on account of the Sabbath (John 19:31) which was the standard protocol. On the other hand the centurion pierced Jesus' side. Was this done to cause death if he was uncertain about it? If so, why were the bones not broken also which was the standard, brutal method? How can we not assume there were some elements of sympathy from at least some of the Romans, starting from Pilate on top (see "Pilate's Plot") and going down the chain of command?
It is alleged the Romans executioners were cold, brutal and blood thirsty experts in the art of putting people to death. Not only do we have some inconsistency in actions documented on the part of the centurion, we also have what appears to a be a very sympathetic Roman officer and even a closet follower of Jesus, as marked by his words when he was looking on at the cross when Jesus supposedly died: "Truly this man was the Son of God" (Mark 15:39).
Prayer at Gethsemane:
He prayed to be rescued from death on the cross.
Prayer in the Garden
When it appeared that there was no way to avoid the devious plans of the Jews to have him crucified, Jesus prayed fervently 'to remove the cup' of death upon the cross (Mark 14:36).
Jesus had full confidence that his prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane would be accepted as he himself told his disciples:
"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer" (Matthew 21:22).
"Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks. You parents- if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Of if they ask for fish, do you give them a snake?" (Matthew 7:7-9)
God Accepted His Prayer
The prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane was the most important and grand prayer offered by Jesus and portrayed quite vividly in the Gospels. It is inconceivable that the prayer did not reach the Divine Throne, especially as Jesus taught his disciples the power of prayer.
Indeed we need not guess. The Gospels furnish evidence that his prayer was accepted.
The Gospel of Luke states an angel came from Heaven "strengthening him" (Luke 22:43). This indicates God had heard his heart-felt prayer.
After his supplication in the garden, when Jesus was apprehended, one of his followers drew a sword, struck a servant of a high priest and cut off his ear. Jesus sternly rebuked him and said:
"Those who use the sword will be killed by the sword. Don't you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?"(Matthew 26:52-53).
This shows Jesus was now in perfect contentment that his prayer was accepted and all could be left now in the hands of God, with no need for active self-defence.
Finally, when death looked imminent and he was in agony on the cross he cried "Eli Eli lama sabachthani"* (Matthew 27:45-46) because he did not expect that it would come to this. He fully believed the prayer would be accepted.
* Translation: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!
http://www.alislam.org/topics/jesus/
Paarsurrey says:
Please read the above Ahmadia view-point and accept the truth only if it satisfies your heart and soul, your mind and conscience;absolutely no compulsion.
My Christian friends should feel free to make any peaceful comments; even if they differ with me.
I love Jesus , Mary and Muhammad.
Thanks
I am an Ahmadi peaceful Muslim
http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping
Showing posts with label Jesus among the Lost Tribes of Israel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus among the Lost Tribes of Israel. Show all posts
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Jesus survived crucifixion and travelled towards India to continue his ministry among the Lost Tribes of Israel
Jesus - A Humble Prophet of God
Ahmadi Muslims hold the unique belief that Jesus (peace be upon him) survived the crucifixion and travelled towards India to continue his ministry among the Lost Tribes of Israel.
Furthermore, they claim that his tomb, containing his body, has been recently re-discovered in India where it can be seen to this day.
Ahmadi Muslims also assert that this belief is not only upheld by the Holy Quran and the Sayings of Muhammad sa, but even by the Holy Bible itself.
Life before Crucifixion
Ahmadi Muslims believe that Jesus was a Prophet of God born to the Virgin Mary and was the Messiah of the Israelites as foretold by Moses .
Jesus - A Righteous Servant of God
The Holy Quran affirms the virgin birth of Jesus, and repudiates the notion that Mary was not pious and that her birth was illegitimate. The Quran narrates Mary’s statement to an angel: “How can I have a child when no man has touched me and neither have I been unchaste?” (19:21)
Moreover, it is on account of her piety that Chapter 19 in the Quran is named after her, and all pious Muslims are likened to her.
A Very Rare Phenomenon
The virgin birth of Jesus was a miracle, no doubt. But according to the Ahmadiyya Muslim view, miracles always work in accordance with God’s laws, no matter how limited our understanding of those laws are.
Modern science has only just begun to study this rare phenomenon.
For example, In lower animals rare instances of virgin births have been well documented, representing a complete surprise to zoologists. There are even reports — albeit scattered — of fatherless human conceptions.
Of course, research continues and the mention of these phenomena is only given here to demonstrate that what was once considered impossible can indeed be plausible.
Son of God:
Jesus used this metaphor for all believers, not just himself. While the term “Son of God” has been used in reference to Jesus, it should be noted that God has used this title for many of His chosen ones.
For example, God, in the Old Testament refers to David: “I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you’” * (Psalm 2:7)
Furthermore, in a New Testament genealogy, Adam is listed as the “Son of God” (Luke 3.38). In fact, some may argue that Adam could have a greater claim over the “Sonship of God” because, unlike Jesus, he had neither an earthly father nor mother.
In order to reconcile these references and many others, it is not unreasonable to conclude, that the Biblical usage of the term “Son of God” does not necessarily connote a literal “sonship to God” but a metaphorical one instead.
The Nature of Jesus
This metaphorical understanding is furthered by Jesus’ own words and actions. Jesus is known to have engaged in many human devotional activities such as fasting and praying. But perhaps the most significant evidence is that Jesus claimed to lack knowledge of the future because, as he claimed, only the Father possessed perfect knowledge. (Mark 13:32).
This is especially notable since Christian doctrine holds the view that Jesus’ nature is a “hypostatic union”. That is, he was “fully divine” and “fully man” at the same time. If this were true, then he should have at no point denied his own omniscience.
These, in addition to other philosophical considerations, lead one to question the biblical term “Son of God” and its literal application to Jesus.
* In addition to the translation given, the New International Version states the the phrase “have begotten you” could also be translated as “have become your Father.”
His Miracles:
A sign of his truth, like the many other prophets of God.
The Miracles of Jesus in the Holy Quran
The Holy Quran narrates several miracles of Jesus, including his ability to create birds, to cure ailments including blindness and raise the dead to life (Quran 3:50).
Ahmadi Muslims interpret these particular signs metaphorically. The people who accepted Jesus soared high like birds into the spiritual firmament above worldly, base concerns. Similarly in the metaphoric sense, he restored sight to the spiritually blind and life to the spiritually dead.
Jesus himself called the enemies of his day “blind” because of their hypocritical nature in matters of faith (Matthew 23:26). The very nature of his words about healing convey a spiritual change, not physical.
It should also be remembered that Jesus spoke in parables, such as the famous line, “let the dead bury their dead” (Matthew 8:22).
The Holy Quran also describes disbelievers as deaf, dumb and blind (Quran 2:19) and the Holy Prophet (SAW) offered them ‘life’ and revival from such death (Quran 8:25).
Literal Interpretations
Indeed, it is difficult to insist on the literal interpretation of all Biblical miracles. Even the authoritative Harper’s Bible Commentary goes as far as to recommend that the following miracle relating to the resurrection be ignored.
The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.(Matthew 27:52-53)
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, expounds upon the significance of these verses in his landmark book, Jesus in India. He explains that the Bible is actually relating the details of a spiritual vision. And in the language of visions, if anyone sees “that the dead have come out of the graves and have made for their homes, the interpretation is that a prisoner would be released from his bondage, and that he would be rescued from the hands of his persecutors.”
Incidentally, this interpretation is also corroborated by Gustavus Miller’s book, 10,000 Dreams Interpreted.
Ironically, while Christian scholars were advising against deriving any value from certain verses of the Bible, a Muslim, who claimed to be the Promised Messiah, would come to the Bible’s defense by illustrating some of the metaphorical beauties it contained.
Miracles and Divinity
Furthermore, it should be remembered that Elijah also raised the dead to life (I Kings 17:19-22). It is difficult to make an argument about the divinity of Jesus therefore, unless one considers Elijah also divine. The argument that Jesus did the miracles with his own power, whereas God worked through Elijah, is contradicted by the New Testament itself. Acts (2:22) states: ‘Ye men of Israel hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you’.
His Mission:
Confined to the twelve tribes of Israel, not the whole world. The Sheep of Israel
The geographic scope of Jesus’ mission was confined to where the Israelites lived. Jesus even said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24).
The Israelites followed the Torah, and Jesus came to revive the true spirit of the Torah in the hearts of the Israelites and clear any misunderstandings. He was a follower of Moses and did not change or reject the Mosaic law. The New Testament states Jesus came only to fulfill the Law and not abolish it (Matthew 5:17).
Lost Tribes in Afghanistan
Of the twelve tribes of Israel, only two remained in their homeland. The remaining ten tribes became known as the lost tribes or lost sheep of Israel, since they never returned back home. Most of the tribes settled in Afghanistan, northern India, and as far as China. Therefore, It was thus imperative for Jesus to minister in these areas by travelling there.
Today, there is a good body of evidence showing that certain peoples of Afghanistan and India and neighboring areas are of Israelite heritage. This is based on their own written and oral traditions, physical features, language, folklore, monuments, and customs. Most even call themselves ‘bani Israel’ or ‘children of Israel’.
Survival from Crucifixion
Ahmadi Muslims claim that Jesus (as) survived the crucifixion because he was taken down from the cross in a state of unconsciousness — not death.
Sign of Jonah:
Jesus foretold he would survive just like Jonah did.
The Greatest Miracle of Jesus
Jesus prophecied that his fate would be like that of prophet Jonah.
Jesus said:
“A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:39,40)
Survival — Not Revival
The sign of Jonah is related in the Bible:
The Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights. From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry. (Jonah 1:17, 2:1,2)
The sign given to the Ninevites by Jonah was he was saved from certain death. He stayed for a period of time in danger, but ultimately recovered. He went alive into the belly of the fish, stayed alive for days, and came out alive.
The same fate was prophecied for Jesus. He would enter the tomb alive, stay alive for days, and come out alive. If Jesus had died, there would be little resemblance to Jonah.
The story of Jonah is one of survival — not revival.
http://www.alislam.org/topics/jesus/
Paarsurrey says:
Please read the above Ahmadia view-point and accept the truth only if it satisfies your heart and soul, your mind and conscience;absolutely no compulsion.
My Christian friends should feel free to make any peaceful comments; even if they differ with me.
I love Jesus , Mary and Muhammad.
Thanks
I am an Ahmadi peaceful Muslim
http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping
Ahmadi Muslims hold the unique belief that Jesus (peace be upon him) survived the crucifixion and travelled towards India to continue his ministry among the Lost Tribes of Israel.
Furthermore, they claim that his tomb, containing his body, has been recently re-discovered in India where it can be seen to this day.
Ahmadi Muslims also assert that this belief is not only upheld by the Holy Quran and the Sayings of Muhammad sa, but even by the Holy Bible itself.
Life before Crucifixion
Ahmadi Muslims believe that Jesus was a Prophet of God born to the Virgin Mary and was the Messiah of the Israelites as foretold by Moses .
Jesus - A Righteous Servant of God
The Holy Quran affirms the virgin birth of Jesus, and repudiates the notion that Mary was not pious and that her birth was illegitimate. The Quran narrates Mary’s statement to an angel: “How can I have a child when no man has touched me and neither have I been unchaste?” (19:21)
Moreover, it is on account of her piety that Chapter 19 in the Quran is named after her, and all pious Muslims are likened to her.
A Very Rare Phenomenon
The virgin birth of Jesus was a miracle, no doubt. But according to the Ahmadiyya Muslim view, miracles always work in accordance with God’s laws, no matter how limited our understanding of those laws are.
Modern science has only just begun to study this rare phenomenon.
For example, In lower animals rare instances of virgin births have been well documented, representing a complete surprise to zoologists. There are even reports — albeit scattered — of fatherless human conceptions.
Of course, research continues and the mention of these phenomena is only given here to demonstrate that what was once considered impossible can indeed be plausible.
Son of God:
Jesus used this metaphor for all believers, not just himself. While the term “Son of God” has been used in reference to Jesus, it should be noted that God has used this title for many of His chosen ones.
For example, God, in the Old Testament refers to David: “I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you’” * (Psalm 2:7)
Furthermore, in a New Testament genealogy, Adam is listed as the “Son of God” (Luke 3.38). In fact, some may argue that Adam could have a greater claim over the “Sonship of God” because, unlike Jesus, he had neither an earthly father nor mother.
In order to reconcile these references and many others, it is not unreasonable to conclude, that the Biblical usage of the term “Son of God” does not necessarily connote a literal “sonship to God” but a metaphorical one instead.
The Nature of Jesus
This metaphorical understanding is furthered by Jesus’ own words and actions. Jesus is known to have engaged in many human devotional activities such as fasting and praying. But perhaps the most significant evidence is that Jesus claimed to lack knowledge of the future because, as he claimed, only the Father possessed perfect knowledge. (Mark 13:32).
This is especially notable since Christian doctrine holds the view that Jesus’ nature is a “hypostatic union”. That is, he was “fully divine” and “fully man” at the same time. If this were true, then he should have at no point denied his own omniscience.
These, in addition to other philosophical considerations, lead one to question the biblical term “Son of God” and its literal application to Jesus.
* In addition to the translation given, the New International Version states the the phrase “have begotten you” could also be translated as “have become your Father.”
His Miracles:
A sign of his truth, like the many other prophets of God.
The Miracles of Jesus in the Holy Quran
The Holy Quran narrates several miracles of Jesus, including his ability to create birds, to cure ailments including blindness and raise the dead to life (Quran 3:50).
Ahmadi Muslims interpret these particular signs metaphorically. The people who accepted Jesus soared high like birds into the spiritual firmament above worldly, base concerns. Similarly in the metaphoric sense, he restored sight to the spiritually blind and life to the spiritually dead.
Jesus himself called the enemies of his day “blind” because of their hypocritical nature in matters of faith (Matthew 23:26). The very nature of his words about healing convey a spiritual change, not physical.
It should also be remembered that Jesus spoke in parables, such as the famous line, “let the dead bury their dead” (Matthew 8:22).
The Holy Quran also describes disbelievers as deaf, dumb and blind (Quran 2:19) and the Holy Prophet (SAW) offered them ‘life’ and revival from such death (Quran 8:25).
Literal Interpretations
Indeed, it is difficult to insist on the literal interpretation of all Biblical miracles. Even the authoritative Harper’s Bible Commentary goes as far as to recommend that the following miracle relating to the resurrection be ignored.
The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.(Matthew 27:52-53)
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, expounds upon the significance of these verses in his landmark book, Jesus in India. He explains that the Bible is actually relating the details of a spiritual vision. And in the language of visions, if anyone sees “that the dead have come out of the graves and have made for their homes, the interpretation is that a prisoner would be released from his bondage, and that he would be rescued from the hands of his persecutors.”
Incidentally, this interpretation is also corroborated by Gustavus Miller’s book, 10,000 Dreams Interpreted.
Ironically, while Christian scholars were advising against deriving any value from certain verses of the Bible, a Muslim, who claimed to be the Promised Messiah, would come to the Bible’s defense by illustrating some of the metaphorical beauties it contained.
Miracles and Divinity
Furthermore, it should be remembered that Elijah also raised the dead to life (I Kings 17:19-22). It is difficult to make an argument about the divinity of Jesus therefore, unless one considers Elijah also divine. The argument that Jesus did the miracles with his own power, whereas God worked through Elijah, is contradicted by the New Testament itself. Acts (2:22) states: ‘Ye men of Israel hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you’.
His Mission:
Confined to the twelve tribes of Israel, not the whole world. The Sheep of Israel
The geographic scope of Jesus’ mission was confined to where the Israelites lived. Jesus even said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24).
The Israelites followed the Torah, and Jesus came to revive the true spirit of the Torah in the hearts of the Israelites and clear any misunderstandings. He was a follower of Moses and did not change or reject the Mosaic law. The New Testament states Jesus came only to fulfill the Law and not abolish it (Matthew 5:17).
Lost Tribes in Afghanistan
Of the twelve tribes of Israel, only two remained in their homeland. The remaining ten tribes became known as the lost tribes or lost sheep of Israel, since they never returned back home. Most of the tribes settled in Afghanistan, northern India, and as far as China. Therefore, It was thus imperative for Jesus to minister in these areas by travelling there.
Today, there is a good body of evidence showing that certain peoples of Afghanistan and India and neighboring areas are of Israelite heritage. This is based on their own written and oral traditions, physical features, language, folklore, monuments, and customs. Most even call themselves ‘bani Israel’ or ‘children of Israel’.
Survival from Crucifixion
Ahmadi Muslims claim that Jesus (as) survived the crucifixion because he was taken down from the cross in a state of unconsciousness — not death.
Sign of Jonah:
Jesus foretold he would survive just like Jonah did.
The Greatest Miracle of Jesus
Jesus prophecied that his fate would be like that of prophet Jonah.
Jesus said:
“A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:39,40)
Survival — Not Revival
The sign of Jonah is related in the Bible:
The Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights. From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry. (Jonah 1:17, 2:1,2)
The sign given to the Ninevites by Jonah was he was saved from certain death. He stayed for a period of time in danger, but ultimately recovered. He went alive into the belly of the fish, stayed alive for days, and came out alive.
The same fate was prophecied for Jesus. He would enter the tomb alive, stay alive for days, and come out alive. If Jesus had died, there would be little resemblance to Jonah.
The story of Jonah is one of survival — not revival.
http://www.alislam.org/topics/jesus/
Paarsurrey says:
Please read the above Ahmadia view-point and accept the truth only if it satisfies your heart and soul, your mind and conscience;absolutely no compulsion.
My Christian friends should feel free to make any peaceful comments; even if they differ with me.
I love Jesus , Mary and Muhammad.
Thanks
I am an Ahmadi peaceful Muslim
http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping
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