In the light of what has been presented in this project, the Cross in the Torah, let us draw some conclusions and contrast them to one specific claim made in the Quran.
8.1 tCitT – Foreshadowing of the Cross in the Torah
When Jesus claimed that the Old Testament was testifying about him he was not lying: The Old Testament is full of shadows pointing towards him hundreds and even thousands of years before he entered this world. In this project we only looked at a few examples:
- Genesis
- Jesus’ (the Messiah’s) conception would be a miracle
- Mary, Jesus’ mother, would be given tremendous promises for her son
- God, the Father, would be willing to sacrifice Jesus, His only begotten Son
- Jesus would be a man in his 30’s and he would be obedient to his Father
- Jesus would have to carry the wood (the Cross) on which he would die
- Jesus would be sacrificed on a mountain close to the city of Jerusalem
- God would provide a substitute for the sins of mankind:
Jesus, his head surrounded by a crown of thorns
- Exodus
- since the sin of the first man (Adam) humanity has been enslaved to the law of sin and death
- followers of Jesus would be saved, passed over, by the blood of this unblemished Lamb of God
- Jesus would shed his blood on a wooden frame, the Cross
- Jesus would die at about 3pm in the afternoon
- no bones of Jesus, the Lamb of God, would be broken
- 3 days after his death Jesus would liberate mankind once and for all from slavery to the law of sin and death when he rose from the grave
- Leviticus
- on the Cross God would lay all the sins of mankind on Jesus
- Jesus, the proverbial scapegoat, would have to die outside the walls of Jerusalem in solitude
- Numbers
- everyone has rebelled / sinned against God
- the wage of sin is death
- repentance from sin prompts God to have mercy
- God in his mercy would provide a remedy: Jesus on the Cross
- whoever looks at Jesus/ believes in Jesus will be saved
- Deuteronomy
- Jesus would be cursed by God in being publicly hung on a tree as a capital punishment for the sins of mankind … so we could be redeemed
08.2 tCitT – Direct Prophecies about the Messiah in the Old Testament
Adding to the shadow-principle, the Old Testament includes numerous direct prophecies which again draw a precise picture of Jesus as the Messiah (prophecy → fulfillment):
- He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14 → Luke 1:26-38)
- He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2 → Matthew 2:1)
- He would come before the destruction of the second temple [1] (Daniel 9:25-26 → Luke 19:10 / Mark 10:45)
- He would have to flee to Egypt (Hosea 11:1 → Matthew 2:13-14) to escape the massacre of the infants in Bethlehem (Jeremiah 31:15 → Matthew 2:16)
- He would descend from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10), more precise:
- He would descend from the line of King David (Isaiah 9:6-7 → Matthew 1:1-17)
- He would be called Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14 → Matthew 1:23)
- He would have a ministry in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1-2 → Matthew 4:12-16)
- He would have a triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey
(Zechariah 9:9 → Matthew 21:1-11) - He would be betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9 → Matthew 26:20-25)
- He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver
(Zechariah 11:12 → Matthew 26:14-15) and the money would be used to buy a potter’s field (Zechariah 11:13 → Matthew 27:5-7) - He would be rejected by the Jews (Isaiah 53:3 → John 1:11)
- He would be falsely accused (Psalm 35:11 → Matthew 26:59-68) yet he would be silent before his accusers (Isaiah 53:7 → Matthew 27:12-14)
- He would be beaten and spat upon (Isaiah 50:6 → Mark 14:65)
- He would suffer in our place (Isaiah 53:4-5 → Matthew 8:16-17)
- He would be treated like a criminal (Isaiah 53:12 → Matthew 27:38)
- His hands and feet would be pierced (Isaiah 53:5 / Psalm 22:16 → John 20:25)
- None of his bones would be broken (Psalm 34:19-20 → John 19:33)
- Lots would be cast for his clothes (Psalm 22:18 → John 19:23-24)
- He would be mocked at the Cross (Psalm 22:6-8 → Matthew 27:39-43)
- He would thirst on the Cross (Psalm 22:15 → John 19:28) and be given vinegar to drink (Psalm 69:21 → John 19:29)
- Jesus saying: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?“ (Psalm 22:1 → Matthew 27:46)
- He would be buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9 → Matthew 27:57-61)
- His body would not see decay (resurrection) (Psalm 16:9-11 → Matthew 28:9)
- He would ascend into heaven (Psalm 68:18 → Luke 24:50-53)
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[1] destruction of the second temple: 70AD by the Romans
08.3 tCitT – Following the Evidence wherever it might lead
You have seen what has been written in the Hebrew Bible hundreds and even thousands of years before Jesus was born. What is the most reasonable explanation for all of this?
Jesus was
- a Liar;
that he held on to his lie of being the Son of God (even though this claim was the reason for him facing one of the most horrific deaths devised by man), and that he mislead his disciples (eyewitnesses) and – over the centuries – millions of believers to follow him into cruel and suffering deaths themselves.
- a Lunatic;
that Jesus went crazy after preaching a masterpieces like the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and held on to his claim of being the Son of God even though he was about to face one of the most horrific deaths devised by man.
- Lord;
that he was – and still is – who he claimed to be.
Make sure to realize: Those are the only three options! Is there any reason for you not to accept Jesus for who he really is? Not just a good man; not just a good teacher; not just a prophet … but also Lord and Savior?
To our Muslim friends:
Your quest for truth can start today … by reading. Be encouraged to read the Bible, the Old and the New Testament to see how many independent sources testified about Jesus. Read about the miraculous deeds he did which can only be explained by his divine nature. And read about his outstanding character: His goodness, his mercy, his righteousness. In contrast to that start to read the Quran for yourself, the Hadith, and learn firsthand about Muhammad, the prophet of Islam. With an open mind examine his deeds, his character, and also his claims. Claims like him being foretold in the Torah and the Gospel (Surah 7:157):
Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written [i.e., described] in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, […] Surah 7:157 [Sahih International]
Compare the lives of Jesus and Muhammad and ask yourself the question whom you would rather entrust your soul with eternal salvation. And – most importantly – pray to the one and only true God of the universe to guide you into all truth. He will honor that prayer if you are open to go wherever the evidence might lead you.
God bless you!
