Uncrucified Prophet or Risen Savior?

This week, as I prepare my heart to celebrate Easter, I’ve been looking at what Muslims believe about “Isa” (Jesus) versus what the Bible says about him.

Bible: Jesus was crucified. “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth? Before your eyes Jesus Christ has been clearly set forth as crucified!” (Gal 3:1). His crucifixion is specifically referenced seven times in the book of Matthew, six times in Mark, four times in Luke, six times in John, and thirteen times in the remaining twenty-seven New Testament books.

Qur’an: Isa was not actually crucified. “That they said in boast “we killed Christ Isa, the son of Mary…but they killed him not, nor crucified him” (surah 4:157).

Bible: Jesus was not created. “In the beginning was the WORD, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” (Jn 1) and “He is before all things, and by him all things consist” (Col 1:17).

Qur’an: Isa was created in the ordinary way of men. “The similitude of Isa before God is as that of Adam; He created him from dust” (surah 3:59).

Bible: Jesus is the only way for sinful humans to be made right with God. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except by me” (Jn 14:6). “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 Jn 2:2)

Qur’an: Isa was an apostle of Allah. “O people of the book, commit no excess of your religion, nor say of Allah aught but truth, Christ Isa, the son of Mary, was an apostle of Allah” (surah 4:171).

The Qur’an views Jesus as a good man who submitted himself to the will of Allah. Muslims believe Allah raptured him for his devout ways. Obviously, Jesus cannot be the rescuing Savior and the apostle of Allah. Either the Bible is correct or the Qur’an is correct…but it is foolishness to try say Christianity and Islam, as “Abrahamic religions” are fundamentally similar. Islam is a religion centered on a deity named Allah and the revelations and laws he gave to a man called Mohammed (whose earthly life is documented by historians and ancient sources, including some of his wives).
Christianity is centered on Jesus Christ (whose earthly life and subsequent crucifixion are mentioned by reputable ancient texts apart from the Bible, including the writings of Tacitus (Roman), Josephus (Jewish), Suetonius, Pliny the Younger, and Thallus (Greek). Interestingly, all their writings confirm New Testament events, although not one of these historians were Christians).
In further posts I want to examine the known facts about both Jesus’ life and Mohammed’s life, but today I want to remind you that our Savior was not invented by men, nor created by God; he was not Allah’s apostle, nor did he come to the world to promote his own fame. Jesus Christ came that we might find forgiveness from God and redemption from sin through his atoning blood. It is because of his sacrifice and purity that Easter Sunday is a time of celebration!