Crucifixion or Crucifiction - A Response (PART 8)

By now we should be quite clear that Ahmed Deedat showed no respect to the text of the bible. In order to support his wild theories, he had to go to extreme lengths to change the simple and clear thoughts portrayed. We have seen Deedat accuse Jesus of wanting to start a Jihad, miscalculating the cooperation from His followers and the degree of opposition He would face, and resist the will of the Father to suffer an all-inclusive death, whereby the sins of the world would be placed upon Him to redeem mankind.

Thus far, he has not even come close to successfully undermine the credibility of the gospel accounts. We see familiar argumentation from Deedat as we press on:

“CHANGE OF STRATEGY

Did Jesus not know the truth of this statement when he ordered his disciples to sell their garments and buy SWORDS? He surely did! Then why the contradiction now? There is really no contradiction! The situation changes, so the strategy must also change. He had sense enough to realise that against trained and well-equipped Roman soldiers it would be suicidal for his sleepy warriors to offer even a pretence of resistance.”
There is really no need to respond to this statement as we have already clearly demonstrated that the scenario being painted by Deedat is not a result of careful analysis of the scripture, but simply an issue of a rather fertile imagination.

Let us see if his next section, titled “Prince of peace” fares any better:

”PRINCE OF PEACE???
Why do not the Christian controversialists give their "Lord and Master" credit for this simple common-sense? Because they have been programmed for a period of two thousand years that Jesus, the "lamb", the "prince of peace", couldn't harm a fly. They overlook the other side of his nature which demanded blood and fire! They forget his instructions to his soldiers regarding those of his enemies who would not like him to rule over them, to bring them forth:
. . . and SLAY1 them before me." (HOLY BIBLE) Luke 19:27”
The title prince of peace comes from a prophetic passage in the Old Testament. In the book of Isaiah 9:6 we read:

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

We note in passing, that the title “Prince of Peace” is just one of many titles here applied to the coming messiah. We find that He is called “Mighty God” and “Eternal Father”. Deedat says that we overlook the other side of His nature. Yet I would submit that it is the Muslims who overlook His eternal, uncreated, indestructible, incorruptible, divine nature.

Deedat tries to add shock value here by quoting half a verse without providing any context. Since we believe that all scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching and correction (2 Tim 3:16), we post Luke 19 in its entirety and derive the interpretation from the text rather than forcing our own thoughts upon the text:

19:1 He entered Jericho and was passing through.
19:2 And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich.
19:3 Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable * because of the crowd, for he was small in stature.
19:4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.
19:5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house."
19:6 And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly.
19:7 When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner."
19:8 Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much."
19:9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.
19:10 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
19:11 While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable , because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.
19:12 So He said, "A nobleman, * went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return.
19:13 "And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, 'Do business with this until * I come back.'
19:14 "But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.'
19:15 "When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done.
19:16 "The first appeared, saying, 'Master, your mina has made ten minas more.'
19:17 "And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.'
19:18 "The second came, saying, 'Your mina, master, has made five minas.'
19:19 "And he said to him also, 'And you are to be over five cities.'
19:20 "Another came, saying, 'Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief;
19:21 for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.'
19:22 "He *said to him, 'By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow ?
19:23 'Then why * did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest ?'
19:24 "Then he said to the bystanders, 'Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.'
19:25 "And they said to him, 'Master, he has ten minas already.'
19:26 "I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
19:27 "But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence."
19:28 After He had said these things, He was going on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
19:29 When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples,
19:30 saying, "Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied on which no one * yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here.
19:31 "If anyone asks you, 'Why * are you untying it?' you shall say, 'The Lord has need of it.' "
19:32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them.
19:33 As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt ?"
19:34 They said, "The Lord has need of it."
19:35 They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their coats on the colt and put Jesus on it.
19:36 As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road.
19:37 As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen,
19:38 shouting: "BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest !"
19:39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples."
19:40 But Jesus answered, "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!"
19:41 When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it,
19:42 saying, "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace ! But now they have been hidden from your eyes.
19:43 "For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side,
19:44 and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because * you did not recognize the time of your visitation."
19:45 Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling,
19:46 saying to them, "It is written, 'AND MY HOUSE SHALL BE A HOUSE OF PRAYER,' but you have made it a ROBBERS' DEN."
19:47 And He was teaching daily * in the temple; but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people were trying to destroy Him,
19:48 and they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging on to every word He said.

We notice first and foremost, that the words spoken in verse 27 are those in a parable (verse 11). Hence, Jesus is not commanding His disciples there and then to slay the people before Him. As much as Deedat wants to show Jesus committing violence in the gospels, he cannot do so. In fact, Jesus says emphatically that He came to save that which was lost.

Then Muslim will object and say “But the master is surely referring to Jesus Christ Himself” to which I would agree, however, this is referring to the end times, not the time of Jesus’ disciples.

Verse 11 tells us, that people supposed that the Kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. Jesus speaks this parable to correct them. Note verse 41 talks about Jesus weeping over Jerusalem. He then goes on to give a prophetic utterance in verse 43, speaking of the times when violence would come upon them. “For the days will come”, show that He was obviously speaking of the future, not the present. This matches the prophecies in Revelation concerning the end times when the antichrist will make war against the Lamb (Jesus) –

"These will wage war against the Lamb , and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful." Revelation 17:14.

Those who make war with Christ in Revelation 17:14 correspond to the enemies in Luke 19:27, those who hated Him in verse 14. What we see is an example of such persons who hate Jesus and do not desire for Him to reign over them in Luke 19:47.

As we can see, by allowing the text to be read in its entirety, the notion that Jesus is slaying people in the gospels is duly refuted. On the contrary He is weeping over Jerusalem and coming to them in the form of a slave to save them who are lost.

It should be mentioned that a Muslim has no position to condemn the battle of Armageddon as unnecessary violence by Jesus for 2 simple reasons:

1. It is the enemies of Christ who initiate the war (Rev 17:14)
2. Islam itself teaches a violent end-times scenario as well:

As per point 2 above, we read:

Volume 4, Book 55, Number 657:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, surely (Jesus,) the son of Mary will soon descend amongst you and will judge mankind justly (as a Just Ruler); he will break the Cross and kill the pigs and there will be no Jizya (i.e. taxation taken from non Muslims). Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it, and a single prostration to Allah (in prayer) will be better than the whole world and whatever is in it." Abu Huraira added "If you wish, you can recite (this verse of the Holy Book): -- 'And there is none Of the people of the Scriptures (Jews and Christians) But must believe in him (i.e Jesus as an Apostle of Allah and a human being) Before his death. And on the Day of Judgment He will be a witness Against them." (4.159)

We note the reference to Surah 4:159 mentioned above:
“There is not one of the People of the Scripture but will believe in him before his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them”

Putting Bukhari Volume 4, Book 55, Number 657 together with Surah 4:159, we find that apparently Jesus is going to kill Jews and Christians in the last day. If the muslim has a problem with end times wars in Revelation, then they will have to throw out Bukhari and the Quran.
Not surprisingly, Deedat uses more verses from the bible as He continues to paint a violent picture of Jesus. Let us take a look at them:

"Think NOT that I am come to send PEACE on earth; I. came NOT to send PEACE, but a SWORD." (HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 10:34

"I am come to send FIRE on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
Suppose ye that I am come to give PEACE on earth? I tell you, NAY; but rather DIVISION." (HOLY BIBLE) Luke 12:49 & 51”

Let us first address Matthew 10:34. I provide the surrounding context:

10:8 "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.
10:9 "Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts,
10:10 or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.
10:11 "And whatever * city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city.
10:12 "As you enter the house, give it your greeting.
10:13 "If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace.
10:14 "Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.
10:15 "Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
10:16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.
10:17 "But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues;
10:18 and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake , as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
10:19 "But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.
10:20 "For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
10:21 "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
10:22 "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
10:23 "But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.
10:24 "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.
10:25 "It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household !
10:26 "Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
10:27 "What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.
10:28 "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable * to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
10:29 "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent ? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
10:30 "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
10:31 "So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
10:32 "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.
10:33 "But whoever * denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
10:34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
10:35 "For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW;
10:36 and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.
10:37 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
10:38 "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
10:39 "He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.
10:40 "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.
10:41 "He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
10:42 "And whoever * in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."

We note from verses 8-10, that rather than being a slaughter mission, the disciples are taught to heal people and give things freely to them. Does this sound like something you do to people you are fighting?

The disciples are taught to go into a house and give it their blessing. And what of those homes that do not receive them? Kill them? No, they are taught simply to take back their blessing, shake the dust off their feet and move on to the next (verses 13-14). In fact, the consequences will come to that city not on the day of preaching but on the day of judgement (verse 15).

We reacquaint ourselves with verse 16 showing that the disciples are to be as innocent as doves. That does not sound like killing to me. In fact, it describes the opposers as wolves, not the disciples.

The verses never instruct the disciples to kill anyone. It does comfort them however by telling them not to fear those who can kill them physically, but rather to fear God who can destroy the soul. (verse 28)

What then did Jesus mean when He said that He would bring a sword if it doesn’t mean that He encouraged His disciples to engage in violence? Well there are 2 possible interpretations that could fit:

1. Jesus was speaking of the spiritual sword, which is His word (Hebrews 4:12) which was to be brought through the preaching of the gospel.
2. Jesus was speaking of the consequences of having the gospel announced, i.e. that the sword (physical) would be brought against the disciples by their opposers who would kill them.
As for Luke 12:49-51, these passages are not teaching that Jesus will slaughter people with a sword.

12:49 "I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled !
12:50 "But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished !
12:51 "Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth ? I tell you, no, but rather division;

Verse 50 talks about Jesus desiring to undergo baptism. Why would that be? Was He not already baptised in Luke 3:21? Why does He mention being baptized in 12:50? Christ here was talking about His death. He mentions this in Mark 10:38 which reads:

But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized ?"

Jesus spoke these words to James and John after they asked the Lord if they could sit with Him on His left and right side in the glory of his kingdom. In this verse He not only mentions the baptism, but the cup. When we put this together with His prayer to the Father in Gethsemane for the cup to pass from Him, we see clearly that this is talking about death, about martyrdom. When we look therefore at 12:49-51 in this light, we see:

(1) Jesus was determined to go to the cross.
(2) His ministry was leading up to this climatic point which would ultimately bring great persecution, great division, between those who follow Him and those who reject Him.
(3) His followers could expect to follow in the path of His death.

But we are still left with the fire in verse 49. What could it mean that Jesus wanted to cast fire upon the earth? I believe this is referring to His desire to pour out His spirit upon all flesh. We see this prophesied in Joel 2:28 -

"And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.”

We see the fulfilment of this in Acts 2:2-4 -

2:2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
2:3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Again, by allowing all of scripture to speak, we do not need to force an idea onto the text which is foreign. Jesus prepared His followers for martyrdom, but never commanded to kill. His desire to create division was to call His true seekers out to follow Him. And His desire to cast fire upon the earth, was not to commit some form of pyromania, but rather the pouring out of His Spirit upon His people to cause them to spread the word of God with all boldness.