Before I touch the topic crucifixion lets dispel the myth of “LAMB” “PRINCE OF PEACE”
“THINK NOT THAT I CAME TO SEND PEACE ON EARTH: I CAME NOT TO SEND PEACE, BUT A SWORD.” Matthew 10:34
Now remember that it was time of Passover and Jesus just had his last supper with his disciples. Jesus himself declares that one of his disciple will betray him before the night is over. Some time later Judas leaves the upper room and head for Jew head priest who is waiting for him. Back at upper room Jesus is left with eleven disciple, prepare strategy to protect himself against what he presume will be rag tag band of men from Jewish temple and not trained Roman soldiers so he orders his disciples,
“…..HE THAT HATH NO SWORD LET HIM SELL HIS GARMENTS AND BUY ONE.”
Luke 22:35-36
One of the disciples responds,
“…LORD, BEHOLD HERE ARE TWO SWORDS” AND HE SAITH UNTO THEM “ IT IS ENOUGH” Luke 22:38
Here it is important to remember one thing that Christian faith revolve around Jesus being led to cross like a lamb without any resistance, if this would have been the case Jesus would have not left the upper guest room where he had his last supper. But to defend himself he heads toward Gethsemane, a olive press, a courtyard built of stonewall 5 miles outside of the town. Jesus is a master strategist, in preparation for his defence he station 8 of his disciples by outer wall entrance and tell them,
“…SIT YE HERE, WHILE I GO AND PRAY YONDER.” Matthew 26:36
Jesus heads further into the garden accompanied by Peter, John and James…to pray..No, to make another line of defence, these three are armed with two swords that they had .
“ AND HE TOOK WITH HIM PETER AND TWO SONS OF ZEBEDEE……. THEN SAITH UNTO THEM….TARRY YE HERE AND WATCH WITH ME.” Matthew 26:37-38
After putting three to guard and to keep watch, Jesus head further inside the courtyard to pray. Here I will remind every one according to Christian faith Jesus is crucified by his free will, so to forgive sins of his flock (Christians)
“….AND BEGAN TO BE SORROWFUL AND VERY DEPRESSED THEN SAITH HE UNTO THEM, “MY SOUL IS EXCEEDINGLY SORROWFUL EVEN UNTO DEATH.”
“AND HE WENT A LITTLE FURTHER AND FELL ONTO HIS FACE, (AS MUSLIMS DO)
AND PRAYED SAYING O MY FATHER IF IT BE POSSIBLE LET THIS CUP PASS FROM ME NEVERTHELESS NOT AS I WILL, BUT AS THOU WILT.” Matthew 26:37-39
“AND BEING IN AN AGONY HE PRAYED MORE EARNESTLY AND HIS SWEAT WAS AS IT WERE GREAT DROPS OF BLOOD FALLING DOWN TO THE GROUND.”
Luke 22:44
All this preparation arming, wailing, sweating, crying and complaining, explain Jesus was not willing victim, as Christian claim. Now let see what Jesus’s disciple are doing in bibles own verses.
“WHAT COULD YE NOT WATCH WITH ME FOR ONE HOUR?” Matthew 26:40
(Disciples are found asleep)
“AND AGAIN HE WENT AWAY AND PRAYED AND SPOKE SAME WORDS AND WHEN HE RETURNED HE FOUND THEM SLEEP AGAIN…” Mark 14:39-40
Lets move forward and see what is Judas is doing as is in bible,
“JUDAS THEN HAVING RECEIVED BAND OF MEN AND OFFICERS FROM THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND PHARISEES, COMETH THERE WITH LANTERNS AND TORCHES AND WEAPONS.” John 18:3
Disciples of Jesus are caught off guard and Roman soldiers reach inner circles of defence where only one disciple has presence of mind and he ask of Jesus,
“…MASTER SHALL WE SMITE THEM WITH SWORD?” Luke 22:41
Before Jesus could reply Peter struck and cut off an ear of one of the soldier. Jesus is not against the use of sword as on many occasions he suggests use of sword for example, “…and slay them before me.” Luke 19:27, and then again “…both men and women, young and old, and ox and sheep and ass, with the edge of the sword…” Joshua 6:21 But her Jesus was expecting rat tag band of men not trained soldiers of Roman army, so Jesus changed his strategy and said as is in Bible,
“…PUT UP THY SWORD INTO ITS PLACE: FOR ALL THEY THAT TAKE SWORD SHALL PERISH WITH THE SWORD” Matthew 26:52
From here we move on and see what were Jesus disciple did as is in bible,
“AND THEY ALL FORSOOK HIM AND FLED” Matthew 14:50
It was around 2:00 am in the morning Friday (Thursday nite into Friday morning) when Jesus was dragged from Gethsemane to Annas and his trials starts according to historians they estimate between 6 to 12 trials during the very short period of time as no one want the blood of innocent man on their hand, during the note false witnesses were produced and Jesus been a just man spoke openly to his accusers during one of his trials Pilate passes verdict as is in bible.
“…I FIND HIM NO FAULT AT ALL.” John 18:38
While trial was underway Pilate wife sends him message as it is in Bible,
“HAVE THOU NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT JUST MAN FOR I HAVE SUFFERED MANY THINGS THIS DAY IN A DREAM BECAUSE OF HIM” Matthew 27:19
But even Pilate who has earlier found Jesus not guilty gives in to Jewish pressure, so Pilate took water washed his hands before multitude, saying I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man. And hand Jesus over to the Jews to be crucified.
I must remind you all that it is now Friday day time and it is start of Jewish Sabbath at sun down that very day, so Jews are in hurry to hang Jesus on the cross, but they don’t want him to die quickly they want him to stay alive for long period on cross, as Jews themselves are waiting for a MASSIAH so if some miracle does occur they can take him down and nurse him back to health, so they don’t nail Jesus to the cross but tie him with leather ropes. As it was start of Sabbath roman managed to hang Jesus on the cross by 6th hour as it is in Bible,
“NOW FROM SIXTH HOUR THERE WAS DARKNESS OVER ALL THE LAND UNTO THE NINTH,” Matthew 27:45
Which is 12 O clock noontime and by ninth hour which is 3 O clock afternoon Jesus had given up the ghost as it is in the Bible,
“ AND ABOUT THE NINTH HOUR JESUS CRIED WITH LOUD VOICE SAYING E’LI,…………………..?, THAT IS TO SAY MY GOD, MY GOD WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?” Matthew 27:46
I will make one observation here that we Muslims believe that Allah did not Let Jesus die on the cross and God answered the prayers of his messenger and arranged show of nature with THUNDERSTROMS, DARKNESS AND EARTHQUAKE, this was all to disperse the crowds that has gathered to watch the crucifixion of Jesus, If you all remember it was NOON time when Jesus was hanged on the cross it was daylight and very easy to observe how Jesus was doing on the cross, But Allah had other designs in his scheme of things.
Even if accept Christians version that Jesus was nailed to the cross it would have taken longer period of time to die as his cross mates were alive when Roman soldiers checked on them and to kill them quickly they broke their bones but not of Jesus as he was already not moving and to check on him one of the soldier stab him and immediately blood and water like fluid start dripping, sure sign he was alive but in state of shock as it is in Bible,
“FORTHWITH CAME THERE OUT BLOOD AND WATER.” John 19:34
At this time JOSEPH OF ARIMETHE’A AND A ROMAN CENTURION WHO WAS A CONVERT went to Pilate to claim the body of Jesus, as is Bible,
“PILATE MARVELLED IF HE WERE ALREADY DEAD AND CALLING TO HIM THE CENTURION, HE ASKED HIM WHETHER HE HAD BEEN ANYWHILE DEAD.” Mark 15:44
As the above verse confirm that Pilate was surprised that Jesus is dead in such a short period of time as he was experienced that it take much longer time to die on the cross, But as he the Pilate was an unwilling partner in the crime confirms with centurion and give permission to take the body.
It is very important to understand why Christians insist that JESUS DIED ON CROSS as Christianity has nothing to offer other than salvation from the SINS for which JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS if you take this away there is no faith, so ask all to keep this mind and we head forward, at 9th hour Jesus gave up the ghost and sometime after that his body is taken down by three people who handled him, touched him, (1) JOSEHP OF ARIMETHI’A (2) NICODEMUS
(3) MARY MAGDALENE
It is very important to understand chronology of events that happened and time passed, so to make it simple we will follow Mary Magdalene as it is in verses of Bible, Now the body is removed wrapped in cloth and carried to a cave placed inside and entrance is covered with a huge stone. We will leave it here and follow Mary, remember it was Friday when Jesus was laid in the cave, and Bible says,
“AND WHEN SABBATH WAS PAST (SUNDAY MORNNING) MARY MAGDALENE AND MARY THE MOTHER OF JAMES AND SA-LO’ME HAD BOUGHT SWEET SPICES THAT THEY MIGHT COME AND ANOINT (MASSAGE) HIM (JESUS).” Mark 16:1
You only massage an alive person not a body that has gone stiff and again I remind you that Mary was one of the people that helped Jesus of the cross on Friday and now she is back with spices to massage him, WHY? If Jesus is dead then why come so early in the morning to massage him, bible answer this also but later, for now we follow Mary Magdalene bible says,
“AND THEY SAID AMONG THEMSELVES WHO SHALL ROLL US AWAY THE STONE.” Mark 16:3
“…THEY SAW THAT THE STONE WAS ROLLED AWAY….” Mark 16:4
They found they open and shroud the winding sheet in which body was wrapped was found unwound. If resurrection was spiritual then why remove the stone and unwrap the body and where was the body itself. Jesus is not dead he is alive he still some where there on the property, He approaches Mary from behind and bible says,
“WOMEN WHY WEEPEST THOU? WHOM SEEKEST THOU?” John 20:15
And Mary replies and bible says,
“SIR, IF YOU HAVE TAKEN HIM HENCE, TELL ME WHERE HAVE YOU LAID HIM.” John 20:15
Here she does not ask where you have buried him and continues,
“SO THAT I MIGHT TAKE HIM AWAY” John 20:15
Now I should remind all that Mary is a frail women even if she has help from other women Mary still they can not carry decomposing body weighing about more than 200 pounds. As the dialogue between the man and Mary Magdalene continues, the man call out her name in a familiar tone, Mary Magdalene respond by lunging forward towards the man, Jesus respond and Bible says,
“ TOUCH ME NOT” John 20:17
Why does Jesus say this its because his body is sore from being on cross and he was attended by his two secret disciples and if you remember Mary Magdalene came to the cave to massage Jesus as she brought spices with her, and how Mary knew he was alive, she was among the three who handled the Jesus on Friday when he was being taken off the cross and then Jesus himself declares
“FOR I AM NOT YET ASCENDED UNTO MY FATHER” John 20:17
Why is Jesus alive because Allah the merciful accepted the prayers of his messenger and saved him from death in the way He knows best, from right under the nose of his enemies. Even if accept that Jesus is begotten son of God and God the Father, would he not in his capacity as father listen to his son who is beseeching him, crying and wailing. Here we will leave Christian to their own. We as Muslims believe as Allah has declared that Jesus did not die on the cross.