Islam Way,
I was greatly interested in your post about Mary, the mother of Jesus. Some of it I think agrees with the Christian scriptures, while some of it does not.
Perhaps you can help me better understand the significance of Jesus in Islam. What I understand Islam says about Jesus is this:
1. He is a human.
2. He is called spirit of Lord (Allah).
As a Christian, I too believe that Jesus is indeed human. He is also the Spirit of God. In fact, we Christians believe that He is also God.
I know this is where Christians and Muslims have differences regarding Jesus. We agree that He is human. We agree He is the spirit of God. But we do not agree that He is God.
Yet Jesus Himself claimed to be God:
John 14: 6 – 7
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
John 14: 9
Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
John 10: 30
"I and the Father are one."
John 8: 58
"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"
Did any other prophet ever make such claims? Did Abraham or Moses? Did Muhammad? Of course not – they were all men, and not one of them ever claimed to be God. Only Jesus claimed to be God, because He was (and is) God.
A Muslim friend once explained his understanding of Jesus as follows:
"Jesus (modified name) or Isa (original name) - (PBUH): Rooh -of - Allah (Rooh means Spirit which is a creature of Lord; all humans have spirits inside their bodies; in case of Jesus (PBUH) it means the Most Beloved spirit created by the Lord)."
Almost we agreed on this. The problem is where he said that "Jesus (PBUH) it means the Most Beloved spirit created by the Lord)". All things in the universe are created by God – except, of course, God Himself. Jesus was (is) not a spirit created by God, but is God in human form. This is the meaning of the words of the angel of the Lord who told the virgin Mary:
Luke 1: 35
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
I would like to hear more from you on the matter of Jesus.
Thank you for your post on Mary.
God bless,
jimmy