There are many differences that are evident in the lives of Jesus and Muhammad. The most notable are the works testified to have accompanied Jesus’ public ministry. For during a period of two years, [1] Jesus performed some incredible miracles and raised three people from the dead. This ministry culminated in Jesus being raised from the dead, after having been condemned to death and crucified on the cross of Calvary, for nothing other than that people hated Him and preferred to release a murderer.
- Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barab′bas. And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he was wont to do for them. And he answered them, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barab′bas instead. (Mark 15:6–11)
- And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified.” So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. (Matthew 27:23–26)
Significantly, Jesus had a forerunner who testified of Him and announced His arrival. In this regard, Jesus did not appoint Himself. Rather another person anointed of God bore witness to Jesus as being the Son of God.
- Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know,even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness, “I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”(John 1:29–34)
Importantly, we would have to say that apart from the fact that Jesus empowered people with the Holy Spirit, after He had been raised from the dead, and His message spread without having to turn people into cowards, so that they would submit to the disciple’s message upon the threat of death. Christians died willingly rather than deny the Son of God. True Christians have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the joy of salvation. In the days when Christians were fed to lions, they had no doubt of Lord Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. For them to be martyred for the name of Lord Jesus Christ was an honor.
The distinctiveness of true Christianity is the willingness to believe that God will honor His word and glorify His name in those who keep His Word and lay down their lives for the sake of others. War and fighting are not what God has for Christians. If they were, Jesus would not have told His disciples that they would be known by their love for one another (John 13:34-35). Those who do not practice are not Jesus’ disciples.
Not to tell the truth and warn people of the dangers ahead is to be unloving. The truth needs to be articulated, nonetheless, even if it is a warning that is scoffed at, or people feel that exposing their folly is not nice. We who know the truth have to share it. However, telling the truth does not mean beheading people, if rejected. Jesus set the example, when Pilate asked Him what is truth (John 18:38) and when He was arrested (Matthew 26:51-53). Consequently, those who take up their cross and follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24) are doing what is required of a Christian.
What is clear, Muhammad did not see fit to take up his cross and follow Jesus. Neither did Muhammad have a forerunner as Jesus did in John the Baptist.
Footnotes
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