The Jesus of the Bible

Grow In Christ>>Muslims>>Preface

What Does the Bible Say About Jesus?

Article Posted: March 30, 2005

The Qur'an (a.k.a. Koran) paints a radically different picture of Jesus from that found in the Bible. Because of such religious distinctions, Muslims may be understandably confused when they hear Christians refer to Jesus as both the Son of God and the path to God. However, by diligently studying Jesus' nature from a Biblical perspective, the Muslim can better understand why Christians are so willing to place their trust in Jesus.

Jesus was born under some very extraordinary circumstances:

Jesus is God's Son.
At the time of Jesus' birth, Jesus' mother was still a virgin.
Jesus is both fully God and fully human, at the same time.
Jesus was sent to earth to offer all people the opportunity to spend eternity in heaven with God.

Jesus is God's Son.

In Islam, Jesus' physical form is merely human, like that of Adam (the first man). [See Surah 3:59.] However, this view of Jesus flatly contradicts prophesies found in the Bible.

The following passage is from the prophet Isaiah. It predicts the birth of a child to a human mother. But, this would be no ordinary child. Rather, this child would be the Son of the Almighty God. The word "Immanuel" comes from the Hebrew word "עמנואל," which means "God is with us."
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.	Isaiah 7:14 (NASB)

When He was ready to fulfill this prophesy, God had His Holy Spirit to plant His seed inside of a young woman's womb. The woman's name was Mary.

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God."

Luke 1:26-35 (NASB)

At the time of Jesus' birth, Jesus' mother was still a virgin.

Mary remained a virgin even for a period of time after her marriage to Joseph, even after she had given birth to Jesus. The following passage explains how this was possible:

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:"BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US." And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

Matthew 1:18-25 (NASB)

Author's Note: The word "virgin" literally referred to a maiden, which is an unmarried female. I have heard people claim that Mary could have had sexual relations with a man and still fit within the definition of virgin appropriate for that time period. However, this idea does not mesh with the Jewish customs of the time. A woman who had not remained sexually pure until her marriage had been consumated would have been a socal outcast.

Furthermore, another definition of the word "virgin" was "an unknown female." The implication is that a woman's naked body would remain hidden from a man until the time of their marriage (i.e. the consumation of the marriage).

Finally, and most importantly, the text of the above passage clearly indicates that Mary did indeed abstain from sexual relations until after Jesus had been born. It states that Joseph took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin. It makes no sense to say that Mary was an unmarried female at the same time she was Joseph's wife. Rather, the word virgin is obviously used to indicate the maintenance of Mary's sexual purity until after the time of Jesus' birth.

Jesus is both fully God and fully human, at the same time.

When God planted His seed inside of Mary's womb, He was not creating a separate and new being. Rather, He simply allowed part of Himself to take human form while continuing to exist as the invisible God. In other words, God added a human side to His existence. Jesus is the part of God that has taken human form just as the Holy Spirit is God in spirit form living inside of us. Jesus is not part God and part man. Jesus is not sometimes God and sometimes man. Jesus is both fully God (the one true living God) and fully man at the same time.

Speaking to His disciples, Jesus referred to Himself as God (the Father):
I and the Father are one.	John 10:30 (NASB)

Again, Jesus is speaking to His disciples:

"If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him."

Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us."

Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves."

John 14:7-11 (NASB)

Jesus was sent to earth to offer all people the opportunity to spend eternity in heaven with God.

God cannot stand the sight of sin. Therefore, sin prevents people from being able to have a close relationship with God. Even the most well-intentioned humans fail to meet God's standards of purity and justice. So, God sent Himself, in the form of a human, to earth to be the one final and perfect sacrifice that would take the place of all human sin. Jesus did live a perfect and blameless life in the sight of God. Jesus even allowed Himself to be killed by crucifixion as God's sacrifice given for all of humanity. Those who accept God's sacrifice for humanity through faith will be viewed as blameless by God, thereby receiving God's free gift of salvation.

Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Romans 3:19-26 (NASB)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 (KJV)

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."

John 14:6 (NASB)

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23 (NASB)

Christians love, accept, and follow Jesus because Jesus first loved them and all people. Surely, God has sent His Son. Jesus is indeed the path to God.