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YOUR QURAN CONFIRMS: TODAY'S BIBLE IS UNCHANGED Iceman1981.
Muslims and Christians believe in the infallibility of the original Biblical manuscripts. But many adherents of Islam think that today's Bible has undergone substantial changes with regard to its early manuscripts and their translated versions. However, the Quran does not support this claim unanimously! In fact it makes it clear that the Bible, known as the Torah and the Injil, was found reliable in Muhammad's (p.b.u.h) time, the sixth century. To prove that the twentieth century Bible is still authentic it only has to be compared with a copy from the sixth century.

All quotations are taken from "The Meaning of the Holy Quran" translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali and published by Armana Corporation, U.S.A., 1989.

Because of a lack of space it has not always been possible to print whole verses. The reader is encouraged to look up the references and their contexts in either the Quran or the Bible.

THE TESTIMONY OF THE QURAN ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF THE BIBLE

1.)

And if thou (Muhammad) art in doubt concerning that which We reveal unto thee, then question those who read the Scripture (that) was before thee... (Surah 10, Jonah, verse 94)
"Those who have been reading the book from before thee" are Jews and Christians who read the Torah and the Injil (Gospel)! If they were reading corrupted holy books, their minds would have been influenced by many misconceptions. It would therefore make no sense for Allah to command those who are in doubt to ask Jews and Christians who allegedly were mislead by changed Scriptures! In order to follow the mandate in this verse it is absolutely necessary to believe that the Scriptures before Islam are uncorrupted!

Here the question may be asked: "Are what is known as the Torah and the Injil in Muhammad's (p.b.u.h.) time identical with today's Bible that contains the Old and the New Testament?" Regarding the Injil an affirming answer has already been given in "The History of the Quran and the Injil." The Old Testament too is identical with the Torah as seen from the following reasoning:

The Hebrew word "Torah" means literally "law", "instruction". It refers to the revelations given to Moses. "The term was often applied to the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament, e.g. 1 Chronicles 16:40) as a whole; and as the importance of the Prophets and Writings grew, it was sometimes used to describe them all as divinely revealed instructions and traditions." ("Dictionary of Beliefs and Religions" by Rosemary Goring, Wordsworth Editions Ltd, 1995)

Evidence from the Bible

Sometimes when the law is spoken of in the Injil, the New Testament, it is used in the all including sense. In Romans 3 Paul quotes verses from the book of Psalms and from the Prophets but then he concludes in verse 19 with, "what the law (Torah) says..." (See also 1 Cor. 14:21)

Jesus himself referred to the Psalms as "the law (Torah)" in John 10:34. Another example is found in John 12:34 where the Jews speak of verses from Psalms 89:36, Isaiah 9:7, and Daniel 7:14 as "the law (Torah)".

In the Quran too the meaning of "Torah" where all 39 books of the Old Testament are included is used. This becomes clear when one looks at the evidence found in the Quran, and in history:

Evidence from the Quran:

Several verses in the Quran bear witness to the truth that the Torah was unchanged at the time of Jesus.

In Surah 19, Maryam, verse 12, Yahya, who lived at the time of Jesus was told "to take hold of the Book, (the Torah)."

Surah 3, Ali'Imran, verse 48 tells us that Jesus was also taught in the Torah.

Numerous verses, such as Surah 34, Saba, verse 31, Surah 35, Fatir, verse 31, attest to the truth that the Torah was uncorrupted in the time of Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) in the sixth century A.D. The Arabic phrase "bain yadaihi" which is used in these references to the Torah literally means "between his hands". Dr. W. Campbell writes in his book "The Quran and the Bible in the light of history and science", (Middle East Resources, 1994, page 37) "...usually it is an idiom for "in his presence", or "in his power", or "in his possession," or "at his disposal..."(see also Surah 34, Saba', verse 12)

In the Quran some Jewish contemporaries of Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) are called "those who guide and do justice in the light of truth," besides many others whose reputation was not so favorable in the sixth century. (Surah 7, Al Araf, verse 159, see also Surah 5, Al Ma'idah, verse 66) The very fact that they were commended so highly shows that they were in possession of the uncorrupted Torah. History tells us what was part of it.

Evidence from history

Like in the case of the Injil, the New Testament, the formation of an official list (canon) of the books that were part of it took a considerable time. When finally an official list was approved it was done so in defense against a growing number of heretical writings. The official list merely confirmed what had been accepted by the Jews centuries before. Then it was unnecessary because there was a common agreement as to which writings were part of the Torah.

After giving nine solid reasons for an early formation of the canon of the Old Testament, the authors of "An Introduction to the new Testament" (by D. Carson, D.J. Moo, L. Morris, Apollos, 1992, pages 491-92) conclude saying, "It appears, then, that there is adequate evidence to support the view that there was a (closed) canon of Scripture to serve as a model in the formation of the New Testament canon. Even if this point be disputed, there is entirely convincing evidence that the Torah (here meaning the Pentateuch) and the Prophets were viewed as closed collections by the first century A.D."

The Illustrated Bible Dictionary (by F.F.Bruce, 1980, IVP, Leicester) concludes an extensive research by saying that the whole Hebrew Bible canon as we know it today existed around 200 B.C.

2.)

All food was lawful to the Children of Israel, except what Israel made unlawful for itself, before the Law (of Moses) was revealed. Say,"Bring ye the Law and study it, if ye be men of truth." (Surah 3, Al-i-'Imran, verse 93)
In this specific incident the Jews are asked to bring their own Law, the Torah. They are commanded by God to study it in order to find the right answer to a particular question. Maududi, the renowned Islamic scholar, said, that it addressed the difference between Muslims and Jews in regard to eating the meat of camels, hares and coneys. In opposition to Islam, Judaism prohibits the eating of them according to today's Torah (Deuteronomy 14:7). "But, the open challenge of the Quran to them to bring the Torah in proof thereof shows that the commandments referred to above did not exist in the Torah at that time and were inserted afterwards; otherwise the Jews would have at once accepted the challenge of the Quran and presented the commandments thereof." (See, "The meaning of the Quran", Vol. I, 12th Edition 1992, by S. Abdul Maududi, Islamic Publications (Pvt) LTD., Pakistan, comment on Surah 6, Al-Anam, verse 145, (hereafter referred to as "Maududi")

This view is problematic because it ignores the fact that today's English translations of the Torah, such as the N.I.V., are based on the Masoretic text the standard edition of the Hebrew Old Testament. It was prepared by Jewish scholars, called Masoretes, mainly from 500 to the 950 A.D. They introduced vowel points into the consonantal (consonants only) Hebrew text. They also studied each letter, word and phrase and wrote marginal notes commenting on proper grammar and spelling. (See, "The World Book Encyclopedia", Volume 2, 1982, U.S.A., page 222b

Furthermore the translators compared it with a number of other sources still in existence today, the most important of which are:

The Dead Sea Scrolls, written in Hebrew at about 100 B.C., discovered in the late 1940's and early 1950's in Palestine. "Among the fragments discovered are complete copies or parts of every Old Testament book except Esther, and the variations in the text after a thousand years of copying are minimal." (See, "Answers to Tough Questions", by Josh Mc Dowell and Don Stewart, 1980, U.S.A.)

The Septuagint, a translation of the Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, at about 250 B.C.

The Syriac Peshitta, a translation of the whole Bible into the common language of certain parts of Syria, from either the first or second century A.D.

The Vulgate, the entire Bible translated into Latin at about 400 A.D.

In none of the above sources is Deuteronomy 14:7, the verse under consideration, missing! Looking at all the evidence one can impossibly say that it was missing in the prophet of Islam's time and only later inserted into the text!

3.)

But why do they come to thee for decision, when they have (their own) Law before them?- Therein is the (plain) command of God; yet even after that, they would turn away. For they are not (really) people of faith. (Surah 5, Maida, verse 43)
Maududi comments on this verse: "...sometimes, when their own law did not suit them, they would take their cases to the Holy Prophet in the hope that they might obtain a more favorable decree from him than they could from their own law." (Ibid)

This shows clearly that even corrupted Jews would never change the written Torah! They were only prepared to conceal the meaning of it. In spite of their wickedness, they did not dare to change the written form of the Torah! That is why, according to the Quran, Allah told them to look up their own law in which is the plain command of God!

4.)

Let the People of the Gospel judge by what God hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what God hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel. (Surah 5, Maida, verse 47)
This command is given to Muhammad's (p.b.u.h) contemporaries, it is written in the "present" tense which in the Arabic language can also refers to the future! If the Gospel (Injil) was corrupted at that time then surely Allah would never have asked the people of the Gospel, the Christians, to believe in it!

5.)

If only they had stood fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that was sent to them from their Lord, they would have enjoyed happiness from every side. There is from among them a party on the right course: But many of them follow a course that is evil. (Surah 5, Maida, verse 69)
The fact that there were Jews and Christians "on the right course" in Muhammad's (p.b.u.h.) time confirms the Torah and the Gospel to be unchanged in the 6th century A.D.! Certainly, they could never have been described in such an honorable way if they had "stood fast" by corrupted Holy Books!

6.)

Say: "O People of the Book! Ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye stand fast by the Law, the Gospel and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord...." (Surah 5, Al Ma'idah, verse 68)
7.)

No change can there be in the Words of Allah. This is indeed the supreme Felicity. (Surah 10, Junus, verse 64)
No Muslim would doubt that the Torah and the Injil are words of Allah too! Therefore, it is impossible for man to change them. God has the power to watch over His word and to preserve it.

The passages above attest to the fact that the Bible, consisting the Torah (Old Testament) and the Injil (New Testament) was unchanged and trustworthy in the time of Muhammad (p.b.u.h.), that is in the 6th century A.D!

IS ONLY PART OF THE BIBLE TRUSTWORTHY?

Many Muslims are told that only parts of the Bible remained unchanged. Faith is only put in those statements which are supposed to confirm one's own opinions. Some Jews did the same in the days of Muhammad (p.b.u.h). The verse that was revealed to him on that occasion is still relevant for all those who make the same error:

...Then is it only a part of the Book that ye believe in, and do ye reject the rest? But what is the reward for those among you who behave like this but disgrace in this life? - And on the Day of Judgment they shall be consigned to the most grievous penalty. For Allah is not unmindful of what ye do. (Surah 2, Baqara, verse 85)
DOES THE QURAN DECLARE THAT THE BIBLE HAS CHANGED?

First of all, it needs to be noted that the Quran nowhere explicitly states the Injil (Gospel) was changed! But what about the Torah? History shows that whenever God revealed Himself, most of His people fell into disobedience after a period of time. So it was with the Jews. In spite of this sad fact there were always, up to this very day, good Jews who remain true to the book God gave them:

Of the people of Moses there is a section who guide and do justice in the light of truth. (Surah 7, A'raf, verse 159)
God's word is truth and good Jews surely would never have changed the meaning or even the words of their Holy Book! Let us now examine what bad Jews did to the Torah:

There is among them a section who distort the Book with their tongues: (as they read) you would think it is a part of the Book, but it is no part of the Book; and they say, 'That is from God,' but it is not from God: It is they who tell a lie against God and (well) they know it! (Surah 3, Al-i-'Imran, verse 78)
In the verse quoted above the Jews are reading parts of their Book wrongly while the written words remain unchanged.

But because of their breach of their Covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard: They change the words from their (right) places and forget a good part of the Message that was sent them, nor wilt thou cease to find them - barring a few - ever bent on (new) deceits: But forgive them, and overlook (their misdeeds): For God loveth those who are kind. (Surah 5, Maida, verse 13)
The phrase "They change the words from their (right) places" could mean that they tampered with the text of the Book. However, the second possibility, that the true meaning was distorted, not the text itself, (see also Surah 5, Ma'idah, verse 44) will have to be given preference in the light of the wider context (see above) which clearly shows that:

-The unchanged Torah was with the Jews of Muhammad's (p.b.u.h) time. (Surah 5, Al Ma 'idah, verses 43,68)

-It was referred to by the Prophet in matters of dispute. (Surah 3, Ali 'Imran, verse 93)

In Surah 2, Al Baqarah, verses 75-79 (in verse 75 Jews are listening to the Quran being recited); Surah 4, Al Nisa, verse 46;, the Jews are accused of changing, writing down wrongly, what Muhammad (p.b.u.h) said. After checking all these references it becomes clear that the Torah remained unchanged!

WHAT DOES THE HADITH SAY ABOUT THE BIBLE?

For many Muslims the Hadith provides a key to the correct understanding of the Quran. It is therefore most interesting to see what it has to say about the accuracy of the Jewish-Christian Scriptures.

According to a tradition found in Mishkat al-Masabith, Book II, chapter 1, pages 62,63, Muhammad (p.b.u.h) confirms that the Jews and the Christians read the Torah and the Gospel. He does not say anything about them being corrupted!

In Bukhari's chapter "How revelation first began" we read that the prophet of Islam was taken to Khadijah's cousin, Waraqa ben Naufal. He used to translate the Torah and the Gospel as God granted him strength. It does not say that he translated corrupted Holy Books!

In the Mishkat al-Masabith, Book XVI, chapter 1, page 758, we read how Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) judges according to the Torah that is before him without saying anything about it being changed!

Out of the numerous traditions about this subject there is only one reference found in Bukhari, Sahih, Kitab al-Shahada, number 29, which says that the people of the Book changed it's actual text.

It may be possible that individual Jews in Arabia corrupted distinct texts of the Torah. Some Muslims would interpret Surah 2, Baqara, verses 78-79 to refer to the Torah and not to the Quran as mentioned above. But what about all the copies found already in other parts of the world? It is not possible that they have been changed in the same way. Besides that, the Christians who also believe in the Torah of the Jews, were known to be in great opposition to them. How could they have come together to corrupt their common Scriptures?

Therefore, it can be taken as a proven fact that the Bible has not been changed before the time of Muhammad (p.b.u.h). Otherwise God would have demanded to believe in Scriptures that were already corrupted. If we assume that changes were made while or after the prophet's time, we can simply compare a twentieth century copy with one that was written before the sixth century. The result will be that all the teaching remained the same!

HAS THE BIBLE BEEN ABROGATED?

Most of the islamic scholars agree that either the Quran abrogates certain revelations within the Quran only, or, in addition to that also parts of the Sunna.

Other scholars hold the view that the Sunna can abolish the Quran as well as the Sunna. Only a few, among them the Ahmadiyyas, teach that the Quran actually annuls the Bible. (For more details see "'Ulum al-Quran" by Ahmad von Denffer, Islamic Foundation U.K., pages 104-113)

This minority is wrong for two main reasons:

In Surah 5, Al Ma'idah, verse 48 the Quran is spoken of as confirming the Scripture that was before it and as a watcher over it. The Arabic meaning of the word "watch" (Muhaimin) can also be rendered "one who safeguards", "stands witness", "preserves" and "upholds". (See Abdullah Yusuf Ali's footnote) This clearly contradicts the view that the revelations given to the prophet of Islam allegedly abrogated the Bible! If this was the case there would be no need to confirm the Torah and the Gospel or even to watch over them in such a determined way.

In Surah 2, Al Baqarah, verse 106 the principle of abrogation is explained: For every revelation that is abrogated something better or similar is substituted. If this verse would refer to the abrogation of the Gospel through the Quran it would mean that the teaching of the former book would be inferior or at least similar to the latter one.

The essence of Christianity consists of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ which is totally rejected by Islam. (see also 1 Corinthians 15:14) The Bible teaches that through faith in Jesus' work the assurance of forgiveness of sin, of eternal life in God's presence through grace (God's undeserved favor) is available to everyone! He who puts his faith into practice by obeying what the Gospel says will benefit from all these blessings.

Surely this wonderful teaching can not be called inferior or similar to the doctrines of the Quran! There we read about how people may get forgiveness from God through their good works and, if He is willing, by His mercy. Paradise will be a place where God is absent. In Surah 76, Dahr, verse 5 and Surah 56, Waqi'a, verses 35-38 we read that what was forbidden on earth will be legal (drinking of wine, and having sexual relationships with many virgins). The prophet taught a real and literal interpretation of these sensual delights in heaven. (See Sahihu Muslim, Mishkat book 23, chapter 13) It normally can only be entered after having spent some time in hell first.

Furthermore, the minority who says the principle of abrogation given in Surah 2, Al Baqarah, verse 106, applies to the Bible will be left without guidelines as regards to their own book. They will have to depend on a later, unsure historical development about the code of abrogation in order to deal with passages such as:

In Surah 58, Al Mujadilah, verse 12, the believers are commanded to give alms before a private consultation with the Messenger. In verse 13 they are told that it is no longer necessary.

In Surah 33, Al Ahzab, verses 50-51 Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) is allowed to marry and divorce an unlimited number of women. In verse 52 he is prohibited to continue to do so.

In Surah 73, Al Muzzammil, verses 2-4, the prophet of Islam is commanded to spend about half of the night in prayer and reading of the Quran. In verse 20 of the same Surah this is changed into what is easy for him and those who followed his example.

CONCLUSION

The attentive reader is left with a fundamental problem of discrepancy. A number of Biblical teachings (at least as they were believed by some of the prophets contemporaries) are described as erroneous in the Quran. Yet the latter confirms the former to be the unchanged word of God! Surah 4, Nisaa, verse 82 says that the Quran is not from God if one finds discrepancies in it! Furthermore, Muslims who say that the Bible is corrupted also contradict their own book.

Many sincere Muslims who leave room in their hearts for the possibility that they could be wrong in the beliefs they were taught from early childhood, will be left deeply moved after reading this article. It is those Muslims the author of it can identify with. His life too was worked out for him by others. For a number of years he lived more or less comfortably within the boundaries set by people often "in the name of God".

Confronted by many other religions and ideas of how to live a meaningful live he set out to discover the truth for himself. In that process, realizing that it is impossible to detect infinite reality as a finite being, he prayed wholeheartedly, "God if you are there, show me which way is the right one."

A few days later he heard the Eternal One speaking through some passages of the Bible which was given to him by a friend! After confessing his sins he asked Jesus to come in his life and use it for his glory. Since that incredible experience the author's life changed literally like day and night! He now follows Jesus Christ who died for his sins on the cross, who rose again on the third day, who promises eternal life in heaven and who says:

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13
Whoever comes to me I will never drive away. John 6:37
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the word was God. The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us....He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him....Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:1,14,11

Hi Iceman1981

Jesus willingly died for those who would accept Him.. not out of obligation, but out of love for His God and ours He died obeying the Fathers plan. It was Christ who sacrificed Himself, not God the Father who killed Him. Religious legalists killed Him then and they still persecute His followers today

It was then that Jesus began to speak to His disciples, explaining that He had waited for this special time so He could eat this Passover with them. "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God," He told them (Luke 22:15, 16).
It was a shocking statement. Jesus spoke of suffering? The apostles found it difficult to believe that their Savior would have to suffer physical pain, let alone die this early in His life. After all, this was the same Man who had turned water into wine, fed 5,000 hungry people on five loaves and two fish and had food left over, and walked on the water of a tempestuous, stormy sea.

Matthew 26

1(A)When Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples,

2"(B)You know that after two days (C)the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be (D)handed over for crucifixion."

3(E)Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in (F)the court of the high priest, named (G)Caiaphas;

4and they (H)plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him.

5But they were saying, "Not during the festival, (I)otherwise a riot might occur among the people."

The Precious Ointment
6(J)Now when Jesus was in (K)Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper,

7(L)a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table.

8But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, "Why this waste?

9"For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor."

10But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me.

11"For you always have (M)the poor with you; but you do not always have Me.

12"For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it (N)to prepare Me for burial.

13"Truly I say to you, (O)wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her."

Judas's Bargain
14(P)Then one of the twelve, named (Q)Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests

15and said, "What are you willing to give me to (R)betray Him to you?" And (S)they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him.

16From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.

17(T)Now on the first day of (U)Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?"

18And He said, "Go into the city to (V)a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, "(W)My time is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples."'"

19The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

The Last Passover
20(X)Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.

21As they were eating, He said, "(Y)Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me."

22Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, "Surely not I, Lord?"

23And He answered, "(Z)He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me.

24"The Son of Man is to go, (AA)just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! (AB)It would have been good for that man if he had not been born."

25And (AC)Judas, who was betraying Him, said, "Surely it is not I, (AD)Rabbi?" Jesus said to him, "(AE)You have said it yourself."

The Lord's Supper Instituted
26(AF)While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and (AG)after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."

27And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you;

28for (AH)this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for (AI)many for forgiveness of sins.

29"But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

30(AJ)After singing a hymn, they went out to (AK)the Mount of Olives.

31Then Jesus said to them, "You will all (AL)fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, '(AM)I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE (AN)SCATTERED.'

32"But after I have been raised, (AO)I will go ahead of you to Galilee."

33But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away."

34Jesus said to him, "(AP)Truly I say to you that (AQ)this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."

35Peter said to Him, "(AR)Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You." All the disciples said the same thing too.

The Garden of Gethsemane
36(AS)Then Jesus came with them to a place called (AT)Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."

37And He took with Him (AU)Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed.

38Then He said to them, "(AV)My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and (AW)keep watch with Me."

39And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let (AX)this cup pass from Me; (AY)yet not as I will, but as You will."

40And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "So, you men could not (AZ)keep watch with Me for one hour?

41"(BA)Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; (BB)the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

42He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this (BC)cannot pass away unless I drink it, (BD)Your will be done."

43Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

44And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.

45Then He came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, (BE)the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46"Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!"

Jesus' Betrayal and Arrest
47(BF)While He was still speaking, behold, (BG)Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people.

48Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him."

49Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, "Hail, (BH)Rabbi!" and kissed Him.

50And Jesus said to him, "(BI)Friend, do what you have come for." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

51And behold, (BJ)one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his (BK)sword, and struck the (BL)slave of the high priest and cut off his ear.

52Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for (BM)all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.

53"Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve [a](BN)legions of (BO)angels?

54"How then will (BP)the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?"

55At that time Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? (BQ)Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me.

56"But all this has taken place to fulfill (BR)the Scriptures of the prophets." Then all the disciples left Him and fled.

Jesus before Caiaphas
57(BS)Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to (BT)Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.

58But (BU)Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the (BV)courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the (BW)officers to see the outcome.

59Now the chief priests and the whole (BX)Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death.

60They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on (BY)two came forward,

61and said, "This man stated, '(BZ)I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.'"

62The high priest stood up and said to Him, "Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?"

63But (CA)Jesus kept silent (CB)And the high priest said to Him, "I (CC)adjure You by (CD)the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, (CE)the Son of God."

64Jesus said to him, "(CF)You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see (CG)THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and (CH)COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN."

65Then the high priest (CI)tore his robes and said, "He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy;

66what do you think?" They answered, "(CJ)He deserves death!"

67(CK)Then they (CL)spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him,

68and said, "(CM)Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?"

Peter's Denials
69(CN)Now Peter was sitting outside in the (CO)courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilean."

70But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about."

71When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth."

72And again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man."

73A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; (CP)for even the way you talk gives you away."

74Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know the man!" And immediately a rooster crowed.

75And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, "(CQ)Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.

Hi there Iceman. To answer your questions. First Jesus did not have a mother. Yes my friend He was 'El' Himself. The seed that was in Mary was from God and had no human imput at all. A seed is a germinized egg. Mary did not produce the egg and Joesph did not produce the sperm. That is why when Jesus was hanging on the cross He addressed Mary as woman. She was not His mother. As a boy of 12 when Joesph and Mary could not find Him in the Temple and He was missing several days they were corrected by Jesus that He was about His father's business- teaching Christ.

On the 2nd question; Jesus had to die because the first son of God Adam had sin and brought death apon the human race. It took a perfect sacrifice to pay God's penalty. Jesus was sinless!

Your own Muslum religion has different view points about who is right or what is wrong. Even in Jesus day His own people did not recognize His teachings and finally killed Him. But He showed that He was God by coming back and showing that even death had no control over Him. He, I believe, is the on true God of both Jew and gentile.

Your servant, Doc.

How do you know? Good question. Well the Bible, all of them, states that Jesus is alive and He will let it be known by supernatural means that He is alive and running His church. Even in our own country we had a man with 2 gifts that was given too him to help the human race. It appears that this prophet was the real thing and brought the truth back to the human race. That man was William Branham.