What would you say?

What would you say if you could speak to a large audience of Muslims? 

Recently, I had the privilege of speaking on a radio program broadcasting to much of West Africa. The vast majority of the listening audience was Muslim, as was the program host.

When invited to speak, I was asked what my subject would be. My answer: “Jesus.” 

This is a summary of what I said.

Is the Injil corrupt?

Muslims refer to the Gospel as the Injil. Many believe wrongly that the Injil is corrupt, and therefore untrustworthy. 

I spent some time speaking to this issue:

• Nowhere does the Quran say the Injil is corrupt.

• On the contrary, the Quran states that the Injil is to be read and obeyed (e.g., Surah 5:46).

• The Injil is authenticated by a large number of ancient manuscripts. 

Conclusion: The Gospel, or Injil, is not corrupt – it is accurate and reliable. 

I then answered three more questions, that my Muslim friends typically get wrong.

Who is Jesus?

Here’s how the Injil of John begins (John 1:1-4): 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

 In these words we are told that “the Word” is God, the Creator of all.

 We are then told that God became a human being (John 1:14):

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Then we are told his name (John 1:17): Jesus Christ.

The Injil is not corrupt, and it says that God became a human being – and his name is Jesus Christ.

Did Jesus die on the cross?

In the Injil it is clearly written that Jesus Christ died by crucifixion (John 19:23-35):

When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. "Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." So this is what the soldiers did.

Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 

The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.  

The Injil is not corrupt, and it says that Jesus Christ died on the cross – for our sins.

Did Jesus rise from the dead?

In the Injil it is clearly written that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Here are a couple of events in which he was seen by the disciples after his death by crucifixion (John 20:19-28): 

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." Thomas, one of the disciples, says, unless I see with my own eyes, unless I touch him with my own hands – I will not believe it.

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" 

The Injil is not corrupt, and it says that Jesus Christ rose from the dead after his crucifixion.

Life-changing answers

Here are life-changing answers to three important questions:

• The Injil is not corrupt, and it says that God became a human being – and his name is Jesus Christ.

• The Injil is not corrupt, and it says that Jesus Christ died on the cross – for our sins.

• The Injil is not corrupt, and it says that Jesus Christ rose from the dead after his crucifixion 

I pray that the blessings of our God be fully known in your life during this Easter season.

Photo via VisualHunt