Letter 12: Our Only Way to Heaven as Described in the Bible and the Quran

Our Only Way to Heaven as Described in the Bible and the Quran Both

The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

—Ezekiel 18:20

Respected Reverend Franklin Graham:

              Early one afternoon on a Labor Day weekend, when I was examining the contents on a file of my lap which I named “Our only way to heaven,”-the last topic of my last letter to you, I was revisited by Mrs. Martha Miller. From my past experience with my other missionary friends, I really did not expect her to visit me again, although she had promised to come before she left. So, you may easily guess how I felt when I opened the door and saw her standing with a sweet smile on her beautiful face right before me? Not only that, with my next and last topic of writing in my head, I again took her to be God sent. So naturally, I thanked her cordially for her second visit and welcomed her in cheerfully.

Writing on Jesus without his atonement, means nothing to his followers

After we sat down face-to-face in the same living room beside the same coffee table overloaded with my books and other stuffs, she said to me with a polite hesitation, “I think, I chose a wrong time to come. But I was in the neighborhood and I also had some free time, so I ….”

 “Mrs. Miller, I already told you how glad I was to see you. So, feel free and fresh with a glass of cold orange juice and some homemade cookies. Just give me a few moments.”

 But before I left for the kitchen, she stopped me saying, “Excuse me please. I already overate in my lunch and I have to attend a housewarming party in the evening.  So, what do you think,” She asked me smiling, “if we now try to nourish our soul with something good than perishing it with excessive drink and food?”

“You said it very well. But now-a-days, we hardly think of it. Most of us don’t know even why or when our souls starve and what kind of food it needs for its nourishment?”

“Right, I think you should write about it.”

 “Are you kidding?”

“No, I’m serious. Didn’t you tell me last time that you had been writing about Jesus on your website?”  

“Yes, you heard me right.” 

“Doesn’t mean you are a writer?”

“I don’t think so. You may call me a compiler, because I’m writing about Jesus as I found him in our Holy Scriptures-the Quran and the Gospel both.”

“It is all the same. By the by,” She asked me abruptly, May I please know what the Quran says about Jesus’ sacrifice?”

“To tell you the truth,” I answered her being cautious and careful, “the Quran has mentioned about Jesus’ crucifixion, but it has not mentioned anything about his sacrifice, I mean the way you believe it.”

“In that case, how could you write about it, if the Quran did not mention anything about his sacrifice?” Then, without waiting for my answer, she said to me again politely, “please don’t mind, if I tell you   that your writing on Jesus without his atonement will mean nothing to his followers. It will be like a description of the Sun without mentioning its light?”

           “Sorry, I didn’t know that. But, may I please know,” I asked her humbly, “What makes you think so?”

Jesus’ true status cannot be measured without his atonement

“I think so, because we believe Jesus’ true status cannot be measured without his atonement. It is the only thing that separates him from all other messengers of God, because all of them were sent exclusively for the guidance of their own people. But none of them,” she continued, “sacrificed their lives to make them free from their sin or to take them to heaven. Only Jesus, the only begotten and beloved Son of God, did. I hope, now you know what Jesus’ atonement could really mean to his followers and why other things of his life do not matter to them at all, right?”

             

In reply to her question, I said to her, “Yes Mrs. Miller, I got your point. But I still don’t understand why Jesus needed to give his life for the sin of others? Aren’t men responsible for their own sin?” I asked her to make sure whether she tells me anything new or different from what I already heard from many of my missionary friends. While talking to her, I put a pencil and a notepad before me to jot down the points of our discussion so that I could use them later for my writing.

         At first, I did not find anything to scribble as she repeated the same old story that I already knew. She told me how Adam, the father of mankind, disobeyed God by eating a forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Since breaking the law of God was a sin, Adam became the first sinner and because of him all his children were born with the stain of his sin. At this point, I asked her in wonder, “You mean every child comes into the world as a sinner, without committing any sin?”

“Yes. Saint Augustine has said, No one is clean, not even if his life be only for a day.”

I wondered how Saint Augustine who came a few centuries after Jesus knew about it, when Jesus did not! I mean, how could Jesus declare openly that heaven was meant for the children, if he knew they were born with Adam’s sin? (Mark 2:5)  But I did not ask her, because I needed to listen to her first before I tell her finally what I learnt in the Gospel about Jesus’ giving his life for the sin of men or for their eternal life in heaven?  So keeping my questions to myself, I said to her, “If it is so as you say, it must be a very frightening situation for all of us, Right?”

Both righteous and unrighteous were equal before God

“It was indeed, because it was a sin over which we had no control and from which we had no escape. And, because of that inborn sin, people both righteous and unrighteous fell short equally before the glory of God and were destined for hell.”

I understood she was telling me about the Original Sin which Paul, a self-declared disciple of Jesus invented in the name of Jesus (Roman 1:1; 2:16; 3:23-24, 28; 5:12, 17, 19, 21) contradicting his own teaching  after he left.(Matthew 5:17-20; 19:16-19)

 But as I wanted to know all about it in details, I asked her showing my concern, “You mean because of Adam’s sin, a righteous person will also be considered a sinner and be sent to hell along with the unrighteous?”

          “Yes undoubtedly. It is like,” she began to explain, “putting a drop of vinegar in a cup of fresh milk. The same way, the stain of Adam’s sin prevented a man from being absolutely holy, in spite of all of his good deeds, thus making him unfit to deserve a place in heaven.”

            “It is really unfortunate.”         

            “It was indeed! But thanks to God,” Mrs. Miller continued, “for His endless love, kindness, and mercy for mankind. He loved them so much that He did not want any of them be punished in hell. Not only that,” Mrs. Miller began to explain, “God also wanted them to have eternal life in heaven as a free gift from Him. So, He took a unique measure. He wanted to wash their sin with the holy blood of the sinless. Now, the question is,” She stopped for a moment and then added, “whose blood could be more holy than the blood of His only begotten and beloved Son, Jesus? I hope, now you understand why Jesus’giving life on the Cross, could really mean for all of us.”

While listening to her, I remembered that the word “begotten” from the phrase “His only begotten Son” in the verse 16 of John 3, has now been removed as an unauthorized interpretation from all the modern versions of the Bible. But without mentioning it, I said to her, “As Muslims, we also believe Jesus was holy and sinless. And, I also told you before that the Quran did not mention anything about Jesus’ atonement.  So to believe in his atonement, as you do, I need to know certain things to make sure why the Quran has not mentioned anything about it.”  

“Sure. What do you want to know?”  

“As sin is the vital point of our discussion, I’d like to know first what is sin and what your Holy Bible has really said about it.”

“Sure. The Bible says sin is breaking the law of God or to do something against His will or command.” 

                   

As far as I remember, the Quran also says more or less the same thing about our disobedience to God.   

           [If anyone disobeys God and His Messengers, he has indeed strayed clearly in a wrong path. (Quran 33:36)]

            “Now, my next question is, if sin is a transgression of the law of  God, doesn’t  it tell us clearly that whoever disobeys God, commits a sin and becomes a sinner?”

            “Sure. There is no question about that.”

A newborn child becomes a sinner without committing a sin

“In that case,” I asked her again politely, “how could a newborn child become a sinner without committing a sin?”

“I think, I already mentioned it to you.”

“Yes, you did. But what you said did not match at all with the definition of sin. It matches more,” I tried to explain to her, “with an incurable and transmittable disease, the virus of which might pass through the genes of a sick father to his children. Do you think Adam’s sin was a kind of transmittable virus that passed through his progeny, making them all sick, or sinners, until Jesus was sent to atone for it?”

“Yes, it is what we believe. Sin is also a kind of sickness. Man commits sin from the sickness of his heart.” Mrs. Miller sounded cool and confident.

“I see your point, but if we believe so, we should also believe that God made Adam, the father of mankind, with a sick heart that was prone to sin. In that case, how could we even blame Adam for his own sin?”

“Sorry, God did not make Adam with a sick heart. He gave him intelligence, insight and freedom of will to choose in between right and wrong. But Adam did not use them when the devil instigated him to eat the fruit that God forbade him eating. His greed made him sick at heart, which ultimately led him to eat the fruit by disobeying the command of God.”

“But like Adam,” I tried to argue, “all his children were also given intelligence and freedom of choice to obey or to disobey the commands of God. So isn’t it most expected that, like Adam, all his children could also be punished separately for their being disobedient to God? But why would God, Whom we trust absolutely for being most kind, just and fair, make all of mankind accountable for the sin of Adam?”

“But it is what we find in the book of Roman. It tells us as for one man’s disobedience, all men were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man, they were made righteous. (5:19)

I was about to interrupt her saying that it was not the statement of Jesus or any of his true disciples. It was the statement of Paul, who claimed to learn everything from Jesus through his alleged vision. I only want to know what Jesus said about it. But keeping my thoughts to myself, I tried to listen to her carefully when she said to me explaining, “As by the sin of Adam, all his children became sinners, similarly, by the holy blood of His only son Jesus, God wanted to clean them all from their sin.”

God made His only son die to show His endless love for the mankind

         Mrs. Miller stopped for a moment and then said again with a tone of absolute confidence.    “And, God did it for no other reason but to show His endless love for the world.”

        “You mean God took Adam’s sin as an excuse so that He could use it later to prove His endless love for all by letting His only Son die for their sin?” I asked her softly and making each word distinct and clear.

       “Yes, but it is not an excuse,” Mrs. Miller sounded a bit offended. “It is an instance. I think God’s love for the mankind has been expressed in full strength through giving His only son’s life for them.”

    While listening to her, I could not help myself feeling sorry for Jesus and his Father both.  Couldn’t God show His endless love and mercy to all by simply forgiving their sin and putting them straight to heaven without being so unkind and unjust to His only beloved and innocent son? But soon I came back to my senses. I remembered clearly of those verses in the Bible and the Quran both to prove the God of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad never took this kind of cruel, ghastly and unfair measure to show His endless love for the sin of mankind. But before I come to that, I needed to know more from her about this unique part of Jesus’ life so that I could explain my point better when my terms come. With this intention in mind, I said to her, “In that case, we hope the entire human race are now free from their sin and can go straight to heaven, right?”

        “Right, but they need to fulfill certain conditions. They must believe Jesus as their only Savior, and he gave his life for their sin.”

“May I please know why? Didn’t you just say that God wanted to prove His love for the world by letting His only Son die for their sin? In that case, shouldn’t Jesus’ holy blood purify them all equally and at the same time, the moment it was shed for them?”

“Yes,” she agreed, “but God also wanted them to show their sincere love, gratitude, and obedience to Jesus for what he did for them. I mean, how could you expect them be holy or go to heaven, if they don’t even admit that or simply deny it?”

A few pertinent questions with no acceptable answers

            “In that case, what do you think of those infants in the Christian family who die without knowing anything about their inborn sin or about Jesus’ sacrifice for their sin?”

“Since they were born and died as Christians, we believe they will be saved through the faith of their parents.”

“If so, what do you think of them who lived and died with their inborn sin before the arrival of Jesus? Or who died before Jesus believing in something else as their only way to heaven?”

“I think we should leave the matter entirely to God, He would certainly take care of them.” She answered being cool and confident.

              I remained silent for a few moments and then asked her again slowly and softly, “In that case, why did God send so many messengers before Jesus, telling their people constantly and consistently to strive for their eternal life through keeping His commands, if He knew all along that nothing could purify them from their sin except the holy blood of His only Son Jesus?”

“I already told you before that God sent them only for the guidance of their people. But after the arrival of Jesus as the Savior of mankind, everything has changed. Now, God wants all of us to seek for our eternal life through having faith in Jesus as our only Savior and in his dying for our sin.”

I was about to ask her, why then God sent again Muhammad with His last guidebook the Quran revealing  the same eternal truth of the first commandment preached and practiced by all his  predecessors including Jesus, Moses and Abraham?

But I knew it was useless, because it was not easy to discard anything to be wrong which people had believed to be absolutely true for hundreds of years. So, I thought I must tell her now about our only way to heaven as it was described in our holy scriptures-the Bible and the Quran both.

So, instead of wasting our valuable time on useless talk, I said to her politely, “Mrs. Miller, I heard what you said, but I find them inconsistent with our only way to heaven that God has shown to us in both Bible and Quran. So may I please,”  I asked her pleading,  “share with you of what I learnt myself about it?”

“Sure. I’d love to know.” Mrs. Miller agreed.

 “Thanks. Please give me a moment to go to my file where I stored every piece of information and reference since I intended to write about it. ”

“Sure. Take your time.”

“Thanks.” My lap was in sleep, so it took me no longer than a few seconds to reach to my file which I named “Our Only Way to heaven.”

Then I said to my guest, “Mrs. Miller, since you believe Jesus had to give his life for the sin of all which they inherited from Adam, I’d like to know what our Holy Scriptures- the Bible and the Quran have really said about it. We shall check it first in the Old Testament and then in the Quran. And, finally we shall check it in the Gospel of Jesus. I think, this comparative study will help us to know about our only way to heaven as God showed to us through all His messengers including Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, right?”

          “I hope so.”  Mrs. Miller agreed.

             

The Old Testament does not blame Adam for the sin of the mankind

              Though I felt tensed thinking of the outcome of our discussion about this most sensitive issue of our faith, I tried to ignore it. Looking at the screen of my laptop, I said to her casually, “Mrs. Miller, the incident of Adam and Eve has been mentioned in the chapter 2 and 3 of Genesis-the first Book of the Old Testament. We have been told there that Adam ate the forbidden fruit from the garden of the Eden by the instigation of Satan and also by the provocation of his wife. Then, we found God made both the instigator and the instigated equally responsible and also expelled them to earth, dictating the nature of punishment to each of them separately. But nowhere in the Old Testament Adam was blamed to contaminate his children with the stain of his sin. Do you know”, I asked her last, “of any such statement that somehow has escaped my notice?”

“Sorry, I can’t remember right now, but I can check it later, if you want.” Mrs. Miller said with a bit hesitation.

“But I don’t think you will find any, because while reading the Old Testament, I came across many of its statements where I found man was made responsible for his own sins and no one would bear the burden of others.” Then I said to her, “Let me read to you a few of them.”  So saying, I started reading them one by one mentioning each time from which part of the Old Testament I took it.

The fathers shall not be put to death for the children neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin. (Deuteronomy 24:16)

The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the inequity of the father neither shall the father bear the inequity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. (Ezekiel 18:20)

          When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. (Ezekiel 18:26–27)

The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. (Proverbs 11:5)

          For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved forever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. (Psalm 37:28–29)

After I finished reading , I said to her, “Mrs. Miller, I think the consequence of both the righteous and the wicked people was made distinctly clear in those statements, I just read to you, right? ”

Mrs. Miller did not answer.

Nowhere in the Quran Adam was held responsible for the sin of his children

In her silence, I continued, “We shall now check what the Quran has said about Adam’s sin. In fact, Adam’s story in the Old Testament has been told and retold in many places of the Quran but in more details and also in a more comprehensive manner. Like the Old Testament, the Quran also tells us that Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit by the instigation of Satan. And as a punishment to their disobedience, God expelled them both from heaven, along with Satan, as an open enemy to them (Quran 7:22; 20:117). But, nowhere in the Quran Adam was held responsible for the sin of his children. Like the Old Testament, the Quran also tells us that man should bear the consequence of his own doings, as did Adam and Eve. Let me read to you the meaning of some verses of the Quran in support of that.”

 Then I began to read from the screen of my laptop:

         

           That was a nation who has already passed away. They are responsible for what they did and you are responsible for what you do, you shall not be questioned about their deeds. (2:141)

He that seeks guidance shall be guided to his own advantage, but he that goes astray does so to his own loss. No bearer shall bear the burden of another on the Day of Judgment. (17:15)

O mankind! Have fear of your Lord and fear that Day when no father shall avail his son nor a son his father. (31:33)

          Not equal are the blind and those who see clearly: nor are those who believe and work deeds of righteousness and those who do evil. Little do ye reflect.(40:58)

As for those who strive for Our Cause, we will surely guide them to Our Ways; rest assured that Allah is with the righteous. (24:69)

To those who believe and do deeds of righteousness God has promised forgiveness and a great reward. (5:10)

And those who have done evil deeds shall be flung upon their faces in the hellfire. Should you not be rewarded according to your deeds? (27:90)

           Then I raised my head from my lap and said to her, “I think the bottom line of all those statements from both the Old Testament and the Quran is one and the same. It is the righteous and the wicked are not equal or same in the sight of God, right?”

Repentance is required for the remission of sin

                 

            Mrs. Miller maintained her silence and I continued, “Now, I will read to you some verses from both the Old Testament and the Quran where we are told clearly and categorically that we must repent sincerely for our sin and also rectify our ways of life to obtain God’s mercy and forgiveness and to return to Him safely. But before I go into that, I’d like to mention to you one small but a very significant incident from the episode of Adam and Eve, as described in the Quran.”

          “The Quran tells us that both Adam and Eve became truly repentant for their disobedience to God, but as it was their first mistake, they didn’t know what to do with their feeling of guilt. Then being inspired by God, they learnt how to ask for His mercy and forgiveness in that kind of slip or fall from His guidance. They begged to God pleading, Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls: If you do not forgive us and bestow your mercy upon us we shall certainly be the losers. (7:23)

            “Mrs. Miller, the Quran also tells us that God accepted their repentance and forgave them totally before He sent them to earth. At this point, I like to mention here that with that faith and hope, the Muslims all over the world invoke God for His mercy and forgiveness till today, using more or less the same words of Adam and Eve, in their five-times-daily prayers.”

             I stopped here for a moment to check my emotion and then said to her explaining, “Though the Old Testament does not mention Adam’s repentance separately, it contains numerous statements which tell us clearly and consistently that sincere repentance for one’s sin and mending his ways of life through keeping the commands of God, were made mandatory for all to obtain His mercy, forgiveness and also to ensure eternal life in heaven. I’ll read to you some of their statements to justify my point.  Let me quote first from the Old Testament.

Instances from the Old Testament

             If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7)

… if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my status, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways and live?(Ezekiel18:21-23)    

            Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, everyone according to his ways, said the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so inequity shall not be your ruin. (Ezekiel 18:30)

              Mrs. Miller was indeed an extraordinary listener. She listened in silence until I finished and also maintained her silence after I stopped reading. So, I continued, “Similarly, Mrs. Miller, there are  also numerous verses in the Quran where God commanded people to ask for His mercy and forgiveness and to turn to Him in sincere repentance  through keeping His commands. Let me read to you a few of them in support of that.

Instances from the Quran

          If anyone does evil or wrongs his own soul but afterwards seeks Allah’s forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. (Quran 4:110)

        Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance.(11:3)

        

       Yet your Lord is Forgiving and Merciful to those who do something wrong through ignorance, but later repent and rectify their ways. (16:119)

       Your Lord knows best what is in your hearts. For if you do good deeds, certainly He is most forgiving to those who turn to Him again and again in true repentance.  

        But the one who repents, becomes a believer, does good deeds and follows the Right Way, shall be forgiven. (20:82)

      [To Muhammad] Say: O My slaves who have transgressed against their souls, do not despair of Allah’s mercy, for Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. Turn in repentance to your Lord, and submit to Him before the torment comes upon you when you will find none to help you. (39:53–55)

God’s way to heaven remained unchanged after the arrival of Jesus

         After I finished reading, I stopped for a while and then said to her, “Mrs. Miller, while describing Adam’s expulsion from heaven, I did not mention to you one indispensable thing related to our faith in God. It is about His everlasting gift of guidance for the first couple on earth and their progeny that He bestowed on them before they were sent to earth, along with Satan as their open enemy. Before their expulsion, God said to them, with caution and warning, Get down from here all of you [Adam, Eve, and Satan]; Henceforth there shall come to you guidance from Me, and those who accept and follow it shall have nothing to fear or to regret. But, those who reject and defy Our revelations will be inmates of hellfire, wherein they shall live forever (2:38–39).

          “According to that promise God began sending His guidance to Adam and kept on doing so through all His messengers and finally ended it with His last prophet, Muhammad. But the bottom line of all His revealed guidance has always remained the same as He commanded first to Adam. It is, whoever obeys the guidance of God, will return to Him safely, meaning have eternal life in heaven, and whoever disobeys His guidance will be doomed forever in eternal hell”.

“By the phrase ‘the revealed guidance of God,’ we obviously mean some prescribed laws that God sent through all His messengers for the guidance of their people. Let me read to you a few of them from both the Old Testament and the Quran. It will help us to know the nature of those laws and we shall also know what God wanted us to do for our eternal life in heaven or what He forbade us doing to save us from being punished in hell. ”

The Commands of God: Instances from the Old Testament

“Mrs. Miller, there are countless verses in Leviticus, Exodus, and Deuteronomy where we find Moses pleading with his people, until his last days, to pay heed to the commands of God so that they could possess the land flowing with milk and honey, meaning heaven, which God promised to their forefathers. Out of many, I’m reading to you only a few of them.”  

            Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.

           Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. But, if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shall be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish. (Deuteronomy 6:3–5)

        Honor thy father and thy mother  … Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. (Exodus 20:12–17)

        After I finished reading the last verse, I said, “Mrs. Miller, in this connection, I like to point out that the laws of the Ten Commandments which Moses received from God, remained almost unchanged in the teaching of all His prophets, including both Jesus and Muhammad. You may understand my point much better if I read to you some of those laws from different chapters of the Quran. Then, we shall check what the Gospel, the Book that God sent to Jesus in between Moses and Muhammad, has said about it.”

“Sure, go ahead.” Mrs. Miller said breaking her long silence.

“Thanks,” Then I read the following verses from different chapters of the Holy Quran.

Commands of God: Instances from the Quran

O Muhammad, tell them: I am but a human being like you; the revelation is sent to me to proclaim that your God is One God; therefore, whoever hopes to meet his Lord, let him do good deeds and join no other deity in the worship of his Lord. (18:110)

Your Lord has decreed to you that: You shall worship none but Him, and you shall be kind to your parents; if one or both of them attain their old age in your lifetime, you shall not say to them any word of contempt nor repel them and you shall address them in kind words. (17:23)

O believers! Stand firm for justice and bear true witness for the sake of Allah, even though it goes against yourselves, your parents or your relatives.  … If you distort your testimony or decline to give it, then you should remember that Allah is fully aware of your actions.(4:135)

You shall not commit adultery; surely it is a shameful deed and an evil way. You shall not kill anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for just cause. (17:32–33)

               Yea, those who commit evil and become encircled in sin are the inmates of Hellfire. As for those who believe in God and do good deeds, they will be the residents of Paradise.(2:81–82)

I looked up at Mrs. Miller from my lap and said, “I think, those verses from both the Old Testament and the Quran, have made it distinctly clear that our way to heaven through having faith in one God and through keeping His commands, have remained the same in the teaching of all His messengers whom God sent before Jesus and also in the teaching of Muhammad, whom He sent after him, Right?”

         “But I also told you that everything has changed since Jesus was sent as the Savior of mankind.” Mrs. Miller responded after a long time with a mild protest.

God’s way to heaven has also remained unchanged in the teaching of Jesus

‘

“Yes, you did. But while reading the Gospel, I came across many verses which tell us clearly that Jesus was also sent following the footsteps of all his predecessors and confirming the laws of the Torah, as the Quran has said about him in 5:46. Let me read to you a few of them from Jesus’ own statements in the Gospel:

The first of all the commandments is, hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. (Mark 12:29–30)

    Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shall thou serve. (Matthew 4:10)

            Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

              For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

             Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

            For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17–20)

After I finished reading, I said to her, “Mrs. Miller, I think, the message of those verses is crystal clear. First, Jesus worshipped the same one God of all his predecessors, as well as of his successor, Muhammad. Second, Jesus made it absolutely clear that he was sent to confirm the laws of the Torah. Third, Jesus was not aware of men’s inborn sin and naturally he was also unaware of his giving life for their sin.” Then I asked her, “Do you think, Jesus would ever tell his people to keep the commands of God or to exceed in righteousness, if he really knew all men were born sinners because of Adam and nothing could purify them  until or unless he atoned his life for their sin and they also believed in it?”

 “Jesus said so, because he wanted us to be obedient and grateful to God through keeping His commands.” Mrs. Miller tried to reason.

“But why would Jesus want that if he knew that it won’t make any difference whether people obey the commands of God or disobey them?” I asked her back.  

“It is to check how many of his followers sincerely love God and remain grateful to Him for making His only Son die for their sin.”

          “In that case, what do you think of Jesus’ advice to the young man who came to him seeking for eternal life? Okay, let me read to you,” I said to her, “the entire conversation that took place in between Jesus and that young man.”

            And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

            And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

           He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness.

          Honour thy father and thy mother; and thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? (Matthew 19:16–21)

           “Mrs. Miller, please notice Jesus’ advice to the young man in reply to his last question. He said,  If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

             “Now, my question is why Jesus didn’t tell the man straight what exactly he needed to do for the remission of his sin or for his eternal life in heaven? Or, why did he tell him to do so many things which wouldn’t help him a bit to attain his salvation?”

Mrs. Miller shook her head, saying, “Sorry, I have no answer for that, except telling you that God says or acts many ways, the mystery of which is beyond our comprehension.”

The same old answer my missionary friends used to give when they failed to provide any acceptable explanation. But I did not expect it from an enlightened and educated teacher like her. I understood once again that our faith in God, whether it is blind or prudent, is equally strong and unshakable. But in spite of that, I felt I had to continue until I could mention to her what the Gospel has really said about Jesus’ atonement.

So, keeping my frustration to myself, I said to her, choosing my words carefully, “Yes, I agree. Our intelligence is too short to comprehend the mystery in the words or in the acts of God. But Mrs. Miller, we are not talking here about the creation of the heavens or how God made those celestial bodies to rotate around their orbits without making them fall or crash into one other. We are simply talking here,” I tried to explain, “about His way to return to our eternal home from this transitory station of our life. In that case, is not it most expected that God would always give us the plainest, simplest, and clearest direction, so that all of us-both wise and ordinary, could reach that Goal safely, and without being confused or misled?”

       

Jesus came to give his life a ransom for many 

          “Sure,” she agreed. “And it is what He did, because what could be easier or simpler than going to heaven through having faith in Jesus’ dying for us?”

The way she said, I felt a little nervous, but I tried to overcome it, because as far as I remembered, the Gospel had no acceptable evidence in support of Jesus’ atonement.    

So, in reply to her argument, I tried to pull up all my strength and spirit together and then said, “Yes, you are absolutely right. Nothing could be easier than that. But the problem is I find no evidence in the Gospel in support of his atonement.”

“It is really interesting.” Mrs. Miller said after a moment of stunning silence.

 Then she regained her spirit and said in confidence, “The Gospel contains many such statements that might have escaped your notice. Let me read to you verse 28 from Matthew 20.”  Mrs. Miller opened her Bible and began to read in her sweet and soft voice,

 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.(Matthew 20:28)

            While listening to her, I felt relaxed, because I read that verse many a time since I decided to write about Jesus’ atonement.

After she finished reading, she said, “I hope now you know why we believe in Jesus’ atonement, right?”

“Not completely,” I replied, “can you please tell me why Jesus said he came to give his life for many, instead of saying for the entire mankind?”

After a few moments of hesitant silence, Mrs. Miller said, “Jesus said so, because he knew very well that though he was sent to save all of mankind, but except for a part of them, others would deny him as their Savior.”

“In that case, how could you claim him as the Savior of the entire mankind?”

“We claim so because that is what he was sent for. I mean, the cause or the purpose of his sacrifice will always remain the same, whether others believe him or not as their Savior.”

  At this point of her explanation, I remembered certain statements of the Gospel where Jesus said to his disciples clearly that he was sent for the guidance of his own people-the misguided Jews. So, I said to her, “Then let us check the truth with Jesus’ own statement in the Gospel.”  

 I went back to the file on my laptop and read to her the verses 22 to 24 from Matthew 15.

            And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me. O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

            But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

            But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew 15:22–24)

After I read, I remained silent for a few moments and then said to her, “Mrs. Miller, I think, Jesus admitted here openly why he was sent for. Not only that, in the next few verses you will also find Jesus tried to stick to his assigned job by refusing to cure a sick girl who unfortunately belonged to a non-Jewish community. Please read them yourself. ”

I gave her few moments to read and then I said, “Now I’d like to know, if Jesus could refuse to cure a sick girl because of her non-Jewish origin, how could we expect him to give his life for the sin of mankind comprising people of so many different races, religions, customs, and cultures?”

After a few moments of silence, Mrs. Miller responded, “But how could we believe otherwise, when the Gospel tells us clearly that Jesus died on the cross for the sin of mankind?”

                             

              “In that case,” I asked, “how would you explain Jesus’ statement in Matthew 9:13, where he said he was sent to call the sinners to repentance? Okay, let me read to you the entire verse.” And, I read to her,

             But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matthew9:13)

              After I read that verse, I said, “Mrs. Miller, a sensible person would like to know why God, Who chose mercy over sacrifice, needed to sacrifice His own innocent Son in such a ghastly manner? Couldn’t He show His love and mercy to all by simply forgiving them and sending them all straight to heaven?”  “Besides that,” I asked her again, “why did Jesus separate the righteous from the sinners, if he knew both were stained equally with the sin of Adam and needed to be purified by his holy blood, as you claim?”

A few moments passed by in silence and then she said like a fantasized school girl, “We claim so because it is what the Gospel- the Holy Book of God, has said about Jesus!”

The Gospel bears no evidence to prove Jesus died on the Cross

It was then I felt really uneasy and nervous, but thinking of my true intention behind this talk, I tried to overcome my nervousness and said to her being very cautious and careful, “Mrs. Miller, both our Holy scriptures, the Gospel and the Quran, tell us clearly that Jesus was a prophet of God, and like all his predecessors and his successor Muhammad, he also taught his people to repent for their sin sincerely, to rectify their ways and to strive for their eternal life through keeping the commands of God. Not only that,” I tried to remind her politely, “while advising the young man, Jesus also left for his followers a clear instruction of what they needed to do for their eternal life.(Matthew 19:16-21) We already talked about it, Right?”  

          “Yes, you did.  But I don’t understand why Jesus gave his life on the Cross, if it was not meant for the remission of our sin or for our eternal life in heaven? Do you have any explanation for that?”

         After a few moments of disturbing silence, I said to her, “Yes, I have, but it is not in support of Jesus’ atonement but against it.”

         “What do you mean?” Mrs. Miller looked apprehensive.

         “I mean, I can explain to you with the help of the Gospel that Jesus did not die on the cross.” I said to her like a recorded tape.

         “O my God! Do you mean we have believed in something for the last two thousand years that never happened?” Her soft and sweet voice faltered a bit at the end, and I wished I never chose this subject for discussion. But since I did, I felt, I had no point to return, but to proceed.

So, I said, “Mrs. Miller, only a few centuries ago, our forefathers believed the earth was flat and stationary, but now we know they were wrong, because now we have plenty of clear evidence to prove …”

“I know what you are trying to say,” she said interrupting me. “But I really don’t understand what this instance has got to do with Jesus’ atonement, which the same Gospel we have been reading and teaching for the last two thousand years?”

“In that case, I must believe that Jesus’ early followers, the Nazarenes, had a different Gospel from yours.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean there are many old and authentic books which tell us Jesus’ early followers did not believe he died on the cross. But I don’t need to go into that controversy, because I will try to prove it with the same Gospel that you have been reading and teaching for the last two thousand years.”

“You must be crazy,” she scoffed. “Do you think anybody would believe in that?”

“It is entirely up to you whether you believe it or not. But, you have your Holy Bible right before you. If you find me misquote or misinterpret anything about this most important and essential element of your faith, you can oppose me at once and I will have a chance to know my mistake and correct it. So, what do you think?  Do you want me to continue?

         “Sure.”  

         “Thanks. I hope you will stay with me until the end of our discussion. I mean, until we know for certain what the Gospel has really said about Jesus’ atonement, Right?” I wanted to make sure so that she wouldn’t leave me with some excuses in the middle of our discussion, as it happened before many a time with my other missionary friends.           

         Mrs. Miller looked at her wrist watch and then said, “It is now four forty and I’ve to attend a party at seven. It means, it is okay if I leave by six. You certainly don’t need that long to finish your talk, Right?”

        “Right. But before I enter into it, I’d ask you to forgive me, if I hurt your faith or feeling anyway, though I know, I won’t say anything to you besides the description of the Gospel.”      

        “Then don’t worry, I’m old and matured enough to accept the truth, if I know I am wrong.”   

         “Thanks.”  I felt relaxed and then began to present my argument as humbly as possible.

               

Jesus was put on the Cross by the conspiracy of the Jewish high priests

              “Let’s begin with Jesus’ Crucifixion. I think, as a devoted Christian and a frequent reader of the Gospel, you know very well that Jesus was put on the cross by the conspiracy of the Jewish high priests and the elders of his own community, Right?”

               “Yes.”

               “You also know that they made this conspiracy, because many of them were ignorant, arrogant, and self-serving persons. They deviated from the laws of God that He delivered to Moses for their guidance and began to use them to suit their own purpose. At this stage, when Jesus arrived, fulfilling their dream of the promised Messiah and also confirming the Laws of Moses, they felt themselves threatened and feared losing their place or position that they had enjoyed so long in their community. And, because of that, they had the audacity to deny Jesus as the promised Messiah of God, to misinterpret his teaching, and finally to put him on the cross by framing him with a false charge of sedition. Is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“The Gospel also tells us that Jesus was betrayed by Judas, one of his close companions, and was handed over to the high priests for thirty pieces of silver. Then they made Jesus arrested by the soldiers of the governor Pilate, who found him innocent and also wanted to release him, right?”

“Yes.”

“But he could not, because when the high priests and their misguided followers heard of it, they began to shout for his crucifixion. To pacify the turbulent mob, Pilate delivered Jesus to his soldiers to carry out his persecution.  But before they put him on the Cross, they began humiliating and torturing him in the most cruel and disgraceful manner. Is it true?”

“Yes.”

“Now I would like to know why Jesus let himself be arrested, tortured, and humiliated on a false charge, if he knew he was sent to give his life for the sin of all human beings?

I thought Mrs. Miller would ignore this question, but she did not. She said very politely, “There is obviously a very good reason for that. Jesus knew very well that his blood was required to make the people holy from their sin. And, he also knew that the prophecies made about him in the Scriptures would also be fulfilled. So, he endured all their taunts and tortures in silence and let his blood be shed without any protest.” She stopped here for a moment and then said, “Since you read the Gospel so well, you must remember what Jesus did when the people of the high priests came to arrest him. He commanded one of his men to hold his sword which he raised to strike them. And before that, he said to his disciples that he could pray to God to save him with the help of His angels, but he did not, because he wanted his people to know how much he loved them and could suffer for them to make them free from their sin. So, it does not matter to us how Jesus gave up his life. We simply know and believe that he gave his life for our sin and for our eternal life in heaven.”

Jesus had no intention to die on the Cross

“In that case, I have to read to you some statements of the Gospel where Jesus made it absolutely clear that he had no intention to die on the Cross.”

“Now that sounds really funny. First, you told me that Jesus did not die on the cross, and now you are telling me that he had no intention to die.”

“Mrs. Miller, who am I to tell you this? I only want you to know what the Gospel tells us about it. Let me read to you Jesus’ prayers to God, when he found his death on the cross was imminent.” So saying, I read to her from the file of my lap.

O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matthew 26:39)

He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. (Matthew 26:42)

After I finished reading, I asked her politely, “Mrs. Miller, do you think the verses I just read to you, bear any indication of Jesus’ willingness to die?”

When she remained silent, I said to her again, “The answer is obviously no. They simply tell us Jesus had no intention to die. But, then we found him to ignore his own likes and dislikes and to surrender himself completely to the will and the command of God. In other word, like a self-surrendered servant of God, Jesus was ready to accept what his Father in heaven desired for him.”

In her silence, I asked her again, “Or, what do you think of Jesus’ grievances in Matthew 27:46 when he felt himself being deserted of God’s mercy in the last hour on the Cross? Do you think, Jesus would beg God for His mercy so desperately, if he really intended to die for the sin of mankind?  Definitely not. Jesus was seen grieving to God for the  deprivation of  His mercy, only because he did not want to die on the Cross for a wrong cause.”

        “What do you mean by a wrong cause”?

        “I already mentioned to you before that Jesus was put on the Cross by the Jewish high priests on a false charge of sedition and therefore he had every right to save his life from this kind of disgraceful death. But I’d never think that Jesus might have hesitated to give his life, if he truly knew his blood was required for the sin of mankind. Did not he tell to his disciples in John 15:13, that Greater love has no man than this, that a man gives up his life for his friends?

“On the basis of that statement, we believe undoubtedly that Jesus would have given his life happily, not only once but millions of times, if his life or blood had anything to do with making his people free from their sin or to taking them to heaven. Is not the history of mankind full of noble sacrifices made by the most common and ordinary people for the sake of their country, people or freedom? So, we don’t think Jesus’ status or position became any less or low because he did not want to die for a wrong cause or as a victim of an evil conspiracy. So, what do you think?”

“Let me hear from you first.”

The Quran also says that Jesus did not die on the Cross

“Thanks.” After a moment of silence I continued, “Mrs. Miller, I already told you before that the Quran did not mention anything about Jesus’ atonement, but it has mentioned about his crucifixion. Now, let me read first what the Quran has said about Jesus’ Crucifixion, and then we shall check the truth in the statements of the Gospel.”  Then I began to read from the file of my lap.

        They [the Jews] went in their disbelief to such an extent that they uttered terrible slander against Mary.

         They even said [in boast]: We have killed the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah. But they killed him not. Nor, they crucified him but so it was made appear to them. And those who differ therein are full of doubts with no certain knowledge. They only follow a mere conjecture, they certainly killed him not.

        But Allah raised him up to Himself. And, Allah is Ever Mighty, all-Wise. (Quran 4:156–158).

      

After I read, I said to her, “Mrs. Miller, I think the Quran has made it absolutely clear that Jesus was raised to heaven alive before he was crucified. But since you have,” I said looking at her impassive face, “lots of reservations in accepting the Quran as the revealed Book of God, I’d ask you to ignore totally what the Quran says about Jesus’ Crucifixion. But I am sure you won’t ignore, if I tell you what the Gospel has said about Jesus’ giving life on the Cross, right?”

      “Right,” Mrs. Miller agreed.   

       “In that case, I will ask you to ponder over a few things minutely from the scene of Jesus’ crucifixion as described in the Gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.”

         “Sure.”

         “Thanks. While reading the description, I came across with a series of occurrences which suggest strongly that Jesus did not die on the cross. Let me mention them to you, one by one. You may of course correct me, if I’m wrong.”

          “Yes definitely.”

           “The Gospel tells us of a centurion who saw Jesus give up his ghost with a loud cry. But it does not tell us whether he actually knew Jesus had died or not. Same thing happened with Jesus’ mother and two other women who stood afar, watching his Crucifixion. They did not know either whether Jesus died or remained unconscious after he was crucified.

“The Gospel also tells us about two soldiers who came to break Jesus’ legs following the laws after crucifixion. But they did not, because they assumed him to be already dead. We also noticed that  blood and water came out rushing from Jesus’ side when one of the soldiers pierced it with his spear. I really feel bad to describe this ghastly scene, but it also confirms that Jesus’ body was warm until then, and the circulation of his blood did not stop.

“Finally, Joseph appeared in the scene, followed by Nicodemus—two devoted followers of Jesus. From the description in the Gospel, we came to know that Joseph managed to take Jesus’ body from the governor, and Nicodemus joined him later with a mixture of spices to put on Jesus’ body and a piece of linen to cover him. But they did not examine him to see whether he died or remained unconscious before they buried him in a newly dug sepulcher.”

“Do you want me to believe that they buried him alive?” asked Mrs. Miller, breaking her long silence

“Mrs. Miller, I am not asking you to believe or to disbelieve anything. I only want you to ponder over some statements of the Gospel which I think have some potential elements to prove Jesus did not die on the cross and he was also buried alive.”

“First, I want you to think deeply about the circumstances when Jesus was accused, arrested, humiliated, and put on the cross.”

“Second, think of Jesus’ close disciples, who forsook him and also fled from him to save themselves from the assault of his hostile persecutors”.

“Third, try to visualize the whole scenario when the earthquake, eclipse, and darkness followed, immediately after Jesus’ Crucifixion.

“And last of all, think about how, in the midst of all the chaos, conflict, and calamity, Jesus was buried in haste by two of his grieved and scared disciples in fear of being seen or caught by his conspirators. Taking all these occurrences into consideration, Mrs. Miller, I think it was quite human, if the question of Jesus’ still being alive, or examining his body for the sign of life, escaped from their minds completely before they put him in his grave. You must know that many such things are known to happen until this day, right?”

On Jesus’ Resurrection: Points to ponder

          “In that case,” Mrs. Miller asked, “how do you explain Jesus’ resurrection? The Gospel tells us Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene three days after he rose up from his grave and also spoke to

her.” (John 20:17)

“But, may I please know first what makes you think that Jesus appeared to Mary after he died? I mean, what evidences, do you have to prove,” I enquired of her, “that Jesus died and then resurrected before he appeared to Mary?”

Mrs. Miller remained awfully silent for a few seconds and then said with a touch of emotion, “You may not know it, but Jesus proved his resurrection by fulfilling his own prophecy. Let me read to you from Matthew 12:40.”

            Mrs. Miller opened her Bible and read, ‘For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.’ After she finished reading, she asked me straight, “By the by madam, do you know who Jonah was and what caused him to go into the belly of the whale?”

           “Yes, very well. The Muslims call him Prophet Yunus. His story has been mentioned in several places of the Quran. The reason for his going into the belly of the fish is more or less the same as it is described in the Bible. But we have learnt one thing more in the Quran. It is about a piece of brief supplication that Jonah rendered to God crying helplessly in the darkness of the whale’s belly. He said, There is no god but You, glory be to You! Indeed I was the one who committed wrong. (21:87)

          “Mrs. Miller, Muslims all over the world, make this supplication to God till today whenever they face any kind of affliction.”

“It is really impressive.” Mrs. Miller said in appreciation, “since you know about Jonah so well, you will easily understand why Jesus compared his resurrection with Jonah’s coming out from the belly of the whale. By this comparison, Jesus made it absolutely clear that he came out alive from the heart of the earth, as did Jonah from the belly of the fish.”

Jesus’ prophecy nullifies his atonement and resurrection both  

 I thanked her in silence for quoting this prophecy of Jesus in support of his resurrection. If she had not, I would have done it myself, as a foolproof evidence to nullify his atonement and resurrection both.

So, in reply to her explanation, I said to her, “I think, you have quoted this prophecy in support of Jesus’ resurrection without thinking of its true meaning and implication. Otherwise, you could see for yourself that in this prophecy Jesus left for you a clear indication that he was buried alive and also came out alive and therefore the question of his atonement or resurrection does not arise at all.”

“May I please know what makes you think so?” Mrs. Miller sounded a bit tensed and tired.

“Sure. By comparing his situation with Jonah’s, Jesus made it absolutely clear that he entered in the heart of earth alive, as did Jonah in the belly of the whale. And, as Jonah remained alive inside its belly, so did Jesus inside his grave. And finally, as Jonah came out alive from the belly of the fish, so did Jesus from the heart of earth. I think,” I started again after a few moments of silence, “by his prophecy Jesus made it   clear to all that the doctrine of his atonement or resurrection became a part of Christian faith, after he left.”

           “Then how could Jesus live inside his grave for three days and three nights?” Mrs. Miller asked me with a bit hesitation.

“Mrs. Miller, did you ever ask yourself, how Jonah lived in the belly of a whale, which carried him deep under the ocean for three days and three nights?” But keeping that question to myself I said to her casually, “Maybe, the ointment that his disciples put heavily all over his body, helped him to heal his wounds and to regain his consciousness gradually. Besides that,” I added further, “from the narration in the Gospel of Mark (15:42-47; 16:2-6), we also came to know that Jesus stayed in his grave only two nights and one day. May be, the air in his newly dug sepulcher was good enough to keep him alive for that period.” 

In her silence, I said to her again, “There are also other statements in the Gospel that also tell us Jesus did not die on the Cross. According to the description of Luke 24:36-41 we also came to know how Jesus’ disciples became frightened when he reappeared to them and stood in the middle of the room saying to them, ‘Peace be upon you.’ They certainly had a very good reason to be terrified, because they heard Jesus died on the cross and was laid to rest in a sepulcher about three days ago. So when they heard him greeting to them, they instantly thought they were seeing his ghost or spirit, Right?”

“Yes, naturally,” she agreed.

“Jesus also understood their fear, so he tried to correct their mistake. Okay, let me read to you what he said.” Then I opened my Bible and read to her verses 39 to 41 from Luke 24:

          Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bone, as ye see me have.

          And when he had thus spoken he shewed them his hands and feet,

         And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

       And they gave him a piece of boiled fish and of a honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.

           After I read the description, I said to her pondering, “I really have no clue how Jesus’ followers could mistake him for a spirit, a ghost, or in his resurrection, after he admitted to them so clearly that he was but a man of flesh and blood?”

          “I understand your confusion.” Mrs. Miller responded politely, “But you will find another statement a little below in the same chapter of Luke 24. The number of the verse is 46. It tells us Jesus was resurrected from his death fulfilling the prophecy of the scriptures. Let me read it to you.”

         And, she read, ‘Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.’ I hope, now you understand why Jesus’ followers believe in his resurrection.”

“Please excuse me, if I don’t find any confusion in it. I mean, it became true in Jesus’ life, just the way it was told about him.”

“What do you mean?” She looked puzzled.

 “I mean Jesus fulfilled the first part of the prediction by going through untold suffering in the hands of his persecutors. And, he also fulfilled the last part of the prediction by rising from the dead.”

“Then how couldn’t you believe in his resurrection?”  

 “It is because,” I said to her explaining, “Jesus’ rising from the dead does not mean his rising from his own death. Is not the graveyard, a place for the dead?

 Mrs. Miller remained silent.  Looking at the calm and serene beauty of her face, I thought I should put an end to this endless discussion before we lose our patience or get frustrated at each other. But I could not. I still had a few things left to complete my discussion.

Jesus says, heaven is meant for the children

               So, I said to her, “Mrs. Miller, I think you also have read in the Gospel that people’s sins were forgiven before Jesus’ alleged atonement or resurrection took place. (Mark 2:5; Luke 7:48) Besides that, Jesus was seen asking God forgive the sin of the ignorant people (Luke 23:34) and he was also seen teaching his disciples to ask God to forgive their sin (Luke 11:2-4). Does not it tell us Jesus was unaware of man’s inborn sin and therefore he was also unaware of his giving life for their sin?”   

            In her silence, I said to her again, “Mrs. Miller, before I finish, I would read to you another brief statement of Jesus to nullify the validity of all doctrines from original sin to his resurrection that his followers are required to believe to redeem their sin and to have eternal life in heaven.”    

              Then, I read to her the verses 14 and 15 from the Gospel of Mark 10.

Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. (Mark 10:14–15).

            After I finished reading, I asked her very politely, “Mrs. Miller, do you think, Jesus would ever tell his disciples that heaven was meant for the children, if he knew they were born with the stain of Adam’s sin and nothing could make them holy or take them to heaven until he gives his life for their sin?”

            In reply to my question, Mrs. Miller picked a bottle of water from the side table and began to sip in silence.

         

Jesus’ followers are playing the role of ‘doubting Thomas’

           I also took a few sips from my water bottle and then said to her lightly,“ I think Jesus’ followers chose to play the role of doubting Thomas.”

“May I please know what makes you think so?”             

        “Sure. The Gospel tells us Thomas was not present when Jesus reappeared to his other disciples from his grave. But when they met Thomas later and told him that they saw their Master with their own eyes and also heard him to greet, to talk and even to eat food with them, he refused to believe them and said, “Just a moment please.” I said while browsing my lap. “Let me read to you what exactly he said. You will find it in John 20:25. ”

 I went to the file in my lap and read to her. But he said unto them, Except, I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

At the end of my reading, I said to her a bit seriously, “I hope, you will excuse me for comparing your present mindset with Thomas’. But I did it for a reason. Thomas had no reason to doubt his close companions’ report about Jesus’ reappearance, but he did. Similarly, you also have no reason to doubt those statements of the Gospel where Jesus spelled out clearly what you need to do for your sin or for your eternal life in heaven, but you do.”

 When she remained silent as before, I said to her again, “But Thomas was very lucky, because he believed in the words of his friends completely, when he saw Jesus with his own eyes after he appeared to them again, eight days later.” (John 20:26–29) I stopped here for a moment and then  asked her kidding, “Do you think, you can afford to wait that long until Jesus comes back again second time to tell you that he did not really die on the Cross for your sin or for your eternal life in heaven?”   

 In reply to my question, Mrs. Miller asked me in pleasant surprise, “Do you believe in Jesus’ Second Coming?”

 “Absolutely, because the Quran has mentioned of his second coming as the sign of the Last Hour meaning the end of the world.(43:61) Besides that,” I added  “Muhammad, the last Prophet of God has also left for us a vivid description on Jesus’ second coming in a series of his predictions.”

“May I please know what he said?” She asked me sweetly.

“He has mentioned the place where Jesus would descend from heaven and how he would look like at that moment.”

“O my God! May I please know what else he said?”

“He also told us that Jesus would fight with the antichrist and other enemies of God and finally he would defeat them all. Then he would rule the world following the laws of God and maintain peace, progress and justice for all. In other word, he will then establish on earth the promised kingdom of God about which you now preach from door to door.” I stopped here deliberately and did not mention of his other prophecies on Jesus’ second coming.

“Do you have those books with you? Can I please borrow them?” Mrs. Miller enquired of me delightfully.

“But why do you want to know what Jesus might say or do at that time when your skulls and bones will be turned into dust? Is not it much better,” I asked her lightly, “to make the best use of your time, energy and intelligence to know what Jesus really taught you following the footsteps of all his Predecessors when you are still alive and are able to do it?”

When she did not answer, I asked her again, “Do you think, we will be given a second chance to correct our mistake, once we cross the one way exit of death and find us there in a wrong place?”

 A few moments later, she asked me very politely, “Will you mind if I leave now? It is nearly six.”

           “Sorry, I did not notice the time. I hope you will not be late to attend your party, right?”             

             “Don’t worry, I’ll go in time. But I thank you a lot for your educative and informative discussion about Jesus.” Then, without waiting for my reply she asked me again surprising, “By the by Madam, may I please have your telephone number and the name of your website?”  

 “Sure.” I said trying to suppress my excitement and then gave her my ID card after I jotted down the name of my website on its back.

 “Thanks.” She said while getting up from the couch with her bag and the Bible.

  “You are most welcome.” 

   When I opened the door for her, she asked me again startling, “Madam, would you mind, if I come again soon with some of my seniors?”

 “Of course not,” I said enthusiastically. “I think that would be wonderful”.

 “Thanks. I will call you before I come,” she said. “Until then stay happy and safe.”

Reverend,

           That was seven years ago, and another five years have passed since then, I am still waiting for her call.