“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! Luke (13:34)
In studying the New Testament the above statement seems very odd indeed. Why odd? It is odd due to the constant friction between Jesus (pbh) and the Jewish population that were not Essenes and the expression of ‘how often’ becomes simple, wishful thinking by Jesus (pbh) or else pure hogwash!
Here we have an expression of possible lengthy duration which would make complete sense in several ways if this verse applies to the Christ-soul as the original founder of the Essenic Sect who was known as the original Mysterious Teacher of Righteousness!
When the chickens come home to roost! This idea has a monumental effect on the concept of religion but above all, it depicts an awesomely powerful GOD, WHO is truly in control of all things and WHO is THE TRUE AND ACTIVE GUIDE for mankind with RECTITUDE rather than a remote, seemingly feeble entity!
The so-called experts with multiple PhD degrees have come swooping in to cast doubt on all scripture, in some form or another, showing that they are either thoroughly contaminated as to being riddled with errors or highly questionable due to several factors including authorship, dates and even penmanship.
We have the Quran proclaiming that ALLAH is ABSOUTE IN HIS POWER AND THAT NOT A LEAF FALLS BUT WITH HIS KNOWLEDGE AND PERMISSION. Yet HE seemingly is totally useless when it comes time to help individuals put together manuscripts of holy import!
That doesn’t mean that errors here and there haven’t crept into the Holy Word but that overall, if one believes in a STRONG GOD, one could rest assured that the ‘Living Word’ can still be found and appreciated! But it must be studied well and the belief must be fought for as to its harmonizing and unifying features!
To those whom WE have sent the Book {and} study it as it should be studied {without careless abandon}: They are the ones that believe therein: Those who reject faith therein, the loss is their own. Quran (2:121)
We {people who actually believe in a ONE GOD AND ONE DEVELOPMENTAL MESSAGE} believe in ALLAH, and the Revelation given to us, and to Abraham {and his two seeds} Isma’il {and} Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) prophets from their LORD: We make no difference between one and another of them {in their philosophical content for they are consistent and emanate from the ONE GOD}. Quran (2:136)
People cannot come to a ‘common understanding’ with massive corruption hanging over their heads or questionable material that renders the message useless! But one must work for the common thread of unity and believe that the ONE GOD has given us the materials by which we can build our spiritual lives, IF WE ARE IN EARNEST. That is a big if and a big responsibility!
The main job of the Essene sect was to bring about a direct appeal to the GOD of the Jews to stop the tears that their hearts were pouring forth due to the state of corruption of their religion by the Pharisees as well as the condition of society. In other words, they asked that the long awaited ‘promised one’ would be born unto them.
Their story is found in the Quran by noting those noble ‘loyalists’ who believed in separating themselves from the common mismanagement of the corrupt ruling Jews or those who were later branded as killers of the prophets by Jesus (pbh). The Essenes and the Pharisees mixed together like oil and water and that was enough to drive the Essenes into secrecy concerning their sect!
Therefore, for survival sake, the Essenes, who were placed all over Palestine, went underground for safety reasons as well as to retain a certain sense of purity. As the Jews were all over Palestine, so too was this special sect of the Jews and this formed a so-called network of helpers.
This secret sect’s purpose was to live and worship in the ways thought pleasing to their LORD and many prophets came from their sect and of course many were slain by the ‘ruling Jews’ as is recorded from Jesus’ speech The Sermon on the Mount.
An example of high mindedness of this sect is found in the Quran when the mother of Mary gives birth to a female child! Of course she is happy but also disappointed because the Messiah child to enter into life will be a male child!
And she was one of the chosen few with a high degree of pedigree or noble lineage by which they choose the females at that time. She wanted to be that one who would give birth to the ‘Promised One’.
ALLAH did choose Adam and Noah, the family of Abraham {Ishmael and Isaac}, and the family of ‘Imran above all people,-
Offspring, one of the other: And ALLAH hears and knows all things.
Behold! A woman {of noble decent from the family} of ‘Imran said: “O my LORD! I do dedicate unto YOU what is in my womb for YOUR special service: So accept this of me: For YOU hear and know all things.”
When she was delivered, she said: “O my LORD! Behold! I am delivered of a female child!”- And ALLAH knew best what she brought forth- “And no wise is the male like the female. I have named her Mary, and I commend her and her offspring to YOUR protection from the Evil One, the Rejected.” Quran (3:33-36)
Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East.
She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then WE sent her OUR angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects.
She said: “I seek refuge from you to (ALLAH) Most Gracious: (come not near) if you do fear ALLAH.”
He said: “Nay, I am only a messenger from your LORD, (to announce) to you the gift of a holy son.
She said: “How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?”
He said: Even so; your LORD says: It is easy for ME: and that WE may make him a SIGN to men and a mercy from US, and it is a matter which has been {already} decreed {from beforehand}. Quran (19:16-21)
Right graciously did her LORD accept her: HE made her {Mary} grow in purity and beauty: To the care of Zakariya was she assigned. Every time that he entered (her) chamber to see her, he found her {miraculously} supplied with sustenance. He said: “O Mary! Whence (comes) this to you?” She said: “From ALLAH: for ALLAH Provides sustenance to whom HE pleases without measure.”
There {upon seeing this mighty miracle} did Zakariya pray to his LORD, saying: “O my LORD! Grant unto me from YOU a progeny that is pure: for YOU are HE that hears prayer!
While he was standing in prayer in the chamber, the angels called unto him: “ALLAH does give you glad tidings of Yahya {John the Baptist}, witnessing the truth of a Word from ALLAH, and (besides) noble, chaste, and a prophet, of the (goodly) company of the righteous.”
He said: “O my LORD! How shall I have son, seeing I am very old, and my wife is barren?” “Thus,” was the answer, “ALLAH accomplishes what HE WANTS.”
He said: “O my LORD! Give me a Sign!” “Your Sign,” was the answer, “Shall be that you shall speak to no man for three days but with {hand} signals. Then celebrate the praises of your LORD again and again, and glorify HIM in the evening and in the morning.”
Behold! The angels said: “O Mary! ALLAH has chosen you and purified you- chosen you above the women of all nations.
“O Mary! Worship your LORD devoutly: Prostrate yourself, and bow down (in prayer) with those who bow down.”
This is part of the tidings of the things unseen, which WE reveal unto you (O Messenger!) by inspiration: You were not with them when they cast lots with arrows, as to which of them should be charged with the care of Mary: Nor were you with them when they disputed (the point).
Behold! The angels said: “O Mary! ALLAH gives you glad tidings of a Word from HIM: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to ALLAH;
“He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous.”
She said: “O my LORD! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?” HE said: “Even so: ALLAL creates what HE wills: When HE has decreed a plan, HE but says to it, ‘BE,’ and it is!
“And ALLAH will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel,
“And (appoint him) a messenger to the Children of Israel, (with this message): “‘I have come to you, with a Sign from your LORD, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by ALLAH’s leave: And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by ALLAH’s leave; and I declare to you what you eat, and what you store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if you did believe;
“‘(I have come to you), to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear ALLAH, and obey me.
“‘It is ALLAH Who is my LORD and your LORD; then worship {ONLY} HIM. This is a Way that is straight.'”
When Jesus found Unbelief on their part {the general population} he said: “Who will be my helpers to (do the work of) ALLAH?” Said the disciples: “We are ALLAH’s helpers: We believe in ALLAH, and do you {O Jesus} bear witness that we are Muslims {meaning following after the rightful and truthful way}. Quran (3:37-52)
This is the story as much as any story that proclaims the importance of the Teacher of Righteousness and the shepherding, as it were, of the flock. That the ONE GOD could ever be likened to an absentee landlord or one who has no control over things is just plain monstrous!
Or (take) the similitude of one {Ezekiel, the son of man, the leader of the House of Israel/believers} who passed by a hamlet, all in ruins to its roofs. He said: “Oh! How shall ALLAH bring it (ever) to life, after (this) its death?” but ALLAH caused him to die for a hundred years, then raised him up (again). HE said: “How long did you tarry (thus)?” He said: (Perhaps) a day or part of a day.” HE said: “Nay, you have tarried thus a hundred years; but look at your food and your drink; they show no signs of age; and look at your donkey: And that WE may make of you a SIGN unto the people. Look further at the bones, how WE bring them together and clothe them with flesh.” When this was shown clearly to him, he {the son of man} said: “I know {with certainty} that ALLAH has power over all things.” Quran (2:259)
This is a lesson asking that one never doubt in the ONE WHO is in total control of all things and is the TRUE GUIDE to mankind’s success. So our appeal as well as our worship is to HIM and HIM ALONE! And this is what Jesus (pbh) truly showed and represented!
The appreciation of HIS ‘incarnate’ Word and his struggles amongst mankind (or what can be known of it) and the struggles within himself can give us a deeper appreciation of HIS SERVANT AND SLAVE: the excellent man, Muslim and SIGN to mankind we call Jesus the son of Mary (pbh)!!!
And how atrocious it is for any man to think of this excellent servant and slave of GOD to be anything more than a normal human being, a being guided and turned on a rightful pathway by his LORD and a man totally dependent upon his LORD for success in this world and the Hereafter!
So now, in part, we can guess and even appreciate how this wonderful, caring man, an exemplary man who was strictly obedient to his LORD, has been described as one who truly was crucified in the flesh even though he never was put on any cross to die like a savage criminal!
This is a lesson asking that one never doubt in the ONE WHO is in Total Control of all things and is the TRUE GUIDE to mankind’s success including the prophets whom HE sent.
A favor is needed to those who can carry it out. Seemingly, it has proven difficult for me to get a hold of Paul Williams of Blogging Theology for any number of reasons including my own ineptitude with electronic media.
So, I want to give a reply to his video concerning Apostle Paul’s peculiar beliefs and his statement concerning Jesus’ supposed crucifixion found in the so-called letters of Paul 1 Corinthians chapter 15. This from the Video Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. Or didn’t he? My email is tyrexsara590@gmail.com.
In short, the logic for the following must be airtight such that it will be difficult to assail for a logical person:
Young Saul studied under one of the greats (Gamaliel) so that makes Saul kind of like a Rhodes Scholar in a way. He is an admitted Pharisee of a staunch position and he doesn’t believe that the ‘real’ Messiah can be hurt (Psalms 91:106-115) and because Jesus was ‘hurt’ by the stake according to Jewish tradition, logically he (Jesus) would be classified as a false messiah or so the logic goes!
However, a supposed conversion occurred to him on the road to Damascus and he was healed by a believer having better and sounder logic than himself. So, he went into the Arabian Deseret located in Syria to get a grip on things.
When he made his eventual way to Jerusalem, he found a few of the knowledgeable ones who had a firsthand account of the happenings of the Master.
He didn’t come to Jerusalem to visit an outdoor café! He got scrutinized as a former enemy should and he had to make a good account of himself. These people of the Book have their own ‘gifts’ given unto them as every Ummah has its own peculiar ‘gifts’ according to Islam. In short the people judged that Paul and his demeanor was sound in his methods and that he was a true believer.
And he preached with ZEAL but like a Benedict Arnold, he eventually became a hated man whom the Jewish leadership often plotted against. That is natural because Paul contradicted them and their scriptural evaluation.
When the knowledge came down around 50 CE that there was going to be a two track system of preaching Paul ventured into the area on more than just Jews first. This is only natural as the real Messiah was going to be the Messiah for those who truly believed and not for those who practiced deceit!
Now the controversy of his preaching style has some merit but to believe that he was an enemy to the truth slanders both him and the hard working and earnest believers who would not be so gullible as to allow a ‘monster’ spreading lies in their midst. Suffice it to say that Paul is going to be attacked at every turn due to his apparent traitor-like stance against the ruling Jews just like the hatred one would show against Benedict Arnold for what he apparently did!
OK, now the meat and potatoes! Paul could not have made the statements supposedly attributed to him by Paul Williams viz the New Testament even though they are found in the New Testament letter of Paul which supposedly guarantees Christs suffering and crucifixion according to NONEXISTANT OLD TESTAMENT VERSES as rightfully pointed out by Paul Williams himself!
Do we know who made these statements? I believe we now do!!! First Prophet Muhammad (pbh) is a prophet for all of mankind and not just Arabs. Therefore, his declaration concerning the horns of Satan shall come from the EAST or arise from the EAST must be looked at carefully under a human-type setting not just an Arab setting!
There was a man who came from the EAST bearing gifts so that he could be a respected member of the newly forming Christian Religion in around 140 CE. This man was a devil and he proved it over and over again. His name was Marcion and he came West bearing gifts.
He brought a FORGED GOSPEL that was actually a mutilated Gospel of Luke which he claimed to be his own. He also brought some Letters from Paul which were in bad shape but which he ‘graciously’ would restore. Ha! A known forger is about to work!
Marcion is known for slamming the original Disciples of Jesus as being idiots and ignorant fools but not Paul! Marcion is claiming a bond between him and Paul and the wise should pay attention to his philosophy which included the acknowledgement of two gods which is NOT MONOTHEISM!
It was only after Marcion was shown the door unceremoniously in around 144 CE that Justin Martyr could go to work and prove beyond a doubt that Christ was really crucified and thereby defeating the corrupt Gnostics who held to this ruinous two god theory! This would be about 2 years or so after Marcion was excommunicated!
And thanks to the Quran (3:55 – the victory of Monotheism over Dualism) we have conformation that the ‘best’ side won in that titanic struggle for what Christianity and its own Book would look like. None of this two-god stuff would make the grade!!! At least Monotheism in some tainted form could be held in place!
Now as for Paul, being a wildcard type of go-it-alone wahoo that doesn’t seem to be the case! Since his declaration denying the crucifixion occurred in 53 or so CE by his famous statement of We preach christ crucified as a STUMBLING BLOCK to the JEWS and as FOOLISHNESS TO THE GENTILES such that an explanation would suffice but fools go off by themselves and manufacture their own inventions.
Some would say that Paul has 12 more years to pull a fast one but more than half of that time he will be in prison or under house arrest. So that would crimp his supposed heretical style.
The newly formed study groups from any preacher would be eager to visit Jerusalem and spread the joy by sending representatives. Also, to have delegations coming to Jerusalem would be an honor and an enlightenment.
We can’t forget that James the half-brother of Jesus along with very prominent dignitaries would be intent on seeing ‘church’ growth and in the proper context. So, before 70 CE or the destruction of the Temple some form of communications must be taking place concerning any problems that might arise.
Who is going after bad-boy Paul now? Are they leaving him to poison the flock when he can so easily be taken to task! And why are the antagonistic Jews of high position trying to ruin his day? Why did they kill the prophets in the first place except for a misplaced ZEAL from Satan!
Luke, our historian and Presbyter (he of the 70) writes what I consider the non-crucifixion Gospel (the Gospel called Luke) and mentions the victory of Islam in Acts Chapter 3 (22-23) featuring the ‘other’ branch of the Semitic peoples. This later part is substantiated by hadiths literature and the Quran as well as The Book of Revelation and the Book of Hebrews.*
{*The substantiation comes from the agreement on how joyfully the souls being born at that time are ‘imprinted’ with an automatic love for the religion chosen not by man but by their very own CREATOR LORD. Naturally, they want to be in total compliance with their LORD’s wishes and imprinted thusly within their very souls. In other words, that faith and the actions to be done in that faith have become automatic and the ‘new normal’ for them!}
Of course Paul is no saint but one would think that the early church (50-85 CE) would express their dismay and wroth against him if he went off script instead of letting things slide out of control if he was that so-called dangerous and evil man!
We also know that being a leading type Jewish candidate for the spreading of Jewish fame and fortune would win him a heartfelt gratitude. Instead, Paul goes on the attack which is blasphemy to the ruling elite as to them being so stupid as not to recognize the real Messiah!
That will not win Paul any friends among the wealthy and influential and like John the Baptist (pbh) he will pay for it with his life!
Now as to our self-proclaimed historian Luke, his job was not so easy. In many cases he had to take down second and third hand reports concerning Paul when he started his historical document because Paul had died a few decades before this project (Acts) could be completed.
Being that he did not have a plane to travel around in and that getting firsthand accounts from people who had passed on (martyred or otherwise) was not an easy task. Hence, it is only natural to find some discrepancies in his accounts concerning some of Paul’s remembrances as any psychologist will testify to.
This is not a vindication that everything in the Acts is totally correct!!! But do unto others as you would have them do unto you seems like good advice. That is, respect for an approved ‘record’ should put people of like mind in an approved frame of mind concerning your records! Anyway, compare fairness between religions and Islam should win hands down!
So, we have a known forger at work (Marcion) who acts like a weasel when it comes to trying to steal the show by presenting falsehoods to increase his so-called influence amongst the ruling elite of Christendom but gratefully, he is shown the door as an excommunicated fool and forger that he really was!
Was it easy to forge some of Paul’s writings? The answer is yes due to the fact that although Jesus (pbh) was never put on that wooden cross, he was crucified in the flesh as to his intent and purpose of being the INCARNATE (reincarnated) Word in his various and many struggles to present the truth. This statement has nothing to do with Jesus being killed or crucified on any piece of wood!
Jesus (pbh) was a hard working soul with a mission of overcoming the world so to speak. Being guided ‘all the days of his life’ by his LORD, he won through the day to become that blessed soul, the MESSIAH and the rightful one to open the door for the most blessed Prophet of Islam to come and hence the chosen religion for the worldly kingdom I call paradise on Earth!
Besides this, he is a SIGN to mankind in so many ways. First and foremost he is a man of sorrows that held tightly to the ‘ROPE’ sent down by his LORD. In this way, he becomes more of a human figure than just by taking him as a privileged character who will not be hurt by his own people (Quran 5:110) and who seemingly worked only 3 years of intensive labor but had all the goodies of miracles directed his way!
Say, (O believers) We {people who actually believe in a ONE GOD AND ONE DEVELOPMENTAL MESSAGE} believe in ALLAH, and the Revelation given to us, and to Abraham {and his two seeds} Isma’il {and} Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) prophets from their LORD: We make no difference between one and another of them {in their basic message for they are consistent and emanate from the ONE GOD}. Quran (2:136)
