“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, {the center of Judaism and therefore the religion and its guidance and rules and regulation as a whole} the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it {as interpreters of the LAW and giving instruction and guidance to its people and therefore, true religious dictates}! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and {but} you were NOT willing! Matthew (23:37)
There is nothing wrong with this true statement of Jesus (pbh)! He is declaring that ‘many a time’ he wanted to lead (as the Christ-soul in his various capacities) the Jews to a truthful reality but the existent authorities were unwilling to give up their hypocritical practices in self-belief as essential disseminators of ‘their’ truth and justice.
Hence, we can match this truth with the further statement by Jesus:
Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples {as a teaching aspect},
Saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
Therefore, whatever they tell you, do and comply with it all*, but DO NOT DO AS THEY DO; for they say things and do not do them.
For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them {to do them} with one of their fingers.
But all their works they do to be seen by men {for they are showboats and love attention as they prance in front of the crowds}. They make their phylacteries {leather cases containing written scripture to be worn on the body} broad and enlarge the borders of their garments {only to be seen by men}.
They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues {to grab honor for themselves},
Greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ Matthew (23:1-7)
{*This particular part, showing the positive aspects of Comparative Religion, deals with avoidance of what in Arabic is called ‘FITNA’ which is overboard civil disorder or outright chaotic and ruckus behavior against ‘those in charge’. The same sentiment used in the New Testament is expressed in Islam but with more clarity of expression:
Hudhayfa ibn al-Yaman reported: The Messenger of ALLAH (pbh) said:
Rulers after me will come who do not follow my guidance and my Sunnah. Some of their men will have the hearts of devils in a human body.
I said, “O Messenger of ALLAH, what should I do if I live to see that time?” The Prophet said: You should listen and obey them even if the ruler strikes your back and takes your wealth, even still listen and obey. (Muslim)
Awf ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of ALLAH (pbh) said:
The best of your rulers are those whom you love and they love you, who pray for you and you pray for them. The worst of your rulers are those whom you hate and they hate you, whom you curse and they curse you.
It was said, “Shall we confront them with swords?” The Prophet said: No, as long as they establish prayer among you. If you find something hateful from them, you should hate their actions but not withdraw your hand from obedience. (Muslim)
O you who have faith, obey ALLAH and obey the Messenger and those invested with authority among you. If you disagree over something, refer it to ALLAH and the Messenger IF you truly believe in ALLAH and the Last Day. That is better and most suitable for determination. Quran (4:59)
Ali reported: The Prophet (pbh) said: There is no obedience to anyone if it is disobedience to ALLAH. Verily, obedience is only in good conduct. (Bukhari)
If disobedience to THOSE PUT IN CHARGE OF YOU is necessary to avoid a sin, it should be done in the proper manner showing civility and actions done without violence.}
The Christ-soul as Jesus (pbh) and as reported in the New Testament did not give off that aura of positive teaching and instruction to the Jews. On the contrary, his minimal time with them (just about 3 years) reflects mostly verbal combat and non-constructive dialogue.
However, if one can imagine the Christ-soul amongst them in various capacities since the time of Moses or even before then, we can sense that indeed there was the ‘hen trying to gather her brood’-type of experience. This is yet another indication requiring thought that leads to a conclusion that Jesus (pbh) is indeed that SIGN upon mankind.
It also reinforces that a ‘one shot affair’ of life experiences, which, as a topic, fortunately does not have to be understood in the least little bit (but does make things easier to understand some of the mysteries of religion) sometimes makes life look a bit unpractical.
For both young and old, there appears things in scripture which are labeled as correct yet sound like made up rubbish. That might explain somewhat why among many youths the word ‘religion’ does not imply comfort but rather confusion. This leads the inquiring mind further away from seeking important truths and allows that mind to be more cynical of organized religion.
The result is often rebellion against religion as something nonsensical or an attempt to search for the deep, unfathomable secrets of hidden ‘gold’ which will lead to a magical life. Both of these feelings/ideas are cheats in order to cast the mind and obedience to the ONE GOD far away.
So in our instruction, we are told to:
And hold fast, all together, by the rope which ALLAH (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude ALLAH’s favor on you; for you were enemies and HE joined your hearts in love, so that by HIS Grace, you became brethren; and you were on the brink of the pit of Fire, and HE saved you from it. Thus does ALLAH make HIS SIGNS clear to you: So that you may be guided. Quran (3:103)
One of the clear signs offered up in the New Testament concerning Jesus the son of Mary (pbh) comes from the following:
Then he {Jesus} said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me.”
And he opened their understanding, that they might {finally and truthfully} comprehend the Scriptures.
Then he said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer {for a body (soul) was chosen by your GOD to step up and be a SIGN unto mankind (as is described in the Book of Hebrews Chapter 10 verses 4-9)} and to rise from the dead the third day,
The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and (for to) be crucified, and on the third day rise again.'”
And {now} you are witnesses of these {miraculous} things.
Behold, I send the Promise of my FATHER upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power {SPECIAL GIFTS FOR THIS UMMAH} from on HIGH.”
And he led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them {so that they would receive guidance and strength from Heaven and be able to be factual witnesses to the truth}. Luke (24:44-50)
What is to be seen here is that the phrase ‘while I was still with you’ would ‘normally be negated’ because Jesus (pbh) IS STILL WITH THEM! And Jesus is nobody’s fool talking with marbles in his mouth.
However, it is different now due to the fact that this is a ‘new’ Jesus who must have been cleared of the slander** labeled against him while he was taken up and who must be a man in a different set of circumstances such that he is a ‘paradise man’ not to be strictly compared to the Earth environment man meaning the regular run-of-the-mill often stumbling son of Adam who can’t be taken up to heaven at this time in body and soul.
The Earth environment man must die and be buried but this will not happen to Jesus (pbh) at this time because he will rise from the dead (those people who die and be buried). However, when he comes back as himself again (the Second Coming) and while being only a man, he will have to be like all others and be buried because that is a human trait and he is totally human.
{** Behold! ALLAH said: “O Jesus! I will take you and raise you to MYSELF and clear you (of the falsehoods {and slander}) of those who blaspheme; I will make those who follow you superior to those who reject faith, to the Day of Resurrection: Then shall all of you return unto ME, and I will judge between you of the matters wherein you dispute.” Quran (3:55)}
