It was a miracle that would go on to shape the world as we know it; the world with all of its squabbles and dynamic proportions we see today. We might be able to see it now but back then it was considered small potatoes. Small but supposedly necessary.
Jesus (pbh) unlike Muhammad (pbh) had a strong but small base of Believers at the ready with a school of thought also at the ready which could provide some relief and logistical support for helping to spread the Word of GOD. His support would come from the Jewish semi-esoteric group called the Essenes of Dead Sea Scroll fame.
Historically, Prophet Muhammad (pbh) had about two willing male converts to begin his mission in the face of an antagonistic group of willful pagans in a male dominated society. Jesus (pbh) was born into a society of Monotheistic Believers but of varying sects. Still, even though these people of faith weren’t in complete control of the society they lived in at the time, they still had a great deal of autonomy and could practice their ‘Monotheistic ways’ liberally as long as they did not interfere with Roman control.
And the Jewish prophets came from this group of Essenic Jews laying down the design of ‘preparing the way for he who comes in the Name of the LORD’ or that one to be called the Messiah. The prophets, the minor and major ones, most certainly did not come from the worldly, somewhat hypocritical class of Jew called the Pharisees. Not all Pharisees were hypocrites but it was those who built up a power chain in order to perpetuate their status in Palestine who controlled the religious strings with the help from paganist Rome of course.
This is the miracle and its surrounding outcomes:
Now as Jesus passed by, he saw a man who was blind from birth.
And his Disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered, “Neither {of these are the case – neither} this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of GOD should be revealed in him. John (9:1-3)
And he {Jesus} said to him {the blind person}, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. John (9:7)
Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”
He answered and said, “A man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.” John (9:10-11)
They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees.
Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. John (9:13-14)
Because of this {healing on the Sabbath}, some of the Pharisees said, “This man is Not from GOD {so he must have a demon helping him}, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man perform such signs?” And there was division among them. John (9:16)
His parents said these things {that is to go and ask their son because he is old enough to answer for himself} because {as lowly worshiping Jews not involved with making group decisions} they feared the {ruling} Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that he was Christ {or any other prophet as a GOD warner or emissary}, he would be put out of the synagogue {for such a change to ‘real faith’ they did fear}. John (9:22)
He {the formerly blind man} answered and said, “Whether he {Jesus} is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing {that} I {do} know: that though I was blind, now I see.” John (9:25)
He answered them {his inquisitors}, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his Disciples {followers}?” John (9:27)
Then {in a state of haughty pride} they reviled him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. John (9:28)
They {then} answered and said to him {who was formerly blind}, “You were completely born in sins, and {now you presume that you} are teaching us {your superiors in faith}?” And they cast him out. John (9:34)
Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render {a certain type of} judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are {really} blind.” John (9:39)
SO THAT IS THE REAL REASON WHY HE ENTERED THE WORLD! In other words, to open some doors that were shut and to shut some doors that were presumed open! He didn’t come to save the world at all!
He came to show a stark contrast between those who claimed to believe with those who actually believed. Therefore, one would expect some form of chaos or comeuppance to follow on the footsteps of his coming and also his leaving these Earth environs. And such is the case as is reported in the Christian Holy Book:
(Jesus declared) “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’;
And ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ Matthew (10:34-36)
What is the internal household? By the ‘internal household’ is meant the constant squabbling amongst the various Christian Sects!
And they became divided only after Knowledge reached them, through selfish envy as between themselves. Had it not been for a Word that went forth before from your LORD, (tending) to a Term Appointed, the matter would have been settled between them: But truly those who have inherited the Book after them are in suspicious (disquieting) doubt concerning it. Quran (42:14)
Now back to the story at hand:
Eventually news spread of this encounter and the ‘ruling class of Jews’ began to fear. The question is why were they fearful?
Now things are on track to keep this personage (Jesus) under eye so as not to upset the cushy, cozy relationship the ruling Jews had with the Romans – power corrupting power!
The story in more detail:
Jesus (pbh) has his Disciples all assembled and they are definitely NOT of the Pharisee class. In fact, these worshipers, some of whom were illiterate and some of who were of the ‘higher class’ and very much literate were all from the Jewish sect called Essenes. Naturally, they would not voice that around because they were viewed by the Pharisees as mostly heretical in their thinking especially since they opposed Roman rule and found their ‘pagan ways’ very offensive and in many cases an abomination.
The Pharisees, meanwhile, who were in the vast majority, were the engine that was driving Judaism as to its thought practices. They did believe that a Messiah would eventually comeand crush the Romans but while they were living in a cozy relationship with Rome and their mostly paganist ways, they developed a kind of laissez-faire attitude of live and let live which caused them to ‘spout’ the LAW but not follow the same!!! – And as Jesus said: “Therefore, whatever they tell you to observe {of Jewish Law} that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do – {for they are hypocrites}”. Matthew (23:3)
In other words, they became accustomed to having it both ways (pride in themselves at being the ‘chosen ones’ and all will be forgiven especially when they diverged from the truth).
And they {the hypocrites from amongst the Jews} say: “The Fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days:” Say: “Have you taken a promise from ALLAH, for HE never breaks HIS promise or is it that you say of ALLAH what you do not know?” Quran (2:80)
The equivalence of this was ‘what was wrong in making an idol of a false god (the golden calf activity) as long as Moses (pbh) their so-called leader was absent’? For if GOD has chosen us above other peoples, HE will be lenient (desperate enough to keep HIS WORD).
Their idea was ‘don’t rock the boat’! Other false messiahs came in the past and caused only minimal damage as they had only a few ignorant followers. But this Jesus character, this Rabbi to the poorer class, could turn out to be dangerous for them. They had their favorites in their own Rabbi cheering squad that kept the people in line and to which Jesus referred to as those who say BUT DO NOT DO AND THEREFORE CLASSIFIED THEM AS HYPOCRITES – Matthew (23:3)
And so a war of sorts was brewing as this lowly, unobtrusive man (Jesus) in their eyes was attracting the general populace more and more which would mean the end of their cozy relationship with the unbelievers (pagan Romans).
As time went on, the thought became that the man Jesus (pbh) must be stopped as he was garnishing more and more followers which would challenge their corrupt hierarchy. So, according to the Christian Holy Book, they planned and plotted to kill him on several occasions to protect their own feathered nest or way of life. But all attempts to ensnare and kill Jesus (pbh) ended in complete failure as the Christian Holy Book declares as well as the Quran!
…And behold! I {ALLAH} did restrain the Children of Israel from (violence to) you when you did show them the Clear Signs {of true Prophethood}, and the unbelievers among them said: ‘This is nothing but evident magic.’ Quran (5:110)
What were Jesus’ Disciples thinking of to ask such a question – John (9:2)?
Being members of the hated Essene Sect was bad enough. Part of their training or advanced training was esoteric in nature and therefore they asked about what caused the blind man to be born blind from birth. In other words, ‘what Law of Retribution’ was put on his head or his family’s head that forced him to be in humble conditions’?
Jesus (pbh) was their Teacher or Rabbi and he was asked simply which Law of Retribution applied to this blind man. Are his parents paying for their mistake made some time in the past or was it a direct action of this blind man before he was currently born that caused his unfortunate circumstances to be carried over in his being born again in a handicapped way.
The ball is now in Jesus’ hands and as a good teacher he acknowledges both of these pathways as legitimate and not stupid or insane! And later on he would confirm the process which takes place when a person first enters the flesh until his or her term of appointment ends!
Had the first two processes been wrong, it was his job to criticize his Disciples for it. Hence, for that Essene sect, a man must be born again of water (of the womb) AND THE SPIRITUAL WAY OR ON TRUTH before he can hope to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Man cannot storm the Gates of Heaven nor steal a position that is not rightfully his!
Why do we say, ‘of the womb’? Well for one thing if Jesus (pbh) was not mentioning the watery womb sometimes called the watery grave, then baptism by water would be an essential practice for all Monotheistic religions. Since it is not, it can be inferred that ‘being born again’ in connection with water is referring to the common practice of a woman giving birth after ‘dropping her water’.
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit {the philosophy and actions he places his soul in. For example, Monotheism yes and other than that NO! and a true belief in following prophetic guidance/not priestly guidance}, he cannot hope to enter the Kingdom of GOD”. John (3:5)
On the Day that the Hour (of reckoning) will be established, the transgressors will swear that they only tarried but an hour: thus were they used to being deluded!
But those endued with knowledge and faith will say: “Indeed you did {in fact} tarry,{However it was only} within ALLAH’s DECREE to the Day of Resurrection {that that was possible} and {now Behold!} This is the Day of Resurrection: but of this you were not aware!” Quran (30:55-56)
The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his LORD, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in ALLAH, HIS Angels, HIS Books, and HIS Messengers. They say, “We make no distinction between one and another of HIS Messengers” – and they say, “We hear, and we obey. (We seek) YOUR Forgiveness, our LORD, and to YOU is the return (of all).” Quran (2:285)
Hence, the Mercy of ALLAH and HIS Patient Guidance is there for all to have IF THEY SO CHOOSE BUT THE CHOICE FROM THE SOUL MUST BE IN EARNEST AND PERMIT ALLAH’S GUIDANCE TO KICK IN or else the soul, through its own stupidity, (had we but used our common sense Q (67:10): ‘They will further say: “Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we should not (now) be among the Companions of the Blazing Fire!”), condemns its own self to perdition’!
But ALLAH will deliver the righteous {those who were mindful of HIM} to their place {or level}of Salvation: no evil shall touch them, nor shall they grieve. Quran (39:61)
O you who believe! If you {truly} fear {by being mindful of} ALLAH, HE will grant you a Criterion – Quran and Sunnah (to judge between right and wrong), remove from you (all) evil (that may afflict) you, and forgive you: for ALLAH is the LORD of Grace without measure. Quran (8:29)
Is this just about belief? No, in that case it would be faulty! It is about how the ‘heart truly feels’ which shows up on a Register kept by certain angels who are perfect in their recordings!
Now as to Jesus (pbh) and what was to transpire leading up to the Pharisees wanting him to be crucified; we can see the pressure building for his apparent demise which in truth failed on all fronts as he was not physically crucified at all. The Pharisees were not going to just hand Jesus (pbh) the key to city Hall and stand back and see their well-cultivated friendship with Rome (with benefits) go down the drain.
Hence, the Christian Holy Book does record several ‘Jewish’ attempts on his life so as to stymie the wave of popularity, mixed in with miracles here and there that he and his small band of Believers were accumulating. So, it was imperative to ‘gut the fish’ as some might say and let Rome and the hypocritical Pharisees continue their lovefest.
And that is one of the reasons why the Spirit of truth (Muhammad) is called a ‘Cleansing Spirit’ in the Dead Sea Scrolls. For the Cleansing Spirit can be likened to a man who bought a shiny, new car (likened to way of belief or a belief system) and drove it in the dessert awash with rain. After he brought his car back home it looked like a piece of tarnished trash. However, with careful cleaning and polishing the car was brought back to its original, shiny, beautiful self. And that is what the Spirit of truth does/did. Bring back to remembrance the untarnished and unsoiled Purity of Revelation which is found in the Quran!
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of ALLAH (pbh) said: “Islam began as something strange and will go back to being strange, so glad tidings to the strangers.’” (Sunan Ibn Maja)
Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud stated that when the Prophet (pbh) informed the Companions that a person who has even the smallest amount of pride in his heart will not enter paradise, they remarked: ‘What if a man likes his clothes to look nice and his shoes to look nice?’ He replied to them, ‘Verily ALLAH is {The} Beautiful and loves beauty; {what arrogance really means is}the rejecting of the truth and belittling people. (Muslim)
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of ALLAH (pbh), said, “Verily, when ALLAH Almighty bestows bounties upon a servant, HE loves to see the traces of HIS bounties upon him. HE dislikes one who wallows in misery and pessimism. ALLAH hates the obstinate questioner, and HE loves those who are modest, chaste, and sober.” (Shu’ab al-Imān)
And So It Goes!
