I am amazed at times by the discussions I have had with some Muslims about Yeshua. In several cases, individuals do not dispute the Bible (including the New Testament) as reliable source. They simply claim that Yeshua never said He was God. This is patently false. There are numerous examples where Yeshua does so. He “forgives sins”, knowing only God forgives sins. The book of John opens up with a clear description of Yeshua as the Word of God, one with God from the beginning. Yeshua states He is one with the Father. The whole reason Yeshua was crucified by the Jews is because He claimed to be God.
Yeshua can not be a prophet alone. He must be either a liar, a madman, or God.
But when I share the clear scripture with these individuals, they somehow reject what it clearly states. The alternate explanations they make up are just not credible. In some cases, with no logical base to refute the claim, they now choose to claim the Bible is not a good source, despite the fact that it is objectively a much more reliable document than the Koran. It has not been changed in thousands of years and we have found plenty of old copies of manuscripts to prove it They date back much closer to the time of Christ. And properly understood, the Bible does not contradict itself. Possibly most incredible is that the people who wrote it included all sorts of detail on mistakes and failings of their faith heroes… like David, Abraham, Moses, and the disciples. If they were writing fiction, why would they not lie and make these heroes look better… or just omit the bad stuff?
Jesus before the Sanhedrin
66When it was day, the Council of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him away to their council chamber, saying, 67“If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe; 68and if I ask a question, you will not answer. 69“But from now on THE SON OF MAN WILL BE SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND of the power OF GOD.” 70And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “Yes, I am.” 71Then they said, “What further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.”
1“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4“And you know the way where I am going.” 5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Oneness with the Father
7“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”
8Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10“Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.
There are many more such examples.
Yeshua being one with God is critical to our Christian faith. Jews and Muslims also accept the Old Testament. Christ as Messiah is what defines us. Let us familiarize ourselves with scripture so we may give an account to others when given the chance. Whether or not they accept the truth, is between them and God, but we are to deliver the truth.
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