Muslims continually challenge Christians, “If Jesus is God, show me in the Bible where he says, ‘I am God, worship me!'”
Dr. Cynthia says that is the wrong question. It is “presumptuous,” meaning proud to think that humans have the authority to tell God, or even a prophet, what they have to say. We can’t demand that God use exact words that we want for Muslim culture today. No! It is up to us to examine and understand what he said in the language, time, and culture to which he spoke.
In fact, what Muslims demand – self-testimony – is the exact thing that Jesus denies is valid. In John 5:31, he said, “If I testify for myself, it is not valid.”
How did Mohammed prove he was a prophet?
He did exactly what Jesus said is invalid. He testified for himself!
Mohammed said, “I am a prophet. Here is the book Allah gave me. Follow me.”
Not only is this self-testimony, but it is also circular reasoning: one thing points to the other as proof and the second points back to the first. There is no outside validation for this. Whereas Jesus gave 3 outside proofs of who he was, without circular reasoning.
First, he points to John the Baptist, a popular prophet in Israel at the time. Known as Yahia in the Quran, he is also considered a prophet in Islam. What was John’s testimony? That the purpose of his ministry was to point out the expected one. And he did. When he saw Jesus coming through the crowd he said, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”
The second proof Jesus gave was the work he did: amazing teaching and miracles of the scope never seen before. Even the Quran recognizes these.
The third proof was the numerous prophecies about him. These included that he would do miracles and care for the people like a shepherd. And although they didn’t recognize it at the time, they predicted that he would suffer, die, and be resurrected.
In many indirect ways Jesus said and did things that showed he was God.
Did Jesus ever directly testify that he was God? Actually yes! When asked under oath at his trial if he was the Son of God, he said yes, and quoted scripture that emphasized it. At this, the religious leaders screamed, “Blasphemy!” and tore their clothes in outrage. Why was Jesus condemned? It is obvious when you think of it – not for healing and pretty stories – it was because he claimed to be God.
No other religious leader in history has had a living prophet testify for him – not Buddha, Joseph Smith, Sung Myung Moon or Mohammed. No other religious leader has had Jesus’ 3 strong proofs.
The words of Jesus Christ confront Mohammed. Mohammed does not have adequate proof.
Don’t follow him.
