Was Jesus Christ really crucified?

First of all, the Islamic perspective

29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 10
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

Acts 13
28 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.
29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.
30 But God raised him from the dead:

1 Peter 2
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

The Islamic belief

When the disciples were sleeping, Judas, the traitor, came in and his face changed to that of Jesus. Jesus (pbuh) had already departed to the third heaven when the disciples were sleeping.

Serious Questions arise

It makes no sense, unless we confess that she was looking for a L-I•V•E Jesus, not a dead one. You will recognise this fact for yourself on analysing her reactions towards Jesus when she eventually saw through his disguise. You see, she had seen signs of life in that limp body when it was taken down from the cross. She was about the only woman beside Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus who had given the final (?) rites to the body of Jesus. This man NICODEMUS, somehow, has been deliberately blotted out by the synoptists. The Gospel writers of Matthew, Mark and Luke are totally ignorant of this devoted and self-sacrificing disciple of Jesus. His name is NOT even mentioned in the first three Gospels in ANY context. “it is difficult to avoid concluding that the omission in the synoptic tradition of the mysterious disciple was intentional”, says Dr Hugh J Schonfield, one of the world’s leading Biblical scholars.

Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?
“SHE SUPPOSING HIM TO BE THE GARDENER, SAITH UNTO HIM” (John 20:15).Touch me not”?
“For I am not yet ASCENDED unto my Father;” (John 20:17).

4:156-159
“That they rejected Faith; That they uttered against Mary a grave false charge; That they said (in boast): ‘We killed Christ Jesus The son of Mary, The Messenger of Allah.’ But they killed him not, Nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjunction to follow, for of a surety they killed him not. Nay, Allah raised him up Unto Himself; and Allah Is Exalted in Power, Wise. And there is none of the people of the book (Jews and Christians) But must believe in him (Jesus) Before his death; And on the Day of Judgment He (Jesus) will be a witness Against them.”

The Christians believe that Jesus (may God bless him) was crucified and died on the cross for their sins.

Before we see what the bible says, lets look at some of the serious issues in the Bible relating to this matter:

Who Carries Jesus’ Cross?
In the Passion narratives, did Jesus carry his own cross or not?

Mark 15:21, Matthew 27:32, Luke 23:26 – Jesus gets help from Simon of Cyrene
John 19:17 – Jesus carries his own cross the whole way

When crucified, Jesus’ cross had an inscription — but what did it say?

Mark 15:26 – The inscription: “The King of the Jews.”
Matthew 27:37 – The inscription: “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.”
Luke 23:38 – The inscription: “This is the King of the Jews.”
John 19:19 – The inscription: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”

Jesus and the Thieves:

Some gospels say Jesus was crucified with two thieves, though the Romans never crucified thieves.
Mark – The two thieves are mentioned, but there is no conversation
Matthew 27:44 – The two thieves taunt Jesus
Luke 23:39-42 – One thief taunts Jesus and is criticized by the other. Jesus promises the 2nd thief that they would be in Paradise that day, though John and Acts say he did not ascend to heaven until 40 days after his resurrection
John – The two men aren’t described as thieves

Does Jesus Drink Wine or Vinegar?

Jesus is given something to drink while he is on the cross, but what?

Mark 15:23 – Jesus is given wine mixed with myrrh, but he doesn’t drink

Matthew 27:48, Luke 23:36 – Jesus is given vinegar, but he doesn’t drink
John 19:29-30 – Jesus is given vinegar and he drinks

Jesus’ Last Words:
Jesus’ last words before dying are important, but no one seems to have written then down.

Mark 15:34-37, Matthew 27:46-50 – Jesus says: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (but they use different Greek words for “God” — Matthew uses “Eli” and Mark uses “Eloi”)

Luke 23:46 – Jesus says: “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit.”
John 19:30 – Jesus says: “It is finished.”

Earthquake After the Resurrection:

Was there an earthquake when Jesus died?

Matthew 27:51-53 – At the moment Jesus dies, a massive earth quake strikes and opens tombs where dead people rise again
Mark, Luke, John – No earthquake is mentioned. No earthquake and no massive influx of formerly dead people is mentioned in any historical records, which is strange given how monumental such an event would be.

In addition to the very first groups of Christianity such as the Ebonites, the Corinthians, the Basilidians, the Capocratians, and the Hypisistarians never knew about trinity doctrine at all. The Arians, Paulicians and Goths also accepted Jesus (peace be upon him) as a prophet of God and against the trinity.

Even in the modern age there are churches in Asia, in Africa, the Unitarian church, the Jehovah’s witnesses, and even the majority of today’s Anglican Bishops do not worship Jesus (peace be upon him) as one in three, as what been report by the “Daily News” 25/6/84 under the heading “Shock survey of Anglican Bishops.”

Moreover, the ‘Socinianism‘, the 17th-century Christian also rejects such traditional doctrines as the Trinity and original sin, the founder is Socinus, and his Latinized name of Lelio Francesco Maria Sozzini (1525-1562), the Italian Protestant theologian.

Some errors in Crucifixion story have been mentioned above, the rest are below:

Matthew 26:56 says that no one witnessed the event of crucifixion, all the disciples had fled, that’s why we see the following errors mentioned in the story of crucifixion.

Was Jesus crucified on a tree (according to Peter), cross (according to others), or never got crucified (according to Islam)?

Acts 5

About the cross, you people know, that’s what you believe, that’s why I am not giving references for that.

Roman soldiers come to arrest Jesus

Luke 22:45
When he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping from grief.

If the disciples were sleeping, then who is narrating this story that Jesus was praying? How does the disciple know what Jesus was doing as the disciple was sleeping?

If we look into this matter more closely, we will see that Jesus (may God bless him) and the disciples were waiting for the Roman soldiers. The disciples had sold their clothes and bought swords and were waiting for the Roman soldiers. This is a war like situation with a lot of emotions and tension around and scientifically and logically one doesn’t sleep in such a state.

How can one sleep in such a tense time and mood?

Obviously, this was a miracle that they slept. As per Barnabas, Jesus (may God bless him) did return the third day after the crucifixion of Judas to explain to the disciples what had happened.

Jesus took with him Peter, John and James
One of the three struck the Roman soldier and cut off his ear.

Matthew 26:56 says that all the disciples foresook him and fled and in verse 69 to 74 Peter keeps denying that he knows Jesus to save his life.

This is a bit out of human understanding. At one time, such bravery, fighting the Roman soldiers and at another time, such cowardice, completely rejecting Jesus while shouting and cursing.

The disciples had sold their clothes to buy swords. This is how one knows that they were waiting for the Roman soldiers. Jesus (may God bless him) placed them into positions, 2 outside, some inside and some closest to him.

All of them slept when he was praying, he came to see them and they were still sleeping. How do they know what Jesus (may God bless him) was saying in his prayers when they were asleep? How did they write the Bible and say that Jesus (may God bless him) spoke such and such words?

Preparing for war
“. . . Lord, behold, here are two SWORDS.” And he said unto them, “It is enough“.
Luke 22:38

The disciples and Jesus were ready for the Roman soldiers to fight.

1. Who is writing this story?

2. How is he writing this story when he was asleep?

3. How does he know what Jesus was doing and what he was saying in his prayer?

4. What was Jesus praying for if not asking for help to not get crucified?

5. Jesus had set the other disciples outside and far from him. Only Peter, John and James were the closest to him and they too were asleep. How does the disciple faw away and also asleep know what Jesus (may God bless him) was doing?

6. Why did they continue to sleep? This is a warlike situation and in such situations, one doesn’t sleep like the way the disciples did. How come all of them slept at once, what is wrong with them?

7. Jesus (may God bless him) had told the disciples to take swords, they had only two swords with them. They were all waiting for the Roman soldiers to come. Two disciples outside, some inside and John, Peter and James closest to him. If this is not positioning for war, then what is this?

8. Was the swordsman who cut off the ear Peter?

9. Either Peter, John or James struck the Roman soldier and cut off his ear. This is extreme bravery. Then how come the disciples fled later on and Peter even refused to recognise Jesus and kept swearing and cursing?

10. Why is the man on the cross shouting “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” The Christians believe that that man gave his life deliberately but these words sound as if that man doesn’t want to die on the cross.

Legs of Jesus not broken
Jesus’ legs were not broken on the cross which was against the normal practice.

According to the Bible, Jesus survived the cross.

Matthew records that the learned men among the Jews — the Scribes and Pharisees — came to Jesus and asked, “MASTER, WE WOULD SEE A SIGN FROM THEE”
(Matthew 12:38).

NO “SIGN” BUT ONE

With righteous indignation Jesus replies: “AN EVIL AND ADULTEROUS GENERATION SEEKETH AFTER A SIGN; AND THERE SHALL NO SIGN (no miracle) BE GIVEN TO IT, BUT THE SIGN (miracle) OF THE PROPHET JONAS: FOR AS JONAS WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE WHALE’S BELLY; SO SHALL THE SON OF MAN BE THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE HEART OF THE EARTH.” (Matthew 12:39-40).

What was the sign of Jonah?
The sign was that Jonah stayed for three days and three nights in whale’s belly ALIVE (Jonah 1:12).

Some Christians say that the sign is three days and three nights.
Let’s take a look at that. All Christians believe that Jesus was crucified on good Friday, he came out of the tomb on the first day. What is the first day according to the Jews? It is Sunday. The time difference is by no way three days and three nights. Even if you take Monday to be the first day according to Christians, even then no three days or three nights.
THE SIGN IS THAT JESUS (may God bless him) WAS ALIVE.

Other points that I will just summarise below:

1. Jesus (may God bless him) was disguised as a gardener. Why would a spirit (dead, then raised alive or whatever is the suitable word) be hiding from the Jews (or Romans)?

2. How can a spirit eat? Jesus (may God bless him) ate fish according to the Bible.

3. Why were the gates open, the sheets unfolded? The spirit could have gone through the wall.

Mary Magdeline came forward to touch Jesus (may God bless him) when he was disguised as a gardener but Jesus (may God bless him) stepped back and stopped her as He was in pain.

Can a soul be in physical pain?

“Jesus debunked their false notion of the resurrection, by saying that at the resurrection: ‘neither shall they die any more’ (Luke 20:36) meaning that the resurrected persons will be Immortalised. They will not be subject to death any more, no more hanger or thirst, no more fatigue. In short, all the instruments of death will be powerless against the resurrected body. Jesus continues to explain: ‘for they (the resurrected bodies) are equal unto the angles,’ that is, that they will be Angelised – spiritualised, that they will become spirit-creatures, i.e. Spirits;’and the children of God, for such are the children of the resurrection.” (Luke 20:36).

Talking to the disciples

Jesus (may God bless him) explained that he was not a Spirit, not a Ghost, not a Spook. To assure them further after having offered his hands and feet for inspection and verification that his was a material, physical body, and that all their bewilderment and disbelief was unjustified, he asked his disciples: “Have you here any meat?” (Meaning something to eat). “And they gave him a piece of broiled fish and of a honeycomb, and he took it, and did eat before them.” (Luke 24:41-43)

JESUS EATS TO SHOW TO THE DISCIPLES THAT HE IS NOT A SOUL (may God bless him).

WHY DID MARY MAGDELINE GO TO THE TOMB?

The Gospel writers say that she went to “anoint” him. The Hebrew word for anoint is “masaha”, which means – ‘to rub’, ‘to massage’, ‘to anoint’. The word and its meaning are the same in the Arabic language also. From this root word “masaha” we get the Arabic word “MASEEH” and the Hebrew “MESSIAH” both meaning the same thing – “the anointed one” which is translated into Greek as “Christos” from which we derive the word Christ.

DO JEWS MASSAGE DEAD BODIES AFTER THREE DAYS?
“No!”

DO MUSLIMS MASSAGE DEAD BODIES AFTER THREE DAYS?
“No!”

DO CHRISTIANS MASSAGE DEAD BODIES AFTER THREE DAYS?
“No!”

It is common knowledge that within three hours after death, rigor mortis sets in – the breaking up of the body cells – the hardening of the body. In three days the corpse starts rotting from within. If we massage such a rotting body, it will fall to pieces.

DOES IT MAKE SENSE THAT MARY MAGDALENE WANTS TO MASSAGE A ROTTING DEAD BODY AFTER THREE DAYS?

The Stone

When Mary Magdalene reached the tomb, she found that the stone had already been rolled away, and the winding sheets bundled on the ledge within the sepulcher.

WHY WAS THE STONE REMOVED, AND WHY WERE THE WINDING SHEETS FOUND UNWOUND?

Does a spirit need to come out of stones like humans by moving the stone away? Can’t spirits come through things?

It would be impossible for any tangible material body to come out with the stone blocking the opening, and the same physical body could not walk out with the winding sheets encasing the body. For a resurrected body, it would have been unnecessary to remove the stone or to unwind the winding sheets.

Jesus (may God bless him) comes up to Mary M. who had come to look for Jesus and upon not finding him, started crying. He questions her, “Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?” (John 20:15).

He knew that she was looking for him in the tomb, and not finding him there, was crying in her disappointment. He also knew that she would not be able to see through his disguise. Though he had been through an ordeal, he still had that sense of humour to ask her, ”

When Mary Magdalene found out that the man disguised as a gardener was Jesus (may God bless him), she came forward to touch him.

For I am not yet ASCENDED unto my Father” means – “I AM NOT DEAD YET’.

Who moved the stone?

“….and HE (Joseph of Arimathea) rolled a stone against the door of the tomb” (Mark 15:46). St. Mark is here supported word by word by St. Matthew who in Chapter 27 and verses 60 states that “….HE (Joseph of Arimathea) rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and departed”.

Conclusion

Jesus (may God bless him) did not die on the cross according to the Bible, He survived the crucifixion. The Bible in this matter agrees with the Quran that Jesus (may God bless him) did not die on the cross. Even Galatians 3:1 proves that there were people much before Paul who did not believe in crucifixion; Islam has not brought a new idea but simply corrected those who fell into error.

Is crucifiction not the mightiest misconception in history?

More here and here .