Promise to Ishmael

Promise to Ishmael

Promise / By /

Jesus went down to the eight disciples who were awaiting him below. And the four narrated to the eight all that they had seen: and so there departed that day from their heart all doubt of Jesus, save [from] Judas Iscariot, who believed nought. Jesus seated himself at the foot of the mountain, and they ate of the wild fruits because they had no bread.
            Then said Andrew: ‘Thou hast told us many things of the Messiah, therefore of thy kindness tell us clearly all.’ And in like manner the other disciples besought him.
            Accordingly, Jesus said: ‘Everyone that worketh for an end in which he findeth satisfaction. Wherefore I say unto you that God, verily because he is perfect, hath no need of satisfaction, seeing that he hath satisfaction himself. And so, willing to work, he created before all things the soul of his messenger, for whom he determined to create the whole, in order that the creatures should find joy and blessedness in God, whence his messenger should take delight in all his creatures, which he hath appointed to be his slaves. And wherefore is this, so save because thus he hath willed?

‘Verily I say unto you, that every prophet when he has come hath borne to one nation only the mark of the mercy of God. And so their words were not extended save to those people to which they were sent. But the messenger of God, when he shall come, God shall give to him as it were the seal of his hand, insomuch that he shall carry salvation and mercy to all the nations of the world that shall receive his doctrine. He shall come with power upon the ungodly, and shall destroy idolatry, insomuch that he shall make Satan confounded; for so promised God to Abraham, saying: “Behold, in thy seed I will bless all the tribes of the earth; and as thou hast broken in pieces the idols, O Abraham, even so, shall thy seed do.”‘
   James answered: ‘O master, tell us in whom this promise was made; for the Jews say “in Isaac,” and the Ishmaelites say ‘in Ishmael.” ‘
Jesus answered: ‘David, whose son was he, and of what lineage?’
James answered: ‘Of Isaac; for Isaac was the father of Jacob, and Jacob was the father of Judah, of whose lineage is David.’
Then said Jesus: ‘And the messenger of God when he shall come, of what lineage will he be?’
The disciples answered: ‘Of David.

Whereupon Jesus said: ‘Ye deceive yourselves; for David in spirit calleth him, lord, saying thus: “God said to my lord, sit thou on my right hand until I make Thine enemies thy footstool. God shall send forth thy rod which shall have lordship in the midst of thine enemies.” If the messenger of God whom ye call Messiah were a son of David, how should David call him Lord? Believe me, for verily I say to you, that the promise was made in Ishmael, not in Isaac.’

Priests Try Stoning Jesus

Priests Try Stoning Jesus

Stoning / By /

If I work iniquity, reprove me, and God will love you because you shall be doing his will, but if none can reprove me of sin it is a sign that you are not sons of Abraham as you call yourselves, nor are you incorporate with that head wherein Abraham was incorporate. As God lives, so greatly did Abraham love God, that he not only broke in pieces the false idols and forsook his father and mother but was willing to slay his own son in obedience to God.

The high priest answered: “This I ask of you, and I do not seek to slay you, wherefore tell us: Who was this son of Abraham?” Jesus answered: “The zeal of your honour, O God, inflames me, and I cannot hold my peace. Truly I say, the son of Abraham was Ishmael, from whom must be descended the Messiah promised to Abraham, that in him should all the tribes of the earth be blessed.” Then was the high priest wroth, hearing this, and cried out: “Let us stone this impious fellow, for he is an Ishmaelite, and has spoken blasphemy against Moses and against the Law of God.”

Whereupon every scribe and Pharisee, with the elders of the people, took up stones to stone Jesus, who vanished from their eyes and went out of the Temple. And then, through the great desire that they had to slay Jesus, blinded with fury and hatred, they struck one another in such wise that there died a thousand men; and they polluted the holy Temple. The disciples and believers, who saw Jesus go out of the Temple (for from them he was not hidden), followed him to the house of Simon.

 Thereupon Nicodemus came thither and counselled Jesus to go out of Jerusalem beyond the brook Cedron, saying: ‘Lord, I have a garden with a house beyond the brook Cedron, I pray you, therefore, go thither with some of your disciples, to tarry there until this hatred of our priests is past; for I will minister to you what is necessary. And the multitude of disciples leaves you here in the house of Simon and in my house, for God will provide for all.’ And this Jesus did, desiring only to have with him the twelve first called apostles.

True Gospel of Jesus

True Gospel of Jesus

Gospel / By /

True Gospel of Jesus, called Christ, a new prophet sent by God to the world: according to the description of Barnabas his apostle.   

    Barnabas, an apostle of Jesus the Nazarene, called Christ, to all them that dwell upon the earth desireth peace and consolation.

    Dearly beloved the great and wonderful God hath during these past days visited us by his prophet Jesus Christ in the great mercy of teaching and miracles, by reason whereof many, being deceived of Satan, under the pretence of piety, are preaching most impious doctrine, calling Jesus son of God, repudiating the circumcision ordained of God forever, and permitting every unclean meat: among whom also Paul hath been deceived, whereof I speak not without grief; for which cause I am writing that truth which I have seen and heard, in the intercourse that I have had with Jesus, in order that ye may be saved, and not be deceived of Satan and perish in the judgment of God. Therefore beware of everyone that preacheth unto you new doctrine contrary to that which I write, that ye may be saved eternally.

The great God be with you and guard you from Satan and from every evil. Amen. 

Chapter 1. The angel Gabriel visits the Virgin Mary concerning the birth of Jesus.

          In these last years a virgin called Mary, of the lineage of David, of the tribe of Judah was visited by the angel Gabriel from God. This virgin, living in all holiness without any offence, being blameless, and abiding in prayer with fastings, being one day alone, there entered into her chamber the angel Gabriel, and he saluted her, saying: ‘God be with thee, O Mary’.

The virgin was affrighted at the appearance of the angel; but the angel comforted her, saying: ‘Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God, who hath chosen thee to be the mother of a prophet, whom he will send to the people of Israel in order that they may walk in his laws with the truth of the heart.’ 

The virgin answered: ‘Now how shall I bring forth sons, seeing I know not a man?’ The angel answered: ‘O Mary, God who made man without a man is able to generate in the man without a man because with him nothing is impossible.’

Mary answered: ‘I know that God is almighty, therefore his will be done.’ The angel answered: ‘Now be conceived in thee the prophet, whom thou shalt name Jesus: and thou shalt keep him from wine and from strong drink and from every unclean meat because the child is a holy one of God.’ Mary bowed herself with humility, saying: ‘Behold the handmaid of God, be it done according to thy word.’

Open Bible on a wood floor with the gospel according to John.

The angel departed, and the virgin glorified God, saying: ‘Know, O my soul, the greatness of God, and exult, my spirit, in God my Saviour; for he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden, insomuch that I shall be called blessed by all the nations, for he that is mighty hath made me great and blessed be his holy name. For his mercy extendeth from generation to generation of them that fear him. Mighty hath he made his hand, and he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of his heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. Him who hath been hungry hath he filled with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away. For he keepeth in memory, the promises made to Abraham and to his son forever’.

 An Islamic Perspective and Commentary

by Ishaq Zahid

JESUS BORN WITHOUT A FATHER

 The true story of Jesus’ birth from Mary is narrated in the Holy Quran. We are told that he was born without a father by the command of God. Mary was single and a chaste woman.

“And (remember) her who guarded her chastity: We breathed into her of Our Spirit, and We made her and her son a Sign for all peoples.” (The Holy Quran, 21:91)

Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East.  She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them: then We sent to her Our angel, and he appeared before her in the shape of a well-made human being. She said: “I seek refuge from thee to (God) Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear God.”  He said: “Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son.”  She said: “How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?”  He said: “So (it will be): thy Lord saith, `That is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us’: it is a matter (so) decreed.” (The Holy Quran, 19:16-21)

    The words of the angel, “and thou shalt keep him from wine and from strong drink and from every unclean meat because the child is a holy one of God.” in the Gospel tell us clearly that Jesus (peace be on him) never drank wine or other alcoholic beverages. This point should be worth remembering, as we proceed through the text.