The Folly of the Cross

Mohammad, the founder of Islam, had intellectual trouble with the cross of Jesus. Yet he wanted to hold onto the fact that Jesus was sent from God—to claim that Jesus was a great prophet, even the Messiah.

So what to do with the Cross? In Mohammad’s logic, prophets of God were not killed with such a horrific death. So in the Quran, Mohammad wrote: “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 conjecture to follow for of a surety they killed Him not. Nay, Allah raised Him up unto Himself.” (Quran, an-Nisa` 4:157-8)

Islam cannot have a prophet die such a horrific death on the Cross. So it is taught that Jesus was in the appearance of one who died on the Cross, or that another person died who was made to look like Jesus. But rather, according to Mohammed, Jesus was beamed up like Elijah; that is, taken directly into Heaven, ascending unto God without tasting death. The Encyclopedia of Islam writes:

“The denial [of the Crucifixion of Jesus], furthermore, is in perfect agreement with the logic of the Qur’an. The Biblical stories reproduced in it (e.g., Job, Moses, Joseph etc.) and the episodes relating to the history of the beginning of Islam demonstrate that it is “God’s practice” (sunnat Allah) to make faith triumph finally over the forces of evil and adversity. “So truly with hardship comes ease”, (XCIV, 5, 6). For Jesus to die on the cross would have meant the triumph of his executioners; but the Quran asserts that they undoubtedly failed: “Assuredly God will defend those who believe”; (EI, XXII, 49). He confounds the plots of the enemies of Christ.” (EI, III, 54)

The New Testament teaches something quite different: Jesus did die on the cross. His executioners did triumph over Him from a worldly perspective. Indeed, in the Crucifixion it appears that even Satan has won and evil has triumphed. Why did God not defend his Christ and confound the plots of the enemies?

Here is God’s Son, the Messiah, the Anointed of God, the One on whom the Holy Spirit descended like a dove from Heaven, of whom God the Father said clearly: “This is My Son whom I love with Him I am well pleased.” And yet, Jesus cried out on the Cross,

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

And then He died, breathing His last, His Spirit was given up. Indeed, it does seem that God had forsaken His Anointed. Islam cannot have such a Messiah—indeed the World cannot have such a Messiah. But God demands one.

In what ways do you see the Cross of Christ rejected as folly by our society and others?