Lie #5: Jesus Escaped The Crucifixion Part 1

One reason for its Jesus phone number for some time theory has circulated the Jesus did not on the cross, he merely swooned and woke up in a cool tune.

This is another blog about Jesus ally that tries to nullify the whole reason for his coming as a sacrifice percent stay with us from church in Chicago. This is wanting to win with one loser whose clear teaching helps us make it across the finish line, loser tell us about today's message regarding line number five Jesus escape the crucifixion will David, as you already mentioned, there are those who believe that Jesus did really die. He just swooned. And then when he was put into the cool tune he awakened and appeared to his disciples, we can imagine that the disciples would probably not have believed on him if that were the case, because his body would've been so lacerated, but nonetheless some of our Muslim friends.

Also, based on the Quran believe that Jesus was not crucified, he escaped the crucifixion, but as Christians. It's wonderful to know that the historical evidence that Jesus was actually crucified, dead and buried and raised again is powerful. You can help us get the gospel of Jesus Christ. To many people, you know, running to win exists, not just to disseminate information we seek the transformation of lives in families and societies in individuals. Transformation is what it is all about. We depend upon people like you, would you consider becoming an endurance partner that somebody who stands with us regularly with their prayers and their gifts.

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You go to RTW offer.com. Click on the endurance partner button RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 and now we go to the pulpit of Moody church where we learn more about the evidence that Jesus actually was crucified, dead, buried and raised again, would you just bow your head in prayer for a moment along with me. Our father, we thank you today for the wonder and the beauty of the cross symbol that is so horrid and yet so beautiful.

We pray that we might see you there is perhaps we've never seen you there before grand wisdom and much power that your blessed Holy Spirit who has been poured out upon your people may speak to every heart may all minds by your spirit be riveted upon your truth. We pray in Jesus name, amen, amen. Jesus enjoys a special status in Islam and the Koran. He is mentioned in 93 verses Muslims honor him as one of the greatest profits or the great prophet, and Mohammed himself considered his relationship with Jesus to be unique. He said I am nearest of all the people to the son of Mary and to all the prophets and all the prophets, our paternal brothers and there has been no profit between me and him as you know, Muslims regard Jesus is a wonderful prophet to be honored, but not to be worshiped.

They denied the divinity of Jesus and believe that anyone who believes that Jesus was God is to be the object of the greatest curse but not only the divinity of Jesus is denied. They also disbelieve in the crucifixion of Jesus. Today I would like to read one passage from the Quran. This is sora number four, 157 to 159 speaking of the Jews and this translation is a little different than the Quran that I have but it says essentially the same. There's no change in meaning. Speaking of the Jews.

It says they claim we killed Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the apostle of God but they killed him not to, nor did they crucify him they were under the illusion that they had those who differ on this matter are full of doubts. They have no real knowledge but follow only conjecture your assuredly, they did not kill him and then the text goes on to say, on the contrary, God raised him to himself and God is all-powerful and all wise and other various interpretations by Muslim scholars.

Given to the passage that I just read some say that God created somebody who looked like Jesus and that person was crucified and therefore Jesus was not crucified.

But God snatched him and took him up to heaven direct light. Some of us find that very unsatisfactory because it would appear at least the God was party to deception. Other scholars have said no, it doesn't mean that it simply means that God raised up Jesus and the Jews had to find someone to crucify, so that there might not be a riot and therefore they found someone else to crucified and so the tradition came down that Jesus was in point of fact, crucified but all of us know that the disciples knew Jesus all too well. They were very, very well acquainted with him, having lived with him for three years and then two of his disciples said Joseph of Arimathea, at least not is not a part of the circle of the 12, but nonetheless followers of Jesus Joseph of Arimathea and of course Nicodemus took down the body of Jesus, and they buried it. They would know whether or not Jesus had been crucified and that he had died.

The question is where did Jim. Where did the Quran get the idea that Ted Jesus was not crucified while two possibilities.

One is Gnosticism. As you know we been studying Gnosticism because of the da Vinci code and the Gnostics who came after the time of Jesus, second, third, fourth century they had all kinds of interesting and foolish theories. As we've learned in the Apocalypse of Peter.

It says that Jesus was on a tree laughing.

Someone else was crucified. He was laughing because they thought they were crucifying him and in point of fact, he was they were crucifying someone else. But there's another possibility, and that is that the Quran accepts the common Jewish teaching that if Jesus was sent by God to he cannot die he cannot die. The Quran teaches that God is faithful to his messengers. God gives victory to those who make his cause victorious so the argument is if God allowed Jesus to die, it would compromise his faithfulness and his justice, because God is invincible, and therefore the bottom line is that Jesus was such a wonderful prophet and because God's purposes are invincible God would not have allowed him to die, but rather took him directly to heaven so I've heard. Muslim leaders say as I'm sure you have that they honor Jesus more than we do because we say that Jesus died and they say that he was too good to die. He was a prophet sent by God. And so God spared him from death, and the idea that the Jews crucified him was an illusion.

They were deceived. Jesus went directly to heaven. So the question that I'm going to try to answer in the next 15 to 20 minutes maybe 25 maybe 30 depending on how God leads and you can put your watch away because mine is up here. So as long as I have my eye on the watch, you don't have to have your eye on yours.

What I'd like to do is to speak to two questions really. First of all did Jesus die and secondly if he didn't die. Why did he die and is it true that if we say that he escaped the crucifixion. Is it true that we are really saying that God honored him and that those who believe that honor him more than we do.

That's what we are set out to discuss today. First of all, a couple of words regarding the historical record before we get to the Scriptures themselves. As you know, Matthew Mark Luke and John had a very detailed description of the crucifixion of Jesus and all of their writings. It is given a lot of the spaces we could say in some instances a couple of chap and you read it and you are overwhelmed by the detail and by the true those that are there and how yes indeed Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus buried the body of Jesus we have the story of the disciples cutting and running at the first part when Jesus is crucified.

John comes back in. You have the whole story than of the resurrection, how they recognize him.

Even with the nail prints in his hands. As Thomas discovered.

Now, if you contrast that with the Quran coming 500 years after the time of Jesus. Obviously, we do not have their an eyewitness account and also in the New Testament you have multiple witnesses to the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The Quran, of course, was written by one person.

There's another reason why we have strong indications that Jesus was crucified and that is that the disciples themselves did not want to believe it. If there'd been any possible way that they could have had Jesus Christ escaped the crucifixion, as we shall see in a moment they would've the reason that they ended up believing in the crucifixion is because they had to believe that Jesus died because there was no alternative. Despite their desire to have an escape death. So much for the Christian sources we could also today talk about secular sources. For example, Tacitus was a historian who lives at the beginning of the second century says that Jesus was executed under the leadership upon his pilot now with that introduction. Let's take our Bibles known turn to the 16th chapter of the book of Matthew Matthew chapter 16.

It's a remarkable story and I hope that you can find it in, you know, we do have few Bibles for those of you who just happen to forget your Bible today and that you can find it there. In Matthew, the first gospel of the New Testament chapter 16 and in verse 13 it says now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, who do people say that the Son of Man is now this whole interchange with Peter is deserving of an entire sermon, and someday you'll get it but not today. Some say John the Baptist other Elijah and Jeremiah or one of the prophets, he said to them, but who do you say that I am while who would ask a question like that. Could you imagine me taking the elders and saying elders who do people say that I am and who do you say that I I think somebody else that me preaching here next Sunday.

If I were to do that. But Jesus asked it and you'll notice that Simon Peter says to him in verse 16 you are the Christ, the son of the living God takes your breath away. And Jesus said, Simon. Blessed are you, for flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but my father which is in heaven. Jesus is saying that the human mind is so blind to be able to grasp these truths even though they are very evident as we learned in a previous message in this series that unless my father put it together in your mind is so that you could see it, you wouldn't have understood it in Peter, you are blessed. Jesus goes on and gives them the keys of the kingdom, and later on the keys of the kingdom are given to all of the disciples who had a part in the spreading of the word of God that by way of introduction to this passage.

Now let's notice in verse 20 he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ does not come as a surprise you've learned that I am the Christ, the Messiah, but don't you dare tell anyone. Why will think of the message that they would've proclaimed they'd of told people that he is the Messiah and what would the people have expected. They'd of gone to the Old Testament and they would have expected the rule of Messiah they would.

I would have expected kingship, they would've expected him to crush all of his enemies to get rid of the yoke of Romans set the nation free and they been always trying to get Jesus to become king.

Anyway, this would only increase the clamor for his kingship. Jesus said, you know, you folks you don't understand enough.

That's why I would prefer that nothing be said about my Messiah ship until you understand why I'm coming and why I came to earth and that's why you should never read verse 20, without reading verse 21, because they are connected.

From that time Jesus began to show to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and be killed and on the third day be raised teen musts to go to Jerusalem, the city of sacrifice 15 must suffer many things by the elders and the chief priests 15 must be killed and raised the third day that little word must perhaps 10 years ago I preached a sermon here at the Moody church on that little word must what must happen in Greek it's word with three letters DIJ same word that Jesus used when he was there at the temple at the age of 12, and they come looking for him and he says I must to be about my father's look up all the musts all of the things that are necessary. Jesus said this was necessary, that it happened. Now Peter couldn't endure this. You'll notice it says verse 22 and Peter took him aside. He didn't want to do it publicly, you don't rebuke someone like Jesus to his face in the presence of his other disciples.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him sank far from it is far from it to the Lord. This will never happen to you.

What was Peter's problem. Peter's problem very simply, was this, he couldn't imagine he couldn't imagine a divine Christ dying because in his mind as well. It looked like a defeat coming.

Crucifixion was humiliation. Crucifixion was torture. Crucifixion was for losers, not for winners. Peter takes him aside and says, Lord, you have that wrong. You will not die. We should stand in all of this encounter and the reason we should is because Peter is the just the one who moments before spoke the marvelous words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. You are the Christ, the son of the living God.

In a few moments later, he is now actually saying words that are in harmony with Satan. You'll notice that Jesus says to Peter in verse 23 Peter get behind me Satan. Oh thankfully, he did not say get behind me, Peter would've destroyed Peter because Peter loved Jesus. Jesus said you are a hindrance, a stumbling block. That's the word for me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God but on the thing of man Peter you are the rock, but now you are a stone over which I am being tempted to stumble mainly to avoid the cross, Jesus didn't mean that Peter was demon possessed what he meant was Peter the words that are coming out of your mouth would be in harmony with the plan of Satan who would do anything to keep me from the cross because this event which is so horrible this event of humiliation is going to be the means of my awesome unbelievable exaltation and the redemption of humanity. So Peter just understand that what you are saying is in line with the hopes and the dreams and the plans of Satan little parenthesis throne and there are people who give you good advice because they love you.

Maybe because they don't want to see you suffer. And in the process, they may be giving you the words of man and not the words of God. So the question is what about that little word must I must go to Jerusalem, I must suffer and die on the cross and be raised again. Why will. I'd like to suggest to you that it represents the greatest glory and the attributes of God. But first of all I want to give you one other reason.

Before we get that and that is the Scripture had to be fulfilled now that your Bibles are open to Matthew chapter 16. You can also turn to chapter 2626.

It is so wonderful to see how God is able to orchestrate events. Peter cuts off the ear of a servant of the high priest, Judas is coming out to see Jesus where in chapter 26 verse 51 and behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. We know that from that that was Peter because of another account. Then Jesus said to him, put your sword back into its place for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my father and he will let one send me more than 12 legions of angels, but how then should the script tours be fulfilled or that it must be so must be so Isaiah 53 had to be fulfilled is led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before his shearers is dumb, so he opens not his mouth. Jesus said that the Scripture had to be fulfilled.

But now the cross itself. What's going on there. The cross reveals a number of attributes of God that could not be shown that in any other way.

The cross in fact is the center of God's program.

The Bible says in the book of Revelation. He is the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world God created in order that he might redeem. This is the apex of God's plan of redemption and the glory and the beauty of all that is going to do for us and what he will also do for himself and that's why Paul will eventually say God forbid that I should glory except except in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ well what are the attributes. First of all, at the cross we see the love of God.

I don't see the love of God when I look at nature.

Oh, sometimes I do when it's calm and it's beautiful but when I look at a tsunami. When I look at the devastation of tornadoes. When I see famines and African people starving. I do not see the love of God in nature.

Sorry.

And if somebody asks me how do you know that God loves the world, I don't point to world events, but I do point to the cross for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. God says what I'm going to do is I'm going to redeem for myself a group of people and that group of people is going to be redeemed by a sacrifice that I my self will make and the son of God is going to make a sacrifice that will be gladly received by the father so that redemption is holy of God, and there we see love the Son of Man did not come to be ministered unto the Bible says, but to minister to give his life a ransom for many. Here is love, not that we loved God but that God loved us and gave his son as a sacrifice for our sin here uncontested is the love of God, you know, my friend, this is Pastor Luther I have a burden on my heart to help you defend the faith to be able to do it in a way that is winsome but also fact I've written a book entitled slandering Jesus six lies.

People believe about the man who claimed to be God. It's written for you.

It's written for skeptics so that they might understand that the Jesus that we proclaim has good historical evidence that he is indeed the Savior of the world for a gift of any amount. This book can be yours.

I think that this resource will be a great blessing go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com or you can call us at 1-888-218-9337 thanks in advance for your generosity as together we help you make it to the finish line 1-888-218-9337 RTW offer.com. You can write to us running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago Roy 60614 conspiracy theorists people talking all kinds of wild schemes clogged Internet with their blogs and readers by one theory is that Jesus did not die on the cross be merely swoon waking up in the two.

This is another blog about Jesus alive will handle further on our next running to.

Thanks for listening for Dr. Erwin Luther this is Dave McAllister running to win is sponsored by the teacher