By Daniel Scot Sept. 2008

Jesus said: "...and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)

NOTE: Authoritative Islamic texts are the Qur'an and Hadith. Muslims believe that the Qur'an is the revealed word of Allah (verse numbers differ slightly in different versions). Sura always stands for a chapter in the Qur'an. Islamic belief is that Muhammad is the perfect example to be followed by all Muslims. Whatever he said, practiced or approved is called Hadith. There are six different sets of authentic ahadith (Hadiths): Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmizi, Sunnan Ibn Majah and Sunnan Nasa'i. This pamphlet is intended to show the teachings and examples of Muhammad, and is not intended to be offensive to Muslims; many Muslims may have little real knowledge of what their god, Allah and their prophet has said on this topic.

Since the Qur'an records that Jesus told people to fear Allah and obey him [i.e. Jesus] (Sura 43:63), and that in Sura 7:158 Muslims are told to believe in Jesus and His Scriptures [Torah and Gospels], it is important for Muslims to know this unique person. Allah teaches that Jesus not only performed miracles but, being the word of God, raised the dead and created birds (Sura 5:110; 4:171; 3:45, 49). Furthermore, Muhammad looked up to Him as the sinless one—Sura 19:19; 3:36; Bukhari, vol. 4, Hadith No. 651-652.

So, Who is Jesus?

In our other tracts concerning the Messiah we have listed well over a hundred prophecies from the prophets of the Old Testament and have shown how those were fulfilled in the New Testament, thus giving affirmation that Jesus is the long-promised Messiah.

It is not easy to comprehend the complex nature of the concept of Messiah—complex things are difficult to understand! So, for a better comprehension of the person of Jesus the Messiah, let us consider the following:

Messiah the Word of God

Jesus is revealed as the "Word of God", and everything was created by that Word (John 1:1-3, 14). It is obvious that the Word of any person is uniquely related to that person. In daily life we express ourselves by our words in joy, sorrow or hurt, and by our approval or disapproval of things. Our words show our true self which people cannot know by any other means. Similarly, God expresses Himself by His Word. He created and sustains the whole universe by His Word (Hebrews 1:1-3).

To believe that there was any time when God was without His Word suggests that God was dumb! God does everything by His Word and the Bible teaches that the Word of God is eternal and has always existed with God. In this way, Jesus the Messiah is Eternal (Isaiah 9:6) and through Him all things were created (Colossians 1:15-17).

Pre-existence of the Messiah

Jesus the Messiah, the eternal Word of God, not only existed before He was born as a human but also appeared to many people in Old Testament (O.T.) times. Jesus Himself speaks of His glory with the Father before the creation of the world (John 17:5), and He told the Jews that "before Abraham was, I am" and that Abraham was glad to see Him, (John 8:52-59; see Genesis 18:1-33). The Apostle John also records that the Prophet Isaiah saw His glory and wrote about Him (John 12:41; Isaiah 6:1-13). These are what are known as theophanies (God manifesting Himself) or epiphanies (the glory of God manifested) and there are numerous accounts of these manifestations to people, such as:

1. Genesis 2:18-22; 3:8, 9, 21 - to Adam and Eve.
2. Genesis 32:28, 30 - Jacob wrestled with the Lord!
3. Exodus 3:2-6 - The Angel of the LORD appeared to Moses and said: "I am the God of your father - the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob"
4. Joshua 5:14 - Joshua worshiped the Captain of the host of the Lord;
5. Isaiah 6:5; John 12:41 - Isaiah saw Him
6. Ezekiel 1:25-28 - Ezekiel worshiped the Son of Man
7. Daniel 3:24-5 - King Nebuchadnezzar saw the Fourth man like the Son of God.

If, as we have seen above, Jesus was indeed known to Abraham and Isaiah, it is reasonable to assume that these theophanies were visitations of the Messiah who was Deity.

Attributes of the Messiah

We learn from the Scriptures that all God the Father has belongs to the Messiah as well, and that He therefore deserves the same honour as the Father (John 5:23;16:15). There are many characteristics and attributes of the Messiah which can be associated with God alone—characteristics such as:

The Creator of heaven, the earth and human beings

GOD - Psalm 102:24-27; Malachi 2:10; Proverbs 16:4

JESUS - John 1:1-2; Hebrews 1:10-12; Colossians 1:16

The Mighty God

GOD - Habakkuk 1:12-13; Isaiah 10:20-21

JESUS - Isaiah 9:6

The First and the Last

GOD - Isaiah 44:6; 41:4; 48:12

JESUS - Revelation 1:7-8; 22:13-16

The Everlasting God

GOD - Psalm 90:2; Habakkuk 1:12

JESUS - Micah 5:2

The Unchangeable God

GOD - Malachi 3:6

JESUS - Hebrews 13:8

The Omnipresent - present everywhere

GOD - Psalm 139:7; Jeremiah 23:24

JESUS - Matthew 18:20; 28:20; John 3:13; Ephesians 4:10

The Omniscient - the all seeing

GOD - Psalm 147:5; Proverbs 15:3

JESUS - John 21:17; 16:30; Colossians 2:3)

The Omnipotent - the all powerful

GOD - Genesis 17:1; Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 19:26; JESUS - Matthew 28:18; Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 1:8)

Worship of the Messiah

In Jewish religion, the True God and none else can be worshipped. However, a study of the New Testament (N.T.) reveals that many devout Jews who realised that Jesus was the Messiah worshiped Him - as did many gentiles (non-Jews). The Scriptures also declare that at the end of the ages every human being will worship Him. We need also to note that Jesus never ever forbade anyone from worshiping Him. Following is a list of some of the incidents in the Scriptures where Jesus is worshiped as God:

Wise men - Matthew 2:1-2, 11; A leper - Matthew 8:1-2

The Messiah -The Son of God

There are many people who consider only some aspects of Jesus' life and neglect others, and thereby conclude that this Man cannot also be God. For this reason we ask you to consider the following carefully.

Jesus came to save sinners such as you and me. God has promised that all who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:9). To receive this salvation, you must confess Jesus as Lord and agree with God that you are a sinner who deserves death; and that Jesus the Messiah paid the price for your sins on the cross and bought you with His holy precious blood.

Now you have a further opportunity to find out more, as God has given you the means and the ability to search for the truth.