By: Shannon Abulnasr © 2017 Dawahmaterials.com

Return to Part 9 - "God is greater than Jesus – Jesus is subordinate to God"

John 5:37 “And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form”

Jesus was sent by God. Does God send himself? Does God need to testify about himself to people? Does God need help? God has never been seen nor heard. Jesus was seen and heard.

John 8:54 “Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.”

Is God not able to glorify himself?  Jesus is stating that it means nothing if he does it himself, and what matters is that God glorifies him, and that God is another entity, with different authority. If he is one in the same as God, equal in a trinity, then even God’s testimony would not be true.  It’s quite a conundrum.

John 12:49 “For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.”

If Jesus is God, he would not say that he is not speaking of his own self, but is instead speaking of what God had commanded him to say.

John 10:34-36 “Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are "gods"'?  If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came--and Scripture cannot be set aside, what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'?”

One might say “Aha! This verse is saying Jesus is calling himself son of God”, but, if you look at it as a whole, with the context, Jesus is rebuking those that called others ‘God’ because they were given the word of God, and accuse him of blasphemy simply because he said he was just the son of God.  Being the son of God is not as severe as claiming to BE God.  Jesus is making it clear that he is not calling himself God.  This also supports the idea that say just because he was given the word of God, which it doesn’t make him in fact – God, and that others were called son of God too.

John 14:24 “Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”

Jesus says his words are not from himself, but from God.  If he was God, then they would be his own words.  He is clearly distinguishing himself from God.

John 16:23 “In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

If Jesus is God, then why wouldn’t we ask him after a certain time? He distinguishes himself and what he can do from God.

John 20:17 “Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

Does God have a God? He clearly states that he is going to his father…your God and “my” God.

Luke 18:19 “”Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone.”

Here Jesus identifies himself to not be the same entity as God, because he says that only God is good when they called himself (Jesus) good.  If he was God himself, why would he rebuke them at all? (See also Matthew 19:17 and Mark 10:18 )

Mark 10:18 “"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone.”

Here Jesus identifies himself to not be the same entity as God, because he says that only God is good when they called himself (Jesus) good.  If he was God himself, why would he rebuke them at all? (See also Matthew 19:17 and Luke 18:19 )

Mark 12:29 “"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”

Jesus is saying “our” God, not “me”.  This means God was above Jesus, and the Lord of Jesus.

Matthew 19:17 “"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments."”

Just as in Luke 18:19 , Jesus is rebuking those that call him good and clarifies that only God is good, separating their entities. (See also Luke 18:19 and Mark 10:18 )

Qur’an 4:171 “O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: Nor say of Allah aught but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) a messenger of Allah, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and His messengers. Say not "Trinity": desist: it will be better for you: for Allah is one Allah: Glory be to Him: (far exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs.”

Allah is stating himself that he is not having a trinity, as he does not need help. Jesus was a messenger (given the word of God) and prophet.  Allah is one without partners, nor does he have a son. He can manage things by himself.

Qur’an 5:72 “They have certainly disbelieved who say,"Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary" while the Messiah has said, "O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Indeed, he who associates others with Allah - Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.”

The Jews believed that the Messiah would be a man, which is in agreement with Islam.  However, the Christians believed that Messiah meant that he would be divine, hence making Jesus the Messiah.  Islam teaches that Jesus is the Messiah, but rejects that Jesus is divine, and not son of God, nor God himself.  In this verse, Allah is rebuking those that make Jesus to be God, and tells of Jesus’ teachings for mankind to worship Allah, who was the Lord of Jesus, and their Lord.

Qur’an 5:116 “And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?'" He will say, "Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen.”

On Judgment Day, Allah will have Jesus testify about what he taught mankind, and Jesus will tell them that he never told anyone to worship him or his mother. He admits that he does not know all, and that only Allah knows all.

Qur’an 19:29-30 “So she pointed to him. They said, "How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?" [Jesus] said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.”

Allah (God) has told us that Jesus was indeed a servant of God, a messenger and prophet.

Qur’an 43:63 “And when Jesus brought clear proofs, he said, "I have come to you with wisdom and to make clear to you some of that over which you differ, so fear Allah and obey me.”

Allah tells of when Jesus brought his proofs, which Jesus told the people he was given the word of God, and to fear God, and obey him, because he was commanding what was given to him by God. He did as God commanded him to do.

Continue to the next Section – Part 11: "Jesus was a prophet sent by God" 

Return to the Main Directory Listing Page for this Series

Recommended Reading:

Bible Corruption Series:

Part 1 – Intro to Bible Version Differences

Part 2 – 1 John 5:7, The Three That Bear Record in Heaven (Comma Johanneum)

Part 3 – John 7:53-8:11, Pericope of the Adulteress

Part 4 – Mark 16:9-20, Resurrection of Jesus

Part 5 – Conflicting Gospels on the Empty Tomb & Ascension of Jesus

The Corruption of the Torah

Is the Crucifixion of Jesus Really Foretold in the Old Testament?

Do Muslims Believe in the Bible?

Allah in the Bible

Free Qur’an E-book in Over 150+ Languages