Page 175 - New English Book L
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Jewish hierarchy, and foretelling the coming of another
Prophet “more powerful” than himself, without taking the
least notice of the presence of his cousin in Judea or Galilee.

     (3) Although the Christian Churches have made of
Jesus Christ (pbuh) a god or son of a god, the fact that he was
circumcised like every Israelite, and baptized by St. John
like an ordinary Jew, proves the case to be just the reverse.
The words interchanged between the Baptist and the
baptized in the River Jordan appear to be an interpolation or
a commonalty, for they are contradictory and of a deceptive
character. If Jesus (pbuh) were in reality the person whom the
Baptist foretold as “more powerful” than himself, so much
so that he was “not worthy to kneel and unloose his shoes,”
and that “he would baptize with the Spirit and fire,” there
would be no necessity nor any sense in his being baptized
by his inferior in the river like an ordinary penitent Jew!
The expression of Jesus (pbuh) , “It behoves us to fulfil all
the justice,” is incomprehensible. Why and how “all the
justice” would be accomplished by them if Jesus (pbuh) were
baptized? This expression is utterly unintelligible. It is
either an interpolation or a clause deliberately mutilated.
Here is another instance that presents itself to be solved
and interpreted by the Islamic spirit. From a Muslim point
of view the only sense in this expression of Jesus (pbuh)
would be that John, through the eye of a Seer of “Sophi,”
perceived the prophetical character of the Nazarene, and
thought him for a moment to be the Last Great Apostle of
Allah, and consequently shrank from baptizing him; and
that it was only when Jesus (pbuh) confessed his own identity
that he consented to baptize him.

     (4) The fact that John while in prison sent his disciples
to Jesus (pbuh) , asking him: “Art thou that Prophet who is to
come, or shall we expect another one?” clearly shows that
the Baptist did not know the gift of prophecy in Jesus (pbuh)
until he heard -while in the prison- of his miracles. This
testimony of St. Matthew (xi. 3) contradicts and invalidates
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