Page 178 - Demo

174Jewish 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