The Bible records the death of Jesus by crucifixion under the jurisdiction of the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate who released Jesus to be crucified in 33 AD in Matthew 27 verses 19 – 61; Mark 15 verses 1- 47; Luke 23 verses 1 – 56; John 19 verses 1- 42. In addition to these accounts of three of Jesus’ disciples, Matthew, Mark and John, and that of Dr Luke, it is recorded that the prominent local rich politician and respected member of the Sanhedrin, Joseph of Arimathea asked for the body of Jesus that he might bury him in his own tomb. Jesus revealed Himself to His disciples in the upper room a second time when Thomas the doubting disciple was present and showed him His nailed pierced hands and sword wounded side recorded in John 20 verses 26 – 31. According to this scripture we who believe the fact of Jesus crucifixion are blessed by God because we believe it without having seen it with our own eyes.
The idea of one person being a sacrifice for a whole race of people is recorded in the Qur’an in Surah 5 Al Ma’idah verse 32. This surah discusses the rift between the People of the Book and the Muslims. This principle is identified as having been given to the Children of Israel and the example of Cain and Abel is cited as the basis for this idea. This event occurred before the birth of the nation of Israel, but we can see this principle in other events in the history of Israel. The epoch battle between David and Goliath is an example of how the future of Israel and the Philistines rested on the battle between two men. The one who won the battle would make the other nation subject to the victor’s nation. Read the Bible in 1 Samuel 17 verses 33-58. David, who later became the King of Israel, was an ancestor of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 1 verse 6. This was in fulfilment of the Covenant which God – Allâh made with Abraham and is referred to in the Bible’s book of Genesis chapter 12 verses 1-3, and in the Qur’an’s surah 5 Al Ma’idah verse 12. Verse 32 of the same surah states ‘if anyone saved a life it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.’ Christians believe that the sacrifice of Jesus’ (Isa’s) life saved the whole human race. When they believe it, and put their trust in Him as their advocate they will be saved on the Day of Judgement.
In the Qur’an surah 3 Al ‘Imran verses 55 – 57 we read that Allâh said ‘O Jesus! I will take thee to myself and clear thee of falsehoods. Of those who blaspheme I will make those who follow thee superior to those who reject faith, to the Day of Resurrection, then shall you all return unto me and I will judge between you of the matters wherein you dispute, and those who reject the faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and the hereafter. As to those who believe and work righteousness, Allâh will pay them their reward, but Allâh loveth not those who do wrong.’ The Qur’an confirms that at least Jesus was taken up to heaven to be with Allâh, and will be there to the Day of Resurrection, and on that Day, Allâh will reward all the righteous and punish all the wrongdoers.