That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah";-but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:- Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise;-— [4:157-158]
Now, We will see, what actually happened, so that Quran need to clarify?
Judas, one of the disciples of Jesus, went to find the high priest, who assembled in a council of priests, scribes, and Pharisees; to whom he spoke, saying: 'What will you give me, and I will betray into your hands Jesus, who would fain make himself king of Israel?'
Now, We will see, what actually happened, so that Quran need to clarify?
Judas, one of the disciples of Jesus, went to find the high priest, who assembled in a council of priests, scribes, and Pharisees; to whom he spoke, saying: 'What will you give me, and I will betray into your hands Jesus, who would fain make himself king of Israel?'
They answered: 'Now how will you give him into our hand?'
Judas said: 'When I shall know that he goes outside the city to pray I
will tell you, and will conduct you to the place where he shall be found; for
to seize him in the city will be impossible without a sedition.'
The high priest answered: 'If you will give him into our hand we will
give the thirty pieces of gold and you shall see how well I will treat you.'
When day was come, Jesus went up to the Temple with a great multitude of
people. Whereupon the high priest drew near, saying: 'Tell me, O Jesus, have
you forgotten all that you did confess, that you are not God, nor son of God,
nor even the Messiah?'
He answered: 'No, surely, I have not forgotten; for this is my
confession which I shall bear before the judgment seat of God on the day of
judgment. For all that is written in the Book of Moses is most true, inasmuch
as God our creator is [God] alone, and I am God's servant and desire to serve
God's Messenger whom you call Messiah.'
Said the high priest: 'Then what boots it to come to the Temple with so great a
multitude of people? Seek you, perhaps, to make yourself king of Israel ? Beware
lest some danger befall you!'
He answered: 'If I sought my own glory and desired my portion in this
world, I had not fled when the people of Nain would fain have made me king.
Believe me, truly, that I seek not anything in this world.'
Then said the high priest: 'We want to know a thing concerning the
Messiah.' And then the priests, scribes, and Pharisees made a circle round about
Jesus.
Jesus answered: 'What is that thing which you seek to know about the
Messiah? Perhaps it is the lie? Assuredly I will not tell you the lie. For if I
had said the lie I had been adored by you, and by the scribes [and] Pharisees
with all Israel :
but because I tell you the truth you hate me and seek to kill me.'
Said the high priest: 'Now we know that you have the devil at your back;
for you are a Samaritan; and have not respect to the priest of God.'
Jesus answered: 'As God lives, I have not the devil at my back, but I
seek to cast out the devil. Wherefore, for this cause the devil stirs up the
world against me, because I am not of this world, but I seek that God may be
glorified, who has sent me into the world. Hearken therefore to me, and I will
tell you who has the devil at his back. As God lives, in whose presence my soul
stands, he who works after the will of the devil, he has the devil at his back,
who has put on him the bridle of his will and rules him at his pleasure, making
him to run into every iniquity.
Even as a garment changes its name when it changes its owner, although it
is all the same cloth: so also men, albeit they are all of one material, are
different by reason of the works of him who works in the man. 'If I (as I know)
have sinned, wherefore do you not rebuke me as a brother, instead of hating me
as an enemy?
Truly the members of a body succour one another when they are united with
the head, and they that are cut off from the head give it no succour. For the
hands of one body do not feel the pain of another body's feet, but that of the
body in which they are united.
As God lives, in whose presence my soul stands,
he who fears and loves God his Creator has the feeling of mercy over them
[over] whom God his head has mercy: and seeing that God wills not the death of
the sinner, but waits for each one to repent, if you were of that body wherein
I am incorporate, as God lives, you would help me to work according to my head.
If I work iniquity, reprove me, and God will love you, because you shall
be doing his will, but if none can reprove me of sin it is a sign that you are
not sons of Abraham as you call yourselves, nor are you incorporate with that
head wherein Abraham was incorporate. As God lives, so greatly did Abraham love
God, that he not only brake in pieces the false idols and forsook his father
and mother, but was willing to slay his own son in obedience to God.
The high priest answered: "This I ask of you, and I do not seek to
slay you, wherefore tell us: Who was this son of Abraham?"
Jesus answered: "The zeal of your honour, O God, inflames me, and I
cannot hold my peace. Truly I say, the son of Abraham was Ishmael, from whom must be descended the Messiah
promised to Abraham, that in him should all the tribes of the earth be
blessed."
Then was the high priest wroth, hearing this, and cried out: "Let us
stone this impious fellow, for he is an Ishmaelite, and has spoken blasphemy
against Moses and against the Law of God."
Whereupon every scribe and Pharisee, with the elders of the people, took
up stones to stone Jesus, who vanished from their eyes and went out of the Temple . And then, through
the great desire that they had to slay Jesus, blinded with fury and hatred,
they struck one another in such wise that there died a thousand men; and they
polluted the holy Temple .
The disciples and believers, who saw Jesus go out of the Temple (for from them he
was not hidden), followed him to the house of Simon.
Thereupon Nicodemus came thither and counselled Jesus to go out of
Jerusalem beyond the brook Cedron, saying: 'Lord, I have a garden with a house
beyond the brook Cedron, I pray you, therefore, go thither with some of your
disciples, to tarry there until this hatred of our priests be past; for I will
minister to you what is necessary. And the multitude of disciples leave you
here in the house of Simon and in my house, for God will provide for all.'
And
this Jesus did, desiring only to have with him the twelve first called
apostles.
At this time, while the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, was standing in
prayer, the angel Gabriel visited her and narrated to her the persecution of
her son, saying: "Fear not, Mary, for God will protect him from the
world."
Mary, weeping, departed from Nazareth , and
came to Jerusalem
to the house of Mary Salome, her sister, seeking her son. But since he had secretly retired beyond the brook Cedron she was not
able to see him any more in this world; except after the deed of shame, for
[then] the angel Gabriel, with the angels Michael, Rafael, and Uriel, by [the]
command of God, brought him to her. .-(Gospel of Barnabas, CH-209)
When the confusion in the Temple ceased by the departure of Jesus, the
high priest ascended on high, and having beckoned for silence with his hands he
said: 'Brethren, what do we? See you not that he has deceived the whole world with
his diabolical art? Now, how did he vanish, if he be not a magician? Assuredly,
if he were an holy one and a prophet, he would not blaspheme against God and
against Moses [his] servant, and against the Messiah, who is the hope of Israel . And what shall I say? He has blasphemed all our priesthood, wherefore
truly I say to you, if he be not removed from the world Israel will be
polluted, and our God will give us to the nations. Behold now, how by reason of
him this holy Temple
has been polluted.'
And in such wise did the high priest speak at many forsook Jesus,
wherefore the secret persecution was converted into an open one, insomuch that
the high priest went in person to Herod, and to the Roman governor, accusing
Jesus that he desired to make himself king of Israel, and of this they had
false witnesses.
Thereupon was held a general council against Jesus, for as much as the
decree of the Romans made them afraid. For so it was that twice the Roman
Senate had sent a decree concerning Jesus: in one decree it was forbidden, on
pain of death, that any one should call Jesus of Nazareth;, the prophet of the
Jews, either God or Son of God; in the other it forbade, under capital
sentence, that any one should contend concerning Jesus of Nazareth, prophet of
the Jews.
Wherefore, for this cause, there was a great division among them.
Some desired that they should write again to Rome against Jesus; others said that they
should leave Jesus alone, regardless of what he said, as of a fool; others
adduced the great miracles that he wrought.
The high priest therefore spoke that under pain of anathema none should
speak a word in defense of Jesus; and he spoke to Herod, and to the governor,
saying 'In any case we have an ill venture in our hands, for if we slay this
sinner we have acted contrary to the decree of Caesar, and, if we suffer him to
live and he make himself king, how will the matter go?'
Then Herod arose and threatened the governor, saying: 'Beware lest
through your favouring of that man this country be rebellious: for I will
accuse you before Caesar;as a rebel.'
Then the governor feared the Senate and made friends with Herod (for
before this they had hated one another to death), and they joined together for
the death of Jesus, and said to the high priest: 'Whenever you shall know where
the malefactor is, send to us, for we will give you soldiers.'
This was done to fulfill the prophecy of David who had foretold of Jesus,
prophet of Israel , saying: “The
princes and kings of the earth are united against the holy one of Israel ,
because he announces the salvation of the world.”
Thereupon, on that day, there was a general search for Jesus throughout Jerusalem .
.
Jesus, being in the house of Nicodemus ;beyond the brook Cedron,
comforted his disciples, saying: 'The hour is near that I must depart from the
world; console yourselves and be not sad, seeing that where I go I shall not
feel any tribulation.
'Now, shall you be my friends if you be sad at my welfare? No, assuredly,
but rather enemies. When the world shall rejoice, be you sad, because the
rejoicing of the world is turned into weeping; but your sadness shall be turned
into joy and your joy shall no one take from you: for the rejoicing that the
heart feels in God its creator not the whole world can take away.
See that you forget not the words which God has spoken to you by my
mouth. Be you my witnesses against every one that shall corrupt the witness
that I have witnessed with my gospel; against the world, and against the lovers
of the world.
The day having come for eating the lamb, Nicodemus ;sent the lamb
secretly to the garden for Jesus and his disciples, announcing all that had
been decreed by Herod ;with the governor and the high priest. Whereupon Jesus
rejoiced in spirit, saying: 'Blessed be your holy name, O Lord, because you
have not separated me from the number of your servants that have been
persecuted by the world and slain. I thank you, my God, because I have
fulfilled your work.'
And turning to Judas, he said to him: 'Friend, wherefore do you tarry? My
time is near, wherefore go and do that which you must do."
The disciples thought that Jesus was sending Judas ;to buy something for
the day of the Passover;: but Jesus knew that Judas was betraying him,
wherefore, desiring to depart from the world, he so spoke.
Judas answered: 'Lord, suffer me to eat, and I will go.'
'Let us eat,' said Jesus, 'for I have greatly desired to eat this lamb
before I am parted from you.'
And having arisen, he took a towel and girded his loins, and having put
water in a basin, he set himself to wash his disciples' feet. Beginning from
Judas; Jesus came to Peter.
Said Peter;: 'Lord, would you wash my feet?'
Jesus answered: 'That which I do you know not now, but you shall know
hereafter.'
Peter answered: 'You shall never wash my feet.’
Then Jesus rose up, and said: 'Neither shall you come in my company on
the day of judgment.'
Peter answered: 'Wash not only my feet, Lord, but my hands and my head.'
When the disciples were washed and were seated at table to eat, Jesus
said: 'I have washed you, yet are you not all clean, for as much as all the
water of the sea will not wash him that believes me not.'
This said Jesus, because he knew who was betraying him.
The disciples were sad at these words, when Jesus said again: 'Truly I
say to you, that one of you shall betray me, insomuch that I shall be sold like
a sheep; but woe to him, for he shall fulfill all that our father David said of such an one, that "he shall fall into the pit which he had prepared
for others."
Whereupon the disciples looked one upon another, saying with sorrow: 'Who
shall be the traitor?'
Judas then said: 'Shall it be I, O Master?'
Jesus answered: 'You have told me who it shall be that shall betray me.'
And the eleven apostles heard it not. When the lamb was eaten, the devil
came upon the back of Judas; and he went forth from the house, Jesus saying to
him again: 'Do quickly that which you must do.'
Having gone forth from the house, Jesus retired into the garden to pray,
according as his custom was to pray, bowing his knees an hundred times and
prostrating himself upon his face.
Judas, accordingly, knowing the place where
Jesus was with his disciples, went to the high priest, and said: "If you
will give me what was promised, this night will I give into your hand Jesus
whom you seek; for he is alone with eleven companions."
The high priest answered: "How much do you seek?"
Judas said, "Thirty pieces of gold."
Then straightway the high priest counted to him the money, and sent a
Pharisee to the governor to fetch soldiers, and to Herod, and they gave a
legion of them, because they feared the people; wherefore they took their arms,
and with torches and lanterns upon staves went out of Jerusalem.
When the soldiers with Judas drew near to the place where Jesus was, Jesus heard the approach of many people, wherefore in fear he withdrew into the house. And the eleven were sleeping. Then God, seeing the danger of his servant, commanded Gabriel;, Michael;, Rafael;, and Uriel;, his ministers, to take Jesus out of the world. The holy angels came and took Jesus out by the window that looks toward the South;.They bare him and placed him in the third heaven in the company of angels blessing God for evermore.
When the soldiers with Judas drew near to the place where Jesus was, Jesus heard the approach of many people, wherefore in fear he withdrew into the house. And the eleven were sleeping. Then God, seeing the danger of his servant, commanded Gabriel;, Michael;, Rafael;, and Uriel;, his ministers, to take Jesus out of the world. The holy angels came and took Jesus out by the window that looks toward the South;.They bare him and placed him in the third heaven in the company of angels blessing God for evermore.
Judas entered impetuously before all into the chamber whence Jesus had
been taken up. And the disciples were sleeping. Whereupon the wonderful God
acted wonderfully, insomuch that Judas was so changed in speech and in face to
be like Jesus that we believed him to be Jesus. And he, having awakened us, was
seeking where the Master was.
Whereupon the disciples marvelled, and answered: 'You, Lord, are our master; have
you now forgotten us?'
And he, smiling, said: 'Now are you foolish, that know not me to be Judas
Iscariot!'
And as he was saying this the soldiery entered, and laid their hands upon
Judas, because he was in every way like to Jesus. The disciples having heard Judas'
saying, and seeing the multitude of soldiers, fled as beside themselves.
And John, who was wrapped in a linen cloth, awoke and fled, and when a
soldier seized him by the linen cloth he left the linen cloth and fled naked.
For God heard the prayer of Jesus, and saved the eleven from evil.
The soldiers took Judas ;and bound him, not without derision. For he
truthfully denied that he was Jesus; and the soldiers, mocking him, said: 'Sir,
fear not, for we are come to make you king of Israel , and we have bound you
because we know that you do refuse the kingdom.'
Judas answered: 'Now have you lost your senses! You are come to take
Jesus of Nazareth;, with arms and lanterns as [against] a robber; and you have
bound me that have guided you, to make me king!'
Then the soldiers lost their patience, and with blows and kicks they
began to flout Judas, and they led him with fury into Jerusalem . John ;and Peter ;followed the
soldiers a far off; and they affirmed to Barnabas that they saw all the examination
that was made of Judas by the high priest, and by the council of the Pharisees,
who were assembled to put Jesus to death.
Whereupon Judas spoke many words of madness, insomuch that every one was
filled with laughter, believing that he was really Jesus, and that for fear of
death he was feigning madness.
Whereupon the scribes bound his eyes with a
bandage, and mocking him said: 'Jesus, prophet of the Nazarenes ;(for so they
called them who believed in Jesus), 'tell us, who was it that smote you?'
And they buffeted him and spat in his face.
When it was morning there assembled the great council of scribes and
elders of the people; and the high priest with the Pharisees sought false
witness against Judas, believing him to be Jesus: and they found not that which
they sought. And why the chief priests believed Judas to be Jesus? It is because all the disciples too believed it; and more, the poor
Virgin mother of Jesus, with his kinsfolk and friends, believed it, insomuch
that the sorrow of every one was incredible.
As God lives, Barnabas forgot all that Jesus had said: how that he
should be taken up from the world, and that he should suffer in a third person,
and that he should not die until near the end of the world. Wherefore he went
with the mother of Jesus and with John to the cross. The high priest caused
Judas ;to be brought before him bound, and asked him of his disciples and his
doctrine. Whereupon Judas, as though beside himself, answered nothing to the
point.
The high priest then adjured him by the living God of Israel that he
would tell him the truth. Judas answered: 'I have told you that I am Judas Iscariot,
who promised to give into your hands Jesus the Nazarene; and you, by what are I
know not, are beside yourselves, for you will have it by every means that I am
Jesus.'
The high priest answered: 'O perverse seducer, you have deceived all Israel , beginning from Galilee; even to Jerusalem here, with your doctrine
and false miracles: and now think you to flee the merited punishment that
befits you by feigning to be mad? As God lives,' you shall not escape it!'
And having said this he
commanded his servants to smite him with buffetings and kicks, so that his
understanding might come back into his head.The derision which he then suffered
at the hands of the high priest's servants is past belief. For they zealously
devised new inventions to give pleasure to the council.
So they attired him as a juggler, and so treated him with hands and feet
that it would have moved the very Canaanites to compassion if they had beheld
that sight. But the chief priests and Pharisees and elders of the people had
their hearts so exasperated against Jesus that, believing Judas to be really
Jesus, they took delight in seeing him so treated.
Afterwards they led him bound to the governor, who secretly loved Jesus.
Whereupon he, thinking that Judas was Jesus, made him enter into his chamber,
and spoke to him, asking him for what cause the chief priests and the people
had given him into his hands. Judas answered: 'If I tell you the truth, you
will not believe me; for perhaps you are deceived as the (chief) priests and
the Pharisees are deceived.'
The governor answered (thinking that he wished to speak concerning the
Law): 'Now know you not that I am not a Jew? but the (chief) priests and the
elders of your people have given you into my hand; wherefore tell us the truth,
wherefore I may do what is just. For I have power to set you free and to put
you to death.'
Judas answered: 'Sir, believe me, if you put me to death, you shall do a
great wrong, for you shall slay an innocent person; seeing that I am Judas
;Iscariot, and not Jesus, who is a magician, and by his are has so transformed
me.'
When he heard this the governor marvelled greatly, so that he sought to
set him at liberty. The governor therefore went out, and smiling said: 'In the
one case, at least, this man is not worthy of death, but rather of compassion.' 'This man says,' said the governor, 'that he is not Jesus, but a certain
Judas who guided the soldiery to take Jesus, and he says that Jesus the
Galilean has by his are magic so transformed him. Wherefore, if this be true,
it were a great wrong to kill him, seeing that he were innocent. But if he is
Jesus and denies that he is, assuredly he has lost his understanding, and it
were impious to slay a madman.'
Then the chief priests and elders of the people, with the scribes and
Pharisees, cried out with shouts, saying: 'He is Jesus of Nazareth;, for we
know him; for if he were not the malefactor we would not have given him into
your hands. Nor is he mad; but rather malignant, for with this device he seeks
to escape from our hands, and the sedition that he would stir up if he should
escape would be worse than the former.'
Pilate (of such was the governor's name), in order to rid himself of such
a case, said: 'He is a Galilean, and Herod is king of Galilee :
wherefore it pertains not to me to judge such a case, so take you him to
Herod.'
Accordingly they led Judas to Herod, who of a long time had desired that
Jesus should go to his house. But Jesus had never been willing to go to his
house, because Herod was a Gentile, and adored the false and lying gods, living after the manner of the unclean Gentiles. Now when Judas had
been led thither, Herod asked him of many things, to which Judas gave answers
not to the purpose, denying that he was Jesus.
Then Herod mocked him, with all his court, and caused him to be clad in
white as the fools are clad;, and sent him back to Pilate, saying to him, 'Do
not fail in justice to the people of Israel!'
And this Herod wrote, because the chief priests and scribes and the
Pharisees had given him a good quantity of money. The governor having heard
that this was so from a servant of Herod, in order that he also might gain some
money, feigned that he desired to set Judas at liberty.
Whereupon he caused him to be scourged by his slaves, who were paid by
the scribes to slay him under the scourges. But God, who had decreed the issue, reserved Judas for the cross, in
order that he might suffer that horrible death to which he had sold another. He
did not suffer Judas to die under the scourges, not withstanding that the
soldiers scourged him so grievously that his body rained blood.
Thereupon, in
mockery they clad him in an old purple garment;, saying: 'It is fitting to our
new king to clothe him and crown him': so they gathered thorns and made a
crown, like those of gold and precious stones which kings wear on their heads.
And this crown of thorns they placed upon Judas' head, putting in his hand a
reed for sceptre;, and they made him sit in a high place.
And the soldiers came before him, bowing down in mockery, saluting him as
King of the Jews. And they held out their hands to receive gifts, such as new
kings are accustomed to give; and receiving nothing they smote Judas, saying:
'Now, how are you crowned, foolish king, if you will not pay your soldiers and
servants?'
The chief priests with the scribes and Pharisees, seeing that Judas died
not by the scourges, and fearing lest Pilate should set him at liberty, made a
gift of money to the governor, who having received it gave Judas to the scribes
and Pharisees as guilty to death. Whereupon they condemned two robbers with him
to the death of the cross.
So they led him to Mount
Calvary , where they used
to hang malefactors, and there they crucified him naked;, for the greater
ignominy. Judas truly did nothing else but cry out: 'God, why have you forsaken
me, seeing the malefactor has escaped and I die unjustly?'
Truly the voice, the face, and the person of Judas were so
like to Jesus, that his disciples and believers entirely believed that he was
Jesus; wherefore some departed from the doctrine of Jesus, believing that Jesus
had been a false prophet, and that by art magic he had done the miracles which
he did: for Jesus had said that he should not die till near the end of the world;
for that at that time he should be taken away from the world.
But they that stood firm in the doctrine of Jesus were so encompassed
with sorrow, seeing him die who was entirely like to Jesus, that they
remembered not what Jesus had said. And so in company with the mother of Jesus
they went to Mount Calvary, and were not only present at the death of Judas,
weeping continually, but by means of Nicodemus and Joseph of Abarimathia; they
obtained from the governor the body of Judas to bury it.
Whereupon, they took
him down from the cross with such weeping as assuredly no one would believe,
and buried him in the new sepulchre of Joseph; having wrapped him up in an
hundred pounds of precious ointments.
Then returned each man to his house. Barnabas with John and James
his brother, went with the mother of Jesus; to Nazareth ;.Those disciples who did not fear
God went by night [and] stole the body of Judas and hid it, spreading a report
that Jesus was risen again; whence great confusion arose.
The high priest then commanded, under pain of anathema;, that no one should talk of Jesus of Nazareth;. And so there arose a great persecution, and many were stoned and many beaten, and many banished from the land, because they could not hold their peace on such a matter.
The high priest then commanded, under pain of anathema;, that no one should talk of Jesus of Nazareth;. And so there arose a great persecution, and many were stoned and many beaten, and many banished from the land, because they could not hold their peace on such a matter.
The news reached Nazareth
how that Jesus, their fellow citizen, having died on the cross was risen again.
Whereupon, Barnabas prayed the mother of Jesus; that she would be
pleased to leave off weeping, because her son was risen again. Hearing this,
the Virgin Mary, weeping, said: 'Let us go to Jerusalem to find my son. I shall die content
when I have seen him.'
The Virgin returned to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and James and John,
on that day on which the decree of the high priest went forth. Whereupon, the
Virgin, who feared God, albeit she knew the decree of the high priest to be
unjust, commanded those who dwelt with her to forget her son. Then how each one
was affected! God who discerns the heart of men knows that between grief at the
death of Judas whom all believed to be Jesus their master, and the desire to see
him risen again, they, with the mother of Jesus, were consumed.
So the angels that were guardians of Mary ascended to the third heaven;,
where Jesus was in the company of angels, and recounted all to him. Wherefore
Jesus prayed God that he would give him power to see his mother and his
disciples.
Then the merciful God commanded his four favourite angels, who are
Michael, Gabriel, Rafael;, and Uriel, to bear Jesus into his mother's house,
and there keep watch over him for three days continually, suffering him only to
be seen by them that believed in his doctrine.
Jesus came, surrounded with splendour, to the room where abode Mary the
Virgin with her two sisters, and Martha and Mary Magdalen, and Lazarus, and Barnabas, and John and James and Peter.Whereupon, through fear they fell as dead.
And Jesus lifted up his mother and the others from the ground, saying:
'Fear not, for I am Jesus; and weep not, for I am alive and not dead.'
They remained every one for a long time beside himself at the presence of
Jesus, for they altogether believed that Jesus was dead. Then the Virgin, weeping, said: 'Tell me, my son, wherefore God, having
given you power to raise the dead. suffered you to die, to the shame of your
kinsfolk and friends, and to the shame of your doctrine? For every one that
loves you has been as dead.'.-(Gospel of Barnabas, CH-219)
Jesus replied, embracing his mother: 'Believe me, mother, for truly I say
to you that I have not been dead at all; for God has reserved me till near the
end of the world.'
And having said this he prayed the four angels that they
would manifest themselves, and give testimony how the matter had passed.
Thereupon the angels manifested themselves like four shining suns,
insomuch that through fear every one again fell down as dead. Then Jesus gave
four linen cloths to the angels that they might cover themselves, in order that
they might be seen and heard to speak by his mother and her companions. And
having lifted up each one, he comforted them, saying:'These are the ministers
of God: Gabriel, who announces God's secrets; Michael, who fights against God's
enemies; Rafael, who receives the souls of them that die; and Uriel, who will
call every one to the judgment of God at the last day.
Then the four angels narrated to the Virgin how God had sent for Jesus,
and had transformed Judas, that he might suffer the punishment to which he had
sold another.
Then said Barnabas: 'O Master, is it lawful for me to question you
now, as it was lawful for me when you dwelt with us?'
Jesus answered: 'Ask what you please, Barnabas, and I will answer you.'
Then said Barnabas: 'O Master, seeing that God is merciful,
wherefore has he so tormented us, making us to believe that you were dead? and
your mother has so wept for you that she has been near to death; and you, who
are an holy one of God, on you has God suffered to fall the calumny that you
were slain amongst robbers ;on the Mount Calvary?'
Jesus answered:'Believe me, Barnabas, that every sin, however small it
be, God punishes with great punishment, seeing that God is offended at sin.
Wherefore, since my mother and my faithful disciples that were with me loved me
a little with earthly love, the righteous God has willed to punish this love
with the present grief, in order that it may not be punished in the flames of
hell. And though I have been innocent in the world, since men have called me
"God," and "Son of God," God, in order that I be not mocked
of the demons on the day of judgment, has willed that I be mocked of men in
this world by the death of Judas;, making all men to believe that I died upon
the cross. And this mocking shall continue until the advent of Muhammad;,the
Messenger of God, who, when he shall come, shall reveal this deception to
those who believe in God's Law. Having thus spoken, Jesus said: 'You are just,
O Lord our God, because to you only belongs honour and glory without end.'
Jesus turned himself to Barnabas, and said: "Barnabas, see
that by all means you write my gospel concerning all that has happened through
my dwelling in the world. And write in a similar manner that which has befallen
Judas, in order that the faithful may be undeceived, and every one may believe
the truth."
Then answered Barnabas:"I will do so, if God wills, O Master;
but I do not know what happened to Judas, for I did not see it."
Jesus answered: "Here are John and Peter who saw everything, and
they will tell you all that has passed."
And then Jesus commanded us to call his faithful disciples [so] that they
might see him. So James and John called together the seven disciples with Nicodemus
and Joseph, and many others of the seventy-two, and they ate with Jesus.
The third day Jesus said: "Go to the Mount of
Olives with my mother, for there I will ascend again to heaven,
and you will see who shall bear me up."
So they all went there except
twenty-five of the seventy-two disciples, who for fear had fled to Damascus . And as they all
stood in prayer, at midday Jesus came with a great multitude of angels who were
praising God: and the splendour of his face made them greatly afraid and they
fell with their faces to the ground. But Jesus lifted them up, comforting them,
and saying: "Do not be afraid, I am your master."
And he reproved many who believed that he had died and risen again,
saying: "Do you hold me and God for liars? I said to you that God has
granted to me to live almost to the end of the world. Truly I say to you, I did
not die; it was Judas the traitor. Beware, for Satan will make every effort to
deceive you. Be my witnesses in Israel ,
and throughout the world, of all things that you have heard and seen."
And having said this, he prayed God for the salvation of the faithful,
and the conversion of sinners and [then], his prayer ended, he embraced his
mother, saying: "Peace be to you, my mother. Rest in God who created you
and me.”
And having said this, he turned to his disciples, saying: "May God's
grace and mercy be with you."
Then before their eyes the four angels carried him up into heaven.
End.
Not Yet Verified
Source:
al-Quran,
Gospel of Barnabas.
Not Yet Verified
Source:
al-Quran,
Gospel of Barnabas.
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