Page 147 - World Religions I - Islam
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The author of Hebrews establishes Jesus as the mediator of the new covenant.
o "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive
the promised eternal inheritance —now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the
sins committed under the first covenant." - Hebrews 9:15 Hebrews 12:24 also makes it clear that
Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant, and "to the sprinkled blood that speaks more
graciously than the blood of Abel."
• He would know God face to face.
o The Qur'an is alleged to have come at all times from the angel Gabriel to Muhammad.
At no time did God directly communicate with him face to face.
o Jesus knew God face to face.
"I know him, I come from him, and he sent me." - John 7:29
"No one knows the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son chooses to
reveal him." - Matthew 11:27
"Not that anyone has ever seen the Father except him who is from God - he has seen the
Father." - John 6:46
"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by me... Anyone
who has seen me has seen the Father." - John 14:6, 9
The Old Testament records that Moses' face show brightly when he spoke to God
(Exodus 34:29-30). Likewise, the image of the invisible God was directly revealed
through the transfigured face of Jesus Christ (Matthew 17:2).
• No other prophet could claim face to face communion with God to the point
where his face shone.
• His office would be confirmed by great signs and wonders which he would do by the power of God in
the sight of all the nation of Israel.
o Muhammad performed no signs and wonders.
Despite some fanciful tales in the Hadith, the Qur'an clearly records in Surah 6:37 that
Muhammad performed no signs.
• "And they say: Why has not a sign been sent down to him from his Lord? Say:
Surely Allah is able to send down a sign, but most of them do not understand." -
Al- Anaam (The Cattle) 6:37
• Speaking to those who demanded a sign, Muhammad said: "I am (relying) on
clear proof from my Lord, while ye deny Him. I have not that for which ye are
impatient." - Al-Anaam (The Cattle) 6:57a
• "But (now), when the Truth has come to them from Ourselves, they say, 'Why
are not (Signs) sent to him, like those which were sent to Moses?' Do they not then
reject (the Signs) which were formerly sent to Moses?"
Muhammad explains his lack of signs as unbelief on the - Al-Qasas (The Story) 28:48
part of the people (If you reject the signs of Moses, why would you accept my signs?).
• He was unaware that in terms of prophecy of Deuteronomy 18, signs were a
significant, distinguishing factor for the prophet who was to follow Moses.
o Jesus performed great signs and wonders to confirm his mediatorial work.
Once the Israelites witnessed Jesus feeding the multitude of no less than five thousand
people, they likened it to the miracle of Moses feeding the Israelites in the wilderness
with bread from heaven.
• "When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, 'This is indeed
the prophet who is to come into the world'." - John 6:14
• The Israelites knew well enough that the promised prophet would be
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