Answers to Questions Muslims Ask
How can Jesus be the Son of God?
First, it must be clarified what Christians mean when they say that Jesus is the Son of God. It does not mean that his mother Mary had sex with God and had a son. This idea would be just as repulsive to Christians as to Muslims. What the Bible says about how Jesus was born is actually very similar to what the Qur'an says.
The Bible records that the angel Gabriel came to Mary and said, "Do not be afraid Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus" (Luke 1:31). When Mary asked, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" (1:34), Gabriel answered: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you" (1:35).
In other words, Mary would become pregnant by a special miracle from God when the power of God's Spirit "overshadowed" her. This does not imply any physical relationship. Indeed, if there was any kind of physical relationship, then Mary would no longer be a virgin, and Christians could not speak of the birth of Jesus as "the Virgin Birth."
What does the Qur'an say about how Jesus was conceived? "We sent unto her [Mary] Our Spirit that presented himself to her a man without fault. She said, 'I take refuge in the All-merciful from thee! If thou fearest God . . ." He said, 'I am but a messenger come from thy Lord, to give thee a boy most pure.' She said, 'How shall I have a son whom no mortal has touched, neither have I been unchaste?' He said, 'Easy is that for Me; and that We may appoint him a sign unto men and a mercy from Us.'" (Surah Maryam).
Both the Bible and the Qur'an record that a messenger came to Mary to tell her she would have a special son, that she objected because she was a virgin, and that it was explained to her that God would bring this about in a special way that would not compromise her purity. The main difference is in the terminology used to describe this son.
The Bible records Gabriel as saying, "so the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35), whereas the Qur'an uses no such terminology, and in fact, elsewhere speaks against the use of that term. Why does the Bible say the holy son should be called the "Son of God?" Jesus is indeed the Son of Mary, but who is his father? He had no earthly father, for he was not conceived in the usual way, but by a miracle from God.
Whose son is he then?: he is the son of God! Why? Not because God had a sexual relationship with Mary (which He surely did not), but because God, through His miracle, substituted for, or preempted, the role normally assumed by the human male in that it was He who (miraculously) brought about her conception. Thus it is said, "So the holy one to be born of you will be called the Son of God."
Jesus himself used this term, although rarely, so as not to prematurely draw the attention of his enemies against him. When the high priest said to him at his trial, "Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God," he replied, "Yes, it is as you say"
(Matthew 26:63). In Matthew 16:15, Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus did not prohibit use of the term "son of God," but to the contrary said, "Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven" (Matthew 16:16-17).
When challenged to back up his claim to be the Son of God, Jesus appealed to his miracles (John 10:30-31). Jesus was the greatest miracle-worker who ever lived, giving sight to the blind, causing the lame to walk, healing lepers, and even raising the dead (on three occasions). Even the Qur'an acknowledges his great miracles.
Why is it that Jesus did greater miracles than any other Prophet? Because only he was the son of God. Why is that only he was born of a virgin? Because only he was the son of God.
Next Question: Why would God allow Jesus to be crucified?
The Bible records that the angel Gabriel came to Mary and said, "Do not be afraid Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus" (Luke 1:31). When Mary asked, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" (1:34), Gabriel answered: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you" (1:35).
In other words, Mary would become pregnant by a special miracle from God when the power of God's Spirit "overshadowed" her. This does not imply any physical relationship. Indeed, if there was any kind of physical relationship, then Mary would no longer be a virgin, and Christians could not speak of the birth of Jesus as "the Virgin Birth."
What does the Qur'an say about how Jesus was conceived? "We sent unto her [Mary] Our Spirit that presented himself to her a man without fault. She said, 'I take refuge in the All-merciful from thee! If thou fearest God . . ." He said, 'I am but a messenger come from thy Lord, to give thee a boy most pure.' She said, 'How shall I have a son whom no mortal has touched, neither have I been unchaste?' He said, 'Easy is that for Me; and that We may appoint him a sign unto men and a mercy from Us.'" (Surah Maryam).
Both the Bible and the Qur'an record that a messenger came to Mary to tell her she would have a special son, that she objected because she was a virgin, and that it was explained to her that God would bring this about in a special way that would not compromise her purity. The main difference is in the terminology used to describe this son.
The Bible records Gabriel as saying, "so the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35), whereas the Qur'an uses no such terminology, and in fact, elsewhere speaks against the use of that term. Why does the Bible say the holy son should be called the "Son of God?" Jesus is indeed the Son of Mary, but who is his father? He had no earthly father, for he was not conceived in the usual way, but by a miracle from God.
Whose son is he then?: he is the son of God! Why? Not because God had a sexual relationship with Mary (which He surely did not), but because God, through His miracle, substituted for, or preempted, the role normally assumed by the human male in that it was He who (miraculously) brought about her conception. Thus it is said, "So the holy one to be born of you will be called the Son of God."
Jesus himself used this term, although rarely, so as not to prematurely draw the attention of his enemies against him. When the high priest said to him at his trial, "Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God," he replied, "Yes, it is as you say"
(Matthew 26:63). In Matthew 16:15, Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus did not prohibit use of the term "son of God," but to the contrary said, "Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven" (Matthew 16:16-17).
When challenged to back up his claim to be the Son of God, Jesus appealed to his miracles (John 10:30-31). Jesus was the greatest miracle-worker who ever lived, giving sight to the blind, causing the lame to walk, healing lepers, and even raising the dead (on three occasions). Even the Qur'an acknowledges his great miracles.
Why is it that Jesus did greater miracles than any other Prophet? Because only he was the son of God. Why is that only he was born of a virgin? Because only he was the son of God.
Next Question: Why would God allow Jesus to be crucified?