Understanding Christianity and Islam - Part 5 (The Cross: What Islam Denies, Christianity Declares)

The Cross: What Islam Denies, Christianity Declares

One of the clearest dividing lines between Islam and Christianity is the cross, not just as a historical event, but as a theological turning point.

What Islam Teaches About the Cross

Islam denies that Jesus was crucified. The Qur’an states:

“…they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but it appeared so to them…”
 (Surah 4:157)

Muslim interpretations vary:

  • Some believe another person was crucified in Jesus’ place (possibly Judas or Simon of Cyrene).

  • Others believe Jesus was taken directly to heaven without dying.

  • In either case, Islam rejects the crucifixion as a real event and thus also denies the resurrection.

This view is not based on historical records but a theological objection: that a prophet of God could not suffer such humiliation.

What Christianity Declares About the Cross

Christianity centers on the crucifixion of Jesus, not as defeat, but as the climax of God’s redemptive plan.

The New Testament writers affirm:

  • Jesus died by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate (Matt. 27:26-50; John 19:16-30).

  • His death was both substitutionary and sacrificial, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

  • The cross is not an accident of history, but a fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 53; Psalm 22).

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
 (Romans 5:8)

Historical Consensus: Was Jesus Crucified?

Modern historical scholarship, including secular and even skeptical scholars — is virtually unanimous:

  • Jesus of Nazareth was crucified by the Romans around AD 30.

  • Scholars such as Bart Ehrman, John Dominic Crossan, and Gerd Lüdemann (none of whom are evangelical Christians) all affirm this.

“One of the most certain facts of history is that Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate.” Bart Ehrman

The Qur’an, written over 600 years after Jesus, contradicts this overwhelming historical testimony.

Why the Cross Matters

  1. Without the cross, there is no forgiveness of sins.
     Hebrews 9:22 declares, “without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.”

  2. Without the cross, there is no resurrection.
     A Savior who didn’t die cannot rise from the dead.

  3. Without the cross, the gospel is emptied of power.
     Paul said, “We preach Christ crucified…” (1 Corinthians 1:23)

  4. The cross reveals both the justice and mercy of God.
     God judged sin at the cross and showed love by bearing it Himself.

The Islamic Dilemma

If Jesus was not crucified:

  • Why did first-century eyewitnesses, including His disciples, die for proclaiming it?

  • How did the earliest manuscripts, dated decades after the event, unanimously affirm it?

  • Why would the Church, birthed in Jewish monotheism, suddenly and radically affirm the crucified Messiah?

To deny the cross is to deny the very heart of Christian faith and the most well-documented moment of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

 The Cross is Not Shame; It’s Salvation

What looked like failure to the world was victory in God’s plan. The cross is not a symbol of weakness, but of sacrificial love, divine justice, and ultimate triumph.

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
 (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Final Thought

Islam seeks to honor Jesus by protecting Him from the shame of the cross.

But the New Testament honors Him by proclaiming the cross as His greatest glory:

  • There, He bore our sin.

  • There, He reconciled us to God.

  • There, He declared, “It is finished.”

You can admire a teacher.
 You can honor a prophet.
 But you can only worship a crucified and risen Lord.

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