Where Did Jesus Die

How can I be sure that I'm saved?

Luther's search for certainty was the driving force behind the Lutheran Reformation. It was certainty that Luther was searching for during his years in the monastery before his conversion as he fasted and beat himself and lived in poverty in order to earn God's favor. But he never found what he was looking for as monk or even as a priest in the Roman Catholic Church. No matter what he did, no matter how hard he tried, one simple truth remained: God was holy and he was not. And that terrified him.

Does it terrify you? Luther's quest for certainty is one that we all share as human beings. We all want to be sure of our eternal future, confident that we are in a good standing with the almighty God. Unfortunately, our sinful nature all too often leads us to look in the wrong places and our search only leads us further and further in uncertainty. In the lesson above, the Apostle John tells us where to find the certainty that we are looking for. He answers the all important question, "How can I be sure that I'm saved?"

Nothing about the sinful human nature has changed since the days of the Reformation. When searching for certainty our natural inclination is always to look to ourselves first. Just ask any person walking down the street why they think God should let them into heaven. Nine out of ten will tell you something along these lines: "Well, I'm a pretty good person. I've tried to live a decent life. God should be satisfied with that."

Our human nature pushes us all in the same direction. It's easy for us to take an inventory of our lives and say, "I'm doing pretty well," especially when we compare ourselves to the so-called "bad people." As we read the headlines, watch the news clips, and listen to the latest gossip about messed up celebrities, crooked politicians, greedy businessmen, and evil terrorists it's easy to shake our heads in disgust while we pat ourselves on the back. Before you know it, our prideful thoughts are not that far off from the prayer of the self-righteous Pharisee in one of Jesus' parables, "Lord, I thank you that I am not like other men" (Luke 18:11).

Until you look a little closer. Until you begin to examine your life against the standard of God's law, "Be holy as I the Lord your God am holy" (Leviticus 19:2). Your satisfaction with yourself begins to slip away as you realize that God doesn't tell you to compare yourself to others. He tells you to compare yourself to him. Suddenly we don't stack up as well as we thought we did. As Luther knew all too well, when all our innermost thoughts, all our words, all our actions are laid bare before the holy presence of God, there is no certainty whatsoever, only doubt, only fear.

Reflections on J.D. Sham's Where Did Jesus Die? (5)

By Douglas Anele

Chapter 13, the penultimate chapter, has as its title “Yus Asaph and Jesus.” In it, Shams states that a certain prophet named Yus Asaph came to Kashmir around 1900 years ago, died and was buried in Srinagar at the age of 120 years. Based on the writings of Ghulam Ahmad, the author concludes that Yus Asaph is none other than Jesus of Nazareth (p. 109).

Enlarging on the same theme by citing both Islamic and non-Islamic sources, he compares the story of Jesus to a well-known narrative in Kashmir about a strange prince (who was also prophet) that came to the area almost two thousand years ago and preached to the Israelites. The prophet eventually died and was buried there. The final chapter of the book (pp. 118-124), focuses on “A Paramount Prophesy”.

In it the author points out that Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, prophesied that after him the messiah would appear among Muslims at a place east of Damascus, that is, India, and that he would prove the falsehood of orthodox Christian doctrines concerning the purported death of Jesus on the cross. He reports how some sections of the Muslim community doubted the prophethood of Muhammad, on the ground that “Had Muhammad been a prophet, he would not have died” (p. 119).

But the sceptics were convinced that Muhammad was a genuine prophet of God when they realised that all prophets before him had died also. Shams referred to various verses of the Quran which indicate that Jesus died a natural death (pp. 119-121). He reiterates again and again the messiahship of Ghulam Ahmad, who he claims has broken the cross of Christianity. The author also referred to Ahmad’s claims on the prospects of “one religion for the world and one leader” (p. 123).

He then ended the book with Ghulam’s prayer, in which the latter pleaded that God should forgive Christians for believing false dogmas concerning Jesus (p. 124). There are two annexures in the book. The first one contains further references which suggest that Jesus could not have died on the cross; the second refers to “latest research” on the shroud of Turin. The “Bibliography” is listed in the last three pages. The book, Where Did Jesus Die?, is written in simple, easy-to-understand English.

It contains a plausible reconstruction of the events connected to the crucifixion of Jesus and its aftermath which deviates substantially from orthodox Christian teachings. The author, especially in chapter 2, admirably discusses contradictions in the gospels’ accounts of these events. In chapters 8 and 9 he offers a credible account of “pagan” doctrines in Christianity which Paul, in his aggressive efforts to convert the gentiles, introduced into the new faith.

Where did Jesus die?

Christian Origins and the Question of God: Jesus and the victory of God

Where did Jesus die? / by J. D. Shams

Catholicism

The Cambridge companion to Jesus