Was Jesus really arrested? Muslims reject Jesus’ crucifixion, and they explain it away by saying that Jesus was never actually arrested, but instead set up a buddy to step in and take the fall for Him. That way, they can explain away Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, thus claiming Him nothing more than a prophet. Could this actually be? What do the Scriptures say happened? How can we be sure that the Christian account is correct?
Mark 14:44-52
Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. “Am I leading a rebellion,” asked Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But, the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” Then everyone deserted him and fled. A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
Denying Jesus’ Crucifixion
I’ve heard a few takes on this passage, but the one that stands out to me most is the Muslims’ attempt at explaining away Jesus’ crucifixion. See, they believe that He walked around after His supposed death, and also that He raised up into Heaven with the promise of returning one day. What they don’t believe is that Jesus was resurrected from the dead (which makes sense, since believing such would clearly go against the teachings and claims of their beloved prophet, Mo (I won’t say his whole name), which would threaten his (Mo’s) claim as a prophet and being above Jesus in holiness status). So to reject Jesus’ resurrection, yet accept His walking around afterwards and later raising into Heaven, they have to reject Jesus’ arrest.
Denying Jesus’ Arrest
Now, everybody (Christians and Muslims) agrees that Judas arrived with a group of soldiers to arrest Jesus, but they look at the possibility that the soldiers who came to arrest Jesus didn’t know which one He was (hence the reason for Judas’ sign of a kiss). So they say that Jesus and Judas had set it up for somebody else to take the fall, hence, explaining away Jesus’ death on the cross. The problem with this though is that the High priests and company would have recognized an imposture during their (illegal) trial, immediately. Also, the fact that they often sought out Jesus for debates and to ask trapping questions (before He was already teaching) shows that they already knew who Jesus was and what He looked like, so even if Judas had kissed the wrong man intentionally, the religious officials would have seen through it the moment He was in their presence, if not during their illegal trial.
Judas’ Death
And while we’re on this matter, even if Judas was in on a scam for the goal of faking Jesus’ resurrection, he would not have committed suicide out of guilt for what they did after Jesus’ arrest. Notice, Judas committed suicide before Jesus’ resurrection. If he was in on a scam, then surely he would have waited until the plans were fulfilled – or, revealed the switch before he let the guy be crucified. And if Judas had not committed suicide out of guilt, then he, a thief, surely would not have returned the silver coins…but he did, for that was the money that the Sanhedrin used to buy the Potter’s Field.
So you can try to explain away Jesus’ crucifixion, but when you check the facts of the events, they all point to the fact that Jesus was in fact arrested, put on trial (illegally), beaten, tried before Pilate, crucified, raised 3 days later (body and all), hung around 40 days, revealed Himself to over 500 people at one time, and raised up into Heaven with the promise to return.
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