“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. For the Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.” (I Corinthians 21-23)

One of the foremost dividing issues in the Christian faith vis-à-vis other religions, and particularly Islam, is the cross of Christ and the crucifixion.  This does not come as a surprise. Saint Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians wrote, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved is the power of God.” (I Cor. 1:18) All through history of mankind, the cross stands as a powerful symbol of the victory of life over death. Historically, crucifixion was the choice capital punishment of the day. Criminals were sent to their death on the cross just as they are sent to the electric chair today. Christ was tried, and ironically enough, He was found innocent by the secular leaders of the day. It was the religious leadership that wanted him dead.

The death of Christ on the cross was a real event recorded in the annals of that time, and later on authenticated through many various testaments. Before we go on to enumerate the witnesses and verification to the crucifixion, let me add that we do not do so because we need to prove anything written in the Bible about this fact. The Bible stands as the true word of God with no need to be verified. The Lord God Himself has supplied us with these witnesses so that we may answer those who question. As our Lord told Thomas to come and touch the nail marks and the scar on his side, “27Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." John 20:27. We invite you dear reader to do the same, investigate the evidences, and as a result stop doubting and believe.

a)     Pontius Pilate His unusually long period of office (A.D. 26-36) covers the whole of the active ministry both of John the Baptist and of Jesus Christ. He was the Roman Governor who sent a full report about the crucifixion of Christ to Tiberius Caesar. “Tertullian and Justin Martyr both speak of a report on the Crucifixion (not extant) sent in by Pilate to Tiberius, from which idea a large amount of apocryphal literature originated. Some of these were Christian in origin (Gospel of Nicodemus), others came from the heathen, but these have all perished.”

b)     Josephus (37-97 A.D.), who was a Jewish historian, wrote the history of the Jews in twenty volumes. In this history, he wrote about the life of Christ, His teachings, His miracles, and about the story of His crucifixion, at the order of Pontius Pilate. Then Josephus wrote about Christ appearing alive to His disciples on the third day.

c)     Cornelius Tacitus  (55 A.D.), who was an atheist, and considered as one of the most famous historians of old Rome, mentioned the story of the crucifixion of Christ in his eighteen-volume series of history.

d)    Lucian the Greek  (120 AD) was a prominent historian who also wrote about the crucifixion of Christ and about the Christians who accepted death for the sake of their faith in Christ.

The Talmud is a holy book for the Jews. We read in its Amsterdam Edition of 1943, page 42, that: “Jesus who was called Christ was crucified on the evening of the Passover.”

The Testimony of the Old Testament Prophesies

In the following passages you will find that there are 48 prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the death of Christ on the cross, all which were literally fulfilled.

Christ’s heel bruised.

“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her see; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shall bruise his hell.” (Genesis 3:15)

Where they crucified him, and two others with him, one on either side, and Jesus in the midst.  (John 19:18)

None of His bones were broken.

“They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it.” (Number 9:12)

“The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day, (for that Sabbath day was on high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away.  Then came the soldiers, and break the legs of the first, and the other, which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they break not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came blood and water.  And he that saw it bare record and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.  For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.” (John 19: 31- 36)

The serpent lifted up.

“And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”  (Numbers 21:9)

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.”  (John 3:14)

Conspiracy against Christ.

“Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, ‘Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.” (Psalm 2:1 –3)

“Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?  The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.” (Acts 4:24 –28)

His body will not see corruption.

“For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.  (Psalm 16:10)

“For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.  He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.” (Acts 2:31)

Forsaken by God.

“My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?”  (Psalm 22:1)

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabaachthani? That is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

The mocking of the Crucified.

“All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.  And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads.” (Psalm 22:7-8)

“And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads… He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him nowif He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God” (Matt. 27:39, 43)

The bulls of Bashan (Jews) were against Him.

“Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.  They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.” (Psalm 22:12-13)

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.” (Acts 2:22-23)

His agony on the cross.

“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint,  my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.” (John 19:34)

“But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” (John 19:34)

His severe thirst.

“My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaves to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.” (Psalm 22:15)

“After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.” (John 19:28)

For dogs (Gentiles) compassed Him.

“For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.” (Psalm 22:16)

“Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.  And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying’ Hail, King of the Jews!’”

His pierced hands and feet.

“For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and feet.” (Psalm 22:16)

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand,, and the other on the left.” (Luke 23:33)

They stared upon Him.

“I can count all my bones. They look and stare at Me” (Ps. 22:17)

“And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves.”  (Psalm 22:17)

“And the people stood beholding.  And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.” (Luke 23:35)

Casting lot on His garment.

“They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” (Psalm 22:18)

“Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.  They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, ‘They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots.’ These things therefore the soldiers did.” (John 19:23-24)

Mission accomplished

“It is finished...” “They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.” (Psalm 22:31)

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar; He said, it is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:30)

Committal of His Spirit

“Into thine hand I commit my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me O, Lord God of truth.” (Psalm 31:5)

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:30)

His acquaintance forsook Him.

“I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbors, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.” (Psalm 31:11)

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?  I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.  And they all forsook him, and fled.” (Mark 14:48-50)

False witnesses were against Him.

“False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.  They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.” (Psalm 35:11-12)

“Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death.” (Matthew 26:59)

Hated Him without a cause.

“Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.” (Psalm 35:19)

“But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.” (John 15:25)

He opened not His mouth.

“But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.  Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.” (Psalm 38:13-14)

“And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? Behold how many things they witness against thee.  But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marveled.” (Mark 15:4-5)

Betrayed by His friend.

“Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.” (Psalm 41:9)

“I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread, with me hath lifted  up his heel against me.” (John 13:18)

Given Vinegar in His thirst.

“They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” (Psalm 69:21)

“They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.” (Matthew 27:34)

The end of those who have betrayed Him.

“Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.” (Psalm 69:25)

“For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishopric let another take.  Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from  us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.  And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.” (Acts 1:20-23)

His intercession for His enemies.

“For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.” (Psalm 109:4)

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.  And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” (Luke 23:34)

They substituted His love for hate.

“For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.” (Psalm 109:4-5)

“He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” (John 1:11)

He was ridiculed.

“I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shacked their heads.” (Psalm 109:25)

Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. (Matthew 22:4)

The Plowers plowed upon His back.

“A song of degrees.  Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.   The plowers  plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.” (Psalm 129:1-3)

“Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.” (Matthew 27:26)

Gave His back to the smiters.

“The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.  I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.” (Isaiah 50:5-6)

“Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.” (Matthew 27:26)

The suffering of Christ on the cross.

“Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.” (Isaiah 52:13)

“And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe and when they had platted a crown of thorns. They put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.  And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.” (Matthew 27:27-31)

The news about the substitutionary death is too good to be true.

“Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1)

“But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believe not on Him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which He spoke, Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart and be converted, and I should heal them.” (John 12:37-40)

Despised and rejected of men.

“He is despised and rejected of men: a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him: he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Isaiah 53:3)

He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (John 1:11)

He was wounded for our transgression.

“Surely he hath borne our grief’s, and carried our sorrows:

yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." (Isaiah 53:4)

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

Led as a lamb to the slaughter.

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7)

“The place of the scripture which he read was this, ‘He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:  In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? For his life is taken from the earth.’ And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, ‘I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? Of himself, or of some other man?’ Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” (Acts 8:32-35)

He opened not His mouth.

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7)

Then said  Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly.” (Matthew 27:13_14)

Falsely accused.

“He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.” (Isaiah 53:8)

“And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.  And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.” (Matthew 27:11-12)

Made His grave with the wicked.

“And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:9)

“Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.” (Matthew 27:38)

He did no wrong.

“And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:9)

“Pilate saith unto them, ‘What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?  ‘They all say unto him,’ Let him be crucified.’ And the governor said, ‘Why, what evil hath he done?’ But they cried out the more, saying, ‘Let him be crucified.’ When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, ‘I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.  ‘Then answered all the people, and said, ‘His blood be on us, and on our children’. (Matthew 27:22-25)

His soul was made an offering for sin.

“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.” (Isaiah 53:10)

“He that spared not his own  Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

He shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities.

“He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:11)

“Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Romans 5:18-19)

He was numbered with the transgressors.

“Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bares the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12)

“And with him they crucified two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.  And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, ‘and he was numbered with the transgressors\’.” (Mare 15-027-28)

He bore the sin of many.

“Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12)

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation,.”  (Hebrews 9:28)

He made intercession for the wicked.

“Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12)

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.  And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” (Luke 23:33-34)

The Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself.

“And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.”  (Daniel 9:26)

“Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.” (John 18:14)

Darkness at noon.

“And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day.” (Amos 8:9)

“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.” (Matthew 27:45)

Sold with thirty pieces of silver.

“And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them.  And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.” (Zechariah 11:13)

“And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?  And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.” (Matthew 26:15)

Purchase of the potters field.

“And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them.  And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.” (Zechariah 11:13)

“Then Judas, which had betrayed Him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, ‘I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.’ And they said, What is that to us?  See thou to that.’  And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.  And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, ‘It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.'  ‘And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.  Wherefore that field was called the field of blood, unto this day.  Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.” (Matthew 27:3-10)

Pierced in His side.

“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace, and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” (Zachariah 12:10)

“But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.  And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, “A bone of him shall not be broken.’ And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they have pierced.: (John 19:34-37)

Desertion by His disciples.

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.” (Zechariah 13:7)

“Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.” (Matthew 26:31)

The Witness of Christ Himself

The death of Christ on the cross occupies the first place in His earthly life. For this reason, we see that the writers of the four gospels gave great importance to this issue. Before the crucifixion, Christ talked to His disciples on many occasions about His propitiatory death on the cross and about His resurrection from the dead. When the Jews once asked Him to show them a sign or a miracle, he answered them: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:18-22).

“Then He said to them: These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me … Then He told them, Thus it is written and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day and repentance and forgiveness of sin will be preached in His name to all nations” (Luke 24:44-47). For more details see the following readings: (Matthew 20:28; Mark 9:31; 10:23-34; John 3:14-17; 10:11; 12:32-33 Revelation 1:18)

The witness of the words of Christ on the cross:

No one else other than Jesus could speak the seven words which He uttered on the cross while He was suffering an agonizing death. Who else could speak His words of forgiveness?  “Father forgive them for they know not what they do?” (Luke 23:34)

It is an amazing fact that the first half of the gospel of John speaks to us about Christ’s ministry on this earth. While the other half speaks to us about the week of His crucifixion. This leads us to understand that the fundamental reason for which Christ came was to be crucified. This case applies to the other three gospels as well.

The witness of Joseph of Arimathaea:

When Joseph of Arimathaea asked for the body of Jesus from Pontius Pilate, and it was given to him (Mark 15:42-46), Joseph was aware that it indeed was the body of Jesus which he himself had taken from the cross.

The Witness of John the Baptist

This was the message of John the Baptist when he saw Jesus. He said: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). Before John the Baptist, the Jews used to sacrifice many lambs for the atonement of their sins, but now the Lamb of God became a sufficient sacrifice for all the sins of the world. Before Christ, many lambs had to be sacrificed to atone for and to purify the iniquities of people, while now, only the Lamb of God is a sufficient sacrifice for the sins of all. Before the crucifixion, many lambs used to be sacrificed on behalf of the people of Israel only, but now there is the Lamb of God, who was sacrificed on behalf of the whole world. (John 1:29). We read in Genesis 4 about Abel who sacrificed from the best of his sheep to the Lord. We see here one lamb for one man. In Exodus 12 we read about one lamb being sacrificed on behalf of a whole family. In Leviticus we read about one lamb for the whole Jewish race, but now, Christ the Lamb of God is for the whole world.

The belief that Judas Iscariot replaced Christ on the cross since Judas physically resembled Jesus, cannot be true for the following reasons:

Such an assumption ascribes to God conniving, deception, and fraud. God would never deceive human beings.

This assumption makes the prophecy of Zechariah invalid and unfulfilled which says: “Then I said to them, if it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain, so they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me. Throw it to the potter, that princely price they set on me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord for the potter” (Zechariah 11:12, with Matthew 26:15)

The prophecy which speaks of the thirty pieces of silver which Judas returned to the temple, with which they bought the field of blood, would become an irrelevant prophecy if such an assumption were true. (Zechariah 11:13, Matthew 22:7)

Obviously a person who would have been mistaken for Jesus would have undoubtedly resisted and objected to being crucified; informing the Roman soldiers that he was not Christ.

The Jews asked Pilate to seal the stone of the sepulcher, not out of fear that Christ would rise from the dead, but out of fear that His disciples would come to steal the body and then pretend that He had arisen from the dead.

When the Lord Jesus took the Passover meal with His disciples, He took the cup and said: “This cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he comes.”    (I Corinthians 11:25-26) Christians throughout history, regardless of their denomination, always used to meet on the first day of the week, all over the world, to celebrate the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of the work of the great love of God, and in remembrance of Jesus Christ who shed His blood for the atonement of the sins of the whole world.

All the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament, is used for the atonement of sins, as mentioned in the book of Leviticus: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the alter to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” (Leviticus 17:11)

And in the book of Hebrews we read “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood and without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Heb 9:22) For this reason we see that Christians, Muslims, and Jews believe in the principle of sacrifices and atonement. Muslims celebrate the Adhha Holiday; the Jews celebrate the Passover by sacrificing blood sacrifices for the atonement of their sins, and the Christians believe in the death of Christ as “The lamb of God” who is the great and final sacrifice for the atonement of the sins of the world. The death of Christ and His atoning sacrifice gave meaning and reason to be for all the other sacrifices. All the other feasts and holidays of sacrifices are mere symbols and patterns of the real sacrifice, which Christ presented on the cross. Otherwise, all other sacrifices are irrelevant and meaningless

The Witness of the Apostles’ Teaching

The teachings of the apostles were built on their great faith in the death of Christ on the cross, and in His resurrection. They lived and died as martyrs for the sake of their solid faith in the atoning work of Christ on the cross. In his sermon on the day of Pentecost, Peter had said to the Jews: “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.” (Acts 2:22-23)

The apostle Paul writes in his epistle to the Romans about the truth of their justification by the atoning death of Christ, saying: “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” (Romans 3:24-25) Then he adds: “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6-8) “

In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of sin according to the riches of His grace” (Eph 1:7) “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sin in His own blood” (Rev. 1:5)

And they sang a new song saying: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals ; for you were slain and have redeemed us to God by your blood  Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9)  For further study see the following scriptures:  Romans 10:9-10; I Corinthians 5:7; 1:18; 2:2). For further information, consult the following readings: (Acts 3:13-15; 10:4; Romans 1:4; 3:24; 4:24-25; 8:5; 6:3-4, 6; Genesis 10:9; I Corinthians 1:18, 23; 2:2; 7:5; 14:6; 26:11; 15:3-4,17,20; II Corinthians 4:10-14; 13:14; Galatians 2:20; 4:4; 6:14; Ephesians 7:1; 2:13; 5:2; Colossians 1:18,20; 2:12-14; 1:3; Philippians 2:6-8; 3:18; I Thessalonians 1:10, 4:14; 5:10; I Timothy 2:6; II Timothy 2:11,18; Hebrews 2:9,14-15; 5:8; 9:12,14; 10:10,14; 12:2; 13:12-13; I Peter 1:3,11,18-19; 2:21-24; 3:18,4,1; 5:1;

I John 1:7; 3:16; 4:10; and Revelation 1:5-7; 5:9,11)

The believer witnesses through his baptism about his death, burial, and resurrection with Christ. (Romans 6:3-6)

History tells us that all twelve disciples, with the exception of John the apostle, were martyred because of their belief in the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Christ. Is it reasonable that all those disciples could die as martyrs for a myth or a lie? It is impossible for a man to face death boldly, knowing that what he claims is a hoax.

The cross has been the symbol and emblem of Christianity since its birth. One could see the cross raised on the towers of its churches; on the crowns of its kings, on the memorial stones of its martyrs and followers, just to remind them of the great love of God which leads to the salvation of the world. It is astonishing to see the sign of the cross engraved everywhere on the walls of underground cemeteries (Catacombs) below the city of Rome since the first century A.D.

The Witness of the Nicene Creed

During the year 325 AD; a group of Christian bishops over 300 in number, met for the purpose to summarize the doctrine of the Christian faith, which is called the Nicene Creed, which reads as follows:

I believe in one God, omnipotent Father, the creator of heaven and earth and everything visible and invisible.

And in the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages, The very God of very God, Light of light,  The true God of true God. Born, but not created, of the divine essence as the Father.

Every thing was made by Him, who for us men and for our salvation descended from heaven  and was incarnated by the Holy Spirit. Born of the Virgin Mary. Took a human body, and was crucified under Pontius Pilate, suffered, buried and rose again on the third day. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. He is coming back in great glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, Proceeding from the Father and from the Son. He is worshipped and glorified together with the Father and the Son, of whom the prophets spoke.

I believe in one Church. Universal and apostolic. I abeleive in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and await the resurrection of the dead, and life everlasting. Amen.

This Creed was written about 350 years before Islam, and was believed all over the Christian world, that Christ died on the cross during the time of Pontius Pilate.