Answering Islam - A Christian-Muslim dialog

Worshiping Jesus as God –

A Reply to the Late Ahmad Deedat Pt. 2b

Sam Shamoun

Continuing from where we previously left off, here are further examples of individuals falling down at the feet of Jesus to worship him:

“Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him.  And there came a man named Ja′irus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; AND FALLING AT JESUS’ FEET he besought him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As he went, the people pressed round him. And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and could not be healed by any one, came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. And Jesus said, ‘Who was it that touched me?’ When all denied it, Peter said, ‘Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!’ But Jesus said, ‘Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me.’ And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, AND FALLING DOWN BEFORE HIM declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.’ While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler’s house came and said, ‘Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.’ But Jesus on hearing this answered him, ‘Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well.’ And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, ‘Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, ‘Child, arise.’ And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat.” Luke 8:40-55

The above passage shows that Jesus not only has the ability to resurrect people back to life, he also possesses the divine authority to transmit power through his physical body unto others in order to grant them instant healing and cleansing.

Moreover, these two cases provide further examples of Christ’s moral, ethical and ceremonially incorruptibility, since the Law prohibited coming into contact with a woman with a flow of blood or a dead body. To do so meant that the person would become ceremonially unclean and would have to be removed from the camp of people for a period time, and only be allowed to reenter after having washed in water (cf. Leviticus 15:25-30). And yet instead of making Christ unclean the reverse occurred, i.e., the woman with a blood disorder and the dead young girl were instantly healed and restored by touching/being touched by the Lord.           

In this next example we are given a display of Jesus’ omnipresence and omnipotence:

“And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house, and would not have any one know it; yet he could not be hid. But immediately a woman, whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came AND FELL DOWN AT HIS FEET. Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoeni′cian by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And he said to her, ‘Let the children first be fed, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.’ But she answered him, ‘Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’  And he said to her, ‘For this saying you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.’ And she went home, and found the child lying in bed, and the demon gone.” Mark 7:24-30

Matthew provides some additional details concerning the posture of the woman when she first approached Christ: 

“But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’” Matthew 15:25

Here is a Gentile woman who knew enough of about Jesus that she falls down before his feet to worship him and confess him as Lord. What makes this incident all the more remarkable is that Christ was able to cast out a demon from a young girl without having to be physically present with her to do so!

This not only highlights his sovereignty over the spirit realm, but it also exemplifies his omnipresence and omnipotence, divine characteristics that are ascribed to the Lord all throughout this Gospel:

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20

Here is one that is truly astonishing:

“Now after the sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Mag′dalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulchre. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Lo, I have told you.’ So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, ‘Hail!’ And they came up AND TOOK HOLD OF HIS FEET and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.’… Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the NAME of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, to the close of the age.’” Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20

Notice how Jesus’ followers worship the risen Lord in the same context where he claims to possess absolute universal sovereignty, a rather remarkable assertion. He even identifies himself as the One who bears the same divine named belonging to both the Father and the Holy Spirit, and who can even be personally present with all of his followers wherever they maybe till the end of this age!

Now let’s contrast all of this with what the Quran says concerning Allah:

And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Allah has power over all things. S. 3:189 Hilali-Khan

And say: Praise be to Allah, Who hath not taken unto Himself a son, and Who hath no partner in the Sovereignty, nor hath He any protecting friend through dependence. And magnify Him with all magnificence.  S. 17:111 Pickthall

He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days; then He mounted the Throne. He knoweth all that entereth the earth and all that emergeth therefrom and all that cometh down from the sky and all that ascendeth therein; and He is with you wheresoever ye may be. And Allah is Seer of what ye do. S. 57:4 Pickthall

Hast thou not seen that Allah knoweth all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth? There is no secret conference of three but He is their fourth, nor of five but He is their sixth, nor of less than that or more but He is with them wheresoever they may be; and afterward, on the Day of Resurrection, He will inform them of what they did. Lo! Allah is Knower of all things. S. 58:7 Pickthall

These Quranic texts conclusively prove that Christ’s claims are such that only God Almighty himself could make… and yet Jesus made them!

In light of the foregoing, we are now ready to proceed to the next part of our response.