Jesus (PBUH) in Islam ... Part 1 of ?

"I heard the Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) narrate the story of another Prophet, Jesus (PBUH), before him, whose people beat him and cause him to bleed.  Even as he wiped the blood off his face he said, "Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do!"

- Reported by Nayeem bin Mas'ud, Shaih al-Bukhari

Does this come to a surprise to most non-Muslims, that Jesus (PBUH) is recognized as a Prophet and Messenger of Islam?  In my personal experience, the answer is an astounding and deafening, YES!

If we compare the stories (as an outline) of the Prophet Jesus (PBUH) from the Bible of today and the Qur'an, there are a remarkable number of similarities.  Here are a few:

Jesus (PBUH):

- The son of the Virgin Mary

- By the grace and permission of God, cured leprosy, blindness, general illness and raised the dead

- Preached the word of God in an effort to remind people of the right path and return them to the ways and laws of Moses (PBUH)

- Spent time in the desert, being tested by the devil

- Had disciples (though the Qur'an is not specific as to how many)

- Was betrayed by one disciple (though the Qur'an doesn't name him)

- Was beaten and battered

- Faced a trial or a court

- Was "sentenced"

- Is the Messiah

- He shall return (the second coming)

- He will make his first prayer in Jerusalem upon his return and rid the world of the anti-Christ

Sound familiar?  The Qur'an even gives Jesus (PBUH) the miracles of speaking as an infant to defend his mother Mary's honor and the only prophet to know of his purpose on Earth at birth (other prophets received their "calls" later in life).

Muslims and Christians differ on the subject of crucifixion and the idea of a "Trinity" (though not all sects of Christianity have this concept).  The Islamic view is that God rose Jesus (PBUH) to heaven to "sit on the right hand of God" (as both the Bible and the Qur'an state) before the crucifixion and while a man, who resembled Christ, took his place on the cross.

If you read the Gospel of Barnabas, he states that the "face of Jesus (PBUH) turned into that of Judas" on the cross.  Interesting, no?  From my perspective, it makes more sense, given that in the Gospel of Luke the man on the cross says, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"  Why would Jesus (PBUH) say that of his Lord if it was all part of the plan for him to die in place of our sins?  Or, if Jesus (PBUH) is a part of God (as the trinity represents) why would he talk to himself?

Perhaps, I'm taking a very literal view of the Gospels, but these statements never agreed with me from a logical perspective.

I would love to turn this into a "discussion" ... if anyone can offer me some clarity, I would appreciate it.  Again, I feel that through education we achieve understanding and even, if in the end we do not agree with one another, at the very least we can tolerate one another's beliefs.

We are not as different as those who have the megaphones of the world would like us to believe.  Jesus (PBUH) is an extraordinary man, who is actually mentioned by name in the Qur'an to that of Mohamed (PBUH) at a ratio of 26:1!  Another surprise, no?

As always, I write with the purest of intentions.  Should there be any faults here, they are my own and do not reflect Islam or God's word.