Prayer Fuel

The vast majority of Muslims believe that he did not, for this is the opinion of most Muslim scholars and teachers. Most are unaware that there have always been some respected Muslim scholars who say that Jesus may have died and that this is a valid interpretation for a Muslim to hold (Joseph L. Cumming, ‘Did Jesus Die on the Cross’ (Yale University, 2001). Denials of Jesus’ death are based on one verse, Qur’an 4:157: “And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but it seemed to them that they did.” 

Most Muslims believe that God made someone else look like Jesus (though they do not agree on who it was) and assert that this person died instead of Jesus. Yet there are better ways to interpret this verse than denying that Christ Jesus died – for Jews agree that Jesus did die! Moreover, this verse is not directed at Christians, but at Jews, as is evident from the preceding context (vv. 153-156). Most likely, the Qur’an is rejecting a Jewish assertion found in non-historical, polemical stories in the Talmud that allege that Jesus was stoned and then hanged on a tree—the punishment prescribed in rabbinic law for a blasphemer-idolater. Thus, Qur’an 4:157 rejects this defamation of Jesus (along with Jewish slander of his mother Mary), declaring that Jesus died in accordance with God’s plan (Kendra Fiddler, ‘Annunciations to Maryam in the Qur’ān: Jewish-Christian Subtexts, Milieu, and Typology’ (2021), 96–98.)

Furthermore, most Muslims are unaware of the other verses in the Qur’an that seem to indicate that Jesus did in fact die. Pray that the eyes and minds of Muslims may be opened to observe the Qur’an’s positive record of Jesus’ death & resurrection, and that they would turn to the Bible to learn more.

“Peace be upon me the day I was born and the day I will die, and the day I will be raised up alive.” (19:33)

“God said, ‘Jesus, I will make you die and raise you up to Me, and cleanse you from the disbelievers, and make those who follow you higher than the disbelievers until the Day of Resurrection.” (3:55) (In the other two dozen uses of the Arabic root word in the Qur’an, it always involves death. Unfortunately, many Muslim interpreters translate it to mean that God take Jesus to himself without his dying).

“I was a witness over them while I remained among them, but when you made me die, You Yourself were the watcher over them.” (5:117)

We gave Moses the Book and sent messengers after him, and we gave Jesus son of Mary miraculous signs and supported him with the Holy Spirit.  Whenever a messenger comes to you, bringing a message you don’t like, you become proud, and some of them you called liars, and some of them you (now) kill.” (2:87)

Pray that Muslims in Kyrgyzstan may see that through the cross, Christ Jesus did many other things, and they would catch a glimpse of why it was God’s will for Christ to die.

1. He provided the example of ultimate submission to God (true islam).
2. He restored God’s honor.
3. He destroyed the power of sin (Romans 8:1-15).
4. He defeated fear and power of death (Hebrews 2: 14-15)

Photo by Hugo Fergusson on Unsplash

Exalting His Name

…this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him,

“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
    for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
    my flesh also will dwell in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
    or let your Holy One see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
    you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ (Acts 2:23-28, ESV)

Father, thank you for your glorious plan, that Christ would be killed and you would raise Him to life. Thank you that you didn’t spare your own Son, but gave Him up for us all.

Praying for the Harvest

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.. but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Corinthians 1:18, 23-25, NIV)

We pray that you would remove obstacles to belief in the crucifixion of Christ and reveal the wisdom of Your plan to Muslims in Kyrgyzstan, drawing them to worship you in wholehearted gratitude for this sacrifice.

Praying for the Church

Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  (Romans 8: 34b-35a, ESV)

Pray that believers would have fresh encounters with the love of God demonstrated at the cross, and would be newly moved to share this message with their Muslim neighbors.

Worship and Waiting

This time can be an opportunity to sit still, turn on a worship song and ponder the gift of the crucifixion.

Praying by Name

You can pray that your friends would be drawn to understand God’s plan in Christ’s crucifixion and would have open hearts to believe and run to Him for redemption.

Closing Prayer

Father, we ask you that you would open the hearts of Muslims in Kyrgyzstan to accept your wisdom and will in allowing Christ to die. We pray you would remove any unnecessary obstacles in communal dialogue and understanding of this issue and that you would open doors of truth and faith in Muslim communities in Kyrgyzstan. We pray that the faint glimmers of truth about the crucifixion in the Qur’an would move people to search the Bible for more of the story, and that through the testimony of your Word many would come to the feet of Jesus, hanging on the cross for their sake. To you belongs endless praise. Amen.

(Thanks to M for their contribution to today’s prayer fuel)