Something is Missing: How Muslims See Jesus
Joshua Fund podcast inspects the differences between the Messiah of the Bible and the Quran.
The Quran doesn't recommend, suggest, or imply that Muslims should read the New Testament.
It commands it.
Referred to as the Injil or Injeel by Muslims, the New Testament is considered one of the four Islamic holy books, but it is believed to have been changed or corrupted by Christians over time.
The differences between Jesus in the New Testament and the Quran—believed to be the Muslim faith's final, infallible holy book—are profound. This is not surprising.
But most Christians don't know that, despite the differences, Muslims share some of the same foundational beliefs about the carpenter from Nazareth.
Joel C. Rosenberg, a New York Times Bestselling Author and an expert on Middle East geopolitics, examines both the similarities and differences in Episode 56 of Inside The Epicenter with Joel C. Rosenberg, a podcast of The Joshua Fund.
For listeners unfamiliar with what the Quran says about Jesus, Rosenberg illuminates the shared beliefs between the faiths, such as the virgin birth, Jesus' miracles, and Jesus as the Messiah.
However, even in the view of Jesus as the Messiah, Rosenberg outlines a fundamental difference, sharing that "to be clear, their understanding of the Messiah is different…Interestingly enough, their understanding of the Messiah is pretty close to what Peter, James, John, and the disciples thought the Messiah was supposed to be…."
Along those lines, Muslims do not believe that Jesus is God and only revere him as a prophet, refusing to acknowledge the accounts of his death and resurrection as truth.
Perhaps the most beneficial segment of the episode for listeners is Rosenberg and co-host Dr. Carl Moeller's advice on how Christians should approach a conversation about Jesus with a follower of the Islamic faith.
Rosenberg notes that the commonalities can serve as an initial bridge, but the significant differences should not be avoided or overlooked.
"For all the things that we agree on, the things we disagree on are so profound; it doesn't mean we have to be angry about it. We have to have love," Rosenberg states.
Rosenberg wraps up the episode by underscoring the defining difference. He shares that "they want to love God, they have zeal, they bow down, they worship, they are so committed, but something's missing—what's missing is the true understanding of Jesus from the New Testament."
Inside the Epicenter is available across all major podcast platforms and provides unparalleled insight on key players in the past and current events in the Middle East and allows the listener to gain understanding and knowledge through a Biblical lens.
