Session 5
Q. Last episode, we concluded our
study by talking about John, son of Zechariah:
Who sent him as a Prophet and a Messenger to the people of
A. John, son of Zechariah, was known as the
Baptist, because he used to baptize in water all those who heard his call,
repented for their sins, and returned to God Almighty to forgive their sins.
This Baptism or (submersion) in water was but a public declaration on the part
of the repentant of belief in what John, the Baptist had said, being a Prophet
of the Almighty, and also a declaration of repentance. As a result of this
practice, baptizing people, John, son of Zechariah was known as John the
Baptist.
Q. Dr. Nagi,
you had said before that one of the most significant roles of John the Baptist,
was to bear witness to the light, who is the person of the Lord Jesus. Did the
Lord Christ (Glory be to His name) need a man to bear witness to Him before He
arrived?
A. The
Lord Christ (Glory be to His name) did not need any body’s testimony. He said in John 5:34, ‘Yet, I do not receive
testimony from man.’ It was Man who needed someone to testify to the Lord Jesus
Christ. John was not sent to testify to the light, for the benefit of the
light. The light is eternal, and ever
existing; He does not have any need for someone or something. It is written
that God is light and has no darkness what so ever in Him. But John, son of
Zechariah, was the public Affairs Official who declared the advent of the Great
King, so that people could be ready to receive him, as per the second part of
verse 7, ‘that all through him might believe.’
Q. Dr. Nagi,
John 1:9, states, ‘That was the true Light which gives light to every man
coming into the world’, meaning the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His name) of
course. What does the true light that
gives light to every man means? Is there an untrue light?
A. The word true light here means
that He Himself is light. His light is not derived from elsewhere. He Himself
is the essence of light, the truth of light, and the source of light who gives
light to every man. The revelation confirms the difference between the identity
of John the Baptist and that of the Lord Jesus Christ. John 5:35 reflects a
great difference between light in itself, and a lamp that shines with light,
‘He (referring to John the Baptist) was the burning and shining lamp, and you
were willing for a time to rejoice in his light’. The lamp, in itself, is
useless and dim without the light. John
here responds to those who consider the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His name)
to be equal to God’s other Prophets; there is no Prophet or Messenger who was
called the true light. This is one of
the qualities of the Almighty; and the revelation exclusively attributes it to
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Q. What do the words
‘give light to every man’ mean?
A. These are but a few words, yet very deep in
their meaning. The revelation of God portrayed each man as if he was a lamp. As
I said previously, a lamp is a dark, dim object, should you place it in a dark
room. Similarly with the heart and soul of man: Full of sins, iniquities and
evils. The Holy Bible indicates that every single person, including you, me and
the entire human race, regardless of their color, origin, religion or doctrine,
need the true light to enlighten this darkness, and make out of each one of us
a shining lamp, useful to all those who walk in darkness. Each man on earth needs the Lord Jesus Christ
(Glory be to His name) to enlighten his life, and save him from the darkness of
sins, evils, the darkness of the grave and eternal doom in hell - set by God
Almighty for those who do not receive from Him light for their lives.
Q. Dr. Nagi,
what do you think about the words, ‘coming into the world’? Do they not
indicate that the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His name) already existed
before he came to the world? How would He else come to the world, if He had not
existed before then?
A. It is true; these words mean that the Lord
Christ (Glory be to His name) existed before He came into the world. The
existence of the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His name) did not start the day
He was born. He existed, before all times with God, as per John 1:1. Before all times here indicates eternity, as
long as the existence of God Almighty Himself. This is confirmed further by the
words of the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His name) Himself, when debated
with the Jews in John 8:56, ‘Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.’ Then the Jews said to
Him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have You
seen Abraham?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before
Abraham was, I AM.’ This means that He existed before Abraham did. He existed
on His own before all times as in confirmed in verse 10,’He was in the world,
and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.’
Q. Before you
comment on verse 10, I would like to ask you about the word’ world’ which was
repeated four times in verses nine and ten. Why did the revelation mention
‘world’ and not ‘earth’? For example, that the verse would be, ‘He was on
earth, the earth was formed by Him, etc.
A. Because the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His
name) did not mean to come and visit the ‘Planet Earth’; He had meant to come
to His creatures, who existed on earth, thus the insistence on referring to
‘the world’. The mission of the Lord Christ (Glory be to His name) was not
meant for the inhabitants of the earth alone; His mission was meant to redeem
all those who were embittered by sin, those who were claimed under slavery of
darkness. He sought the inhabitants to
the entire universe to set them free, and then take them with Him to heaven, to
the eternal glory set for the righteous and pious. The Lord Jesus call was
meant to satisfy the justice of God Almighty, to overpower the evil of the slinking
whisperer, make a public spectacle out of evil spirits, and deliver Mankind
from the grip of Satan who enslaved them for so long. This is why the Holy Scripture spoke of the
whole world meaning: Man, Satan, angels and others, not only The Planet Earth.
Q. What ’He was in the world, and the
world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.’ John 1:10 mean?
A. These words mean that before the Lord Christ
(Glory be to His name) came into the world, before He revealed himself to us in
a body like ours, He was in the world; He existed in himself as we said
earlier. He is the cause for creation and existence. Through Him all things were made; without
him, nothing was made that has been made, as per verse three of chapter 1, that
we had explained before. He was in the world, and caused it to exist, thus the
world, and specially man, should have known him. His genuine voice is imprinted
on the conscience of people. God Almighty had revealed the existence of the
Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His name) ever since creation, throughout the
Books of the Old Testament. Prophet Isaiah referred of Him as God Almighty
calling Him, ‘Eternal father, and prince of peace’. The Torah prophesied on the
time, place and process of nativity of the Lord Christ (Glory be to His name)
from a pure virgin etc. Yet the minds of people were blocked so as not to
realize that this Christ (Glory be to His name) who walked through the streets
of
Q. Dr. Nagi,
what is meant by ‘He came to His own, but His own did not receive Him?’ Who are His own? Did the Lord Jesus Christ
(Glory be to His name) come for a specific group of people? Why would not His own accept Him? What are
the reasons behind rejecting him?
A. His own are his natural people, fellow
nationals, the Jews. He came to them first, even though the gospel did not
state that he came to enlighten every Jew, He came to give light the entire
world. This is also clear in John
3:16,’For God so loved the world (the entire world), that He sent His only
begotten Son, that whosoever believed in Him, shall not parish, but have
everlasting life.’
Q. If the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be
to His name) came for the entire world, why did the Gospel say that He came to
‘His own’? Why did He have to come to the Jews first?
A. As I said before, when the Lord Christ (Glory be
to His name) came to the world, He had targeted the entire human race, not only
the people of Israel; but He had to announce His coming to His people first,
knowing they would reject Him, just like they had always done with all the
Prophets and Messengers who came before Himself. It was for the same reason
that God Almighty had sent them the Torah, which was guidance and mercy to
Mankind. They had asked for it, and pledged to Prophet Moses to keep it, abide
by it, and never break it. Yet, not one
single person among them was able to keep it.
This proved their abject failure. They had also been praying for so
long, in anticipation, for the expected Messiah. Yet, God Almighty, being All
knowledgeable, knew they would fail to receive Him. He had to put them to the test, though, and
they failed. When the Lord Jesus came to
them, they rejected Him, thus fulfilling the verse.
Q. Don’t you think
it is amazing, that even though the Jews could hardly wait for the Lord Jesus
Christ (Glory be to His name) to come, yet, when He came, they rejected Him?
A. There is a number of reasons
that lead to their rejection to the Divine Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, and
not accepting Him as the anticipated Messiah.
The most important of those reasons are:
First the picture that the
Jews had drawn, in their imagination, for the long waited for Messiah, was
completely different from the person they had seen. They had imagined Him to be a political
leader, a judge, and a great warrior, who would lead them in their battles
against the Roman occupation, then - or any nation who fights against
Q. Are there other reasons that
caused the Jews to reject the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His name)?
A. The second import reason is that they could not realize the substance
and depth of His teachings. They thought that He had come to abrogate their
Law, even though again and again He told them, ‘Do not think that I came to
destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did
not come to destroy but to fulfill.’ Matthew 5:17
Q. What are the teachings that the
Jews could not perceive and were a reason for rejecting The Lord Christ?
A. The Jews were, and still are
enslaved to meticulous application the Law.
For example, God Almighty had commanded them to keep Sabbath (Saturdays)
holy, and not to perform any work therein.
Jews Scholars had written about 13 books about this commandment: What is
Kosher, what is non-Kosher (Halal and Haram), how many steps to walk, what to do and what not to
do etc.
They had covered all, save for the essence of the commandment. Now and again, the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory
be to His name) tried to explain to them that the Sabbath was created for the
good of man, and not the other way round; that doing a good deed on a Sabbath
wouldn’t be considered a violation of the commandment; they still would not
listen. When He healed a man with a
withered hand on a Sabbath, they were determined that He could not be the
anticipated Messiah and yet break the Law. This along with many other
perceptions that the Lord tried to implant in His audience about the essence of
religion, not just the appearance: Obligations, rituals and pillars; He tried
to impart on them that true religion is but an interaction, and deep love
between Man and his creator; an open conversation, with deep submission and awe
on the part of Man, but they lend Him no ear.
Q. Will you please tell us all the reasons
that, in your opinion, caused the Jews to reject Him? To be honest, I think this matter is
confusing both, to Christians and to non- Christians.
A. Another reason is that the Lord Jesus confronted
their religious leaders, scribes and Pharisees with their mistakes and
erroneous teachings. . For example, He noticed that their religious leaders
wore long turban, grew their beards, and were praying down the roads. He
rebuked them saying, ‘But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you
have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your
Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.’ Matthew 6:6. He also noticed that they preferred to occupy
front seats in festivals, accusing people of atheism, on basis of being,
sinners, or tax collectors. They even went as far as criticizing Him for
socializing with those they had dishonored as sinners. ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick…I did
not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.’ Matthew 9:12 and
He also said, ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, … lawyers, For load men with
burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of
your fingers.’ Luke 11:44, 46
Q. Dr. Nagi,
this is quiet weird. If the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His name) wishes to
save those people from their sins, give light to their lives, and fulfill their
hopes and dreams, it is only illogic to reject Him. How could I reject someone
who comes to me in order to deliver me from the grudge of sin, and to give me
access an eternal life? Is that possible?
A. Well, it is very much possible. In fact I am not the least amazed at what
happened with them. It happens up to
this moment and we witness it with our own eyes. Many an audience, of different
a denomination or religion listens to this message, they reject the Lord Jesus
Christ (Glory be to His name) as a savior from, and forgiver of sins and
iniquities. We call them out loud saying, ‘The Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to
His name) has come to earth to save you from the grip of sin, and to rescue you
from the torture of the grave and eternal hell. He assures you to join Him in
heaven, the place he had set for the pious and the righteous. The Lord Jesus
Christ (Glory be to His name) came to earth specifically and personally for
yourself - no matter what your denomination, religions or background. He does
not ask you for anything except to open your heart to Him and ask for His
pardon. Thus, God willing, you become one of the winners. There are still many who are skeptic and
adamant about rejecting the Truth; those who will continue being so until the
Great Day of Judgment. On that day, no
money or offspring can do any good; the soul of man will have nothing on that
day.
Q. Dr. Nagi,
at the end of this episode, I would like to know what was the Lord’s reaction
to their rejection of His Holy Person?
A.
The Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His name) is a
Person of Love. Their rejection did not
stop Him from dying on their behalf, by their very hands, in order to deliver
them from the curse that befell them as a result of rejecting Him. He said His well known words as He let out
His last breath, addressing God the Father, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do
not know what they do.’ Luke 23:34. He is indeed Love incarnated. He still calls them, along with the rest of
the world, ‘Come to Me, all you who labor and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ Matthew 11:28. To complete the picture, I would like to tell
whose who take The Lord Christ (Glory be to His name) lightly, and do not
accept Him as a savior and redeemer of their lives: The Lord Jesus will come
once more, but this time as a fair judge, who will not take mercy on any Man
who did not believe in Him as Lord and Messiah - those will then be devastated
by their doom.