Defending the Christian Faith in Conversation with Islam — Sehemu ya 6: Kusulubiwa kwa YesuDefending the Christian Faith in Conversation with Islam — Unit 6: The Crucifixion

Mstari MkuuKey Verse

"Maana nimeamua kutojua neno lo lote kwenu, ila Yesu Kristo, naye amesulibiwa." (1 Wakorintho 2:2, SUV)"For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2, NKJV)

Malengo ya KujifunzaLearning Objectives

Utakapomaliza sura hii, unapaswa kuweza:When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

1. Kueleza Kurani 4:157-158 inasema nini juu ya kifo cha Yesu, na jinsi Waislamu walivyoielewa.1. Explain what Qur'an 4:157-158 says about the death of Jesus and how Muslims have understood it.

2. Kueleza nadharia ya kuwekwa mtu mwingine mahali pa Yesu na nadharia ya kuzimia, na kusema ni makundi gani ya Waislamu yanayoshikilia nadharia hizo.2. Describe the substitution theory and the swoon theory, and say which Muslim groups hold them.

3. Kuwasilisha ushahidi wa kihistoria wa kusulubiwa kwa Yesu kutoka kwa Injili nne, kutoka kwa Paulo, na kutoka kwa vyanzo visivyo vya Kikristo kama Tacitus na Yosefo.3. Present the historical evidence for the crucifixion from the four Gospels, from Paul and from non-Christian sources such as Tacitus and Josephus.

4. Kujibu nadharia hizo mbili kwa hoja za kibiblia na za kihistoria zilizo imara.4. Answer the substitution and swoon theories with sound biblical and historical reasons.

5. Kueleza kwa nini msalaba uko kiini kabisa cha injili ya Kikristo.5. Explain why the cross is at the very center of the Christian gospel.

6. Kuzungumza juu ya msalaba na rafiki Mwislamu kwa upole, heshima na uwazi.6. Speak about the cross with a Muslim friend with gentleness, respect and clarity.

Kwa Nini Msalaba Ni Mstari wa KugawanyaWhy the Cross Is the Dividing Line

Wakristo na Waislamu wanakubaliana juu ya mambo mengi kuhusu Yesu. Kama tulivyoona katika Sura ya 4, Kurani inamwita Masihi. Inafundisha kwamba alizaliwa na bikira, kwamba alifanya miujiza, na kwamba alichukuliwa kwenda kwa Mungu. Waislamu wengi wanampenda na kumheshimu Yesu kama nabii mkuu. Mambo haya wanayokubaliana ni ya kweli, na mchungaji mwenye hekima hufurahi kuanzia hapo.Christians and Muslims agree on many things about Jesus. As we saw in Unit 4, the Qur'an calls Him the Messiah. It teaches that He was born of a virgin, that He did miracles, and that He was taken up to God. Many Muslims love and honor Jesus as a great prophet. These points of agreement are real, and a wise pastor is glad to start from them.

Lakini kuhusu tukio moja, imani hizi mbili zimetengana sana: kifo cha Yesu msalabani. Kwa Wakristo, msalaba ndio moyo wa ujumbe. Paulo aliandika, "sisi tunamhubiri Kristo aliyesulibiwa" (1 Wakorintho 1:23). Kwa Waislamu wengi, kusulubiwa kwa Yesu hakukutokea kamwe. Hili si tofauti ndogo. Kama Yesu hakufa, hapakuwa na dhabihu kwa ajili ya dhambi, na kama hakufa, hakuweza kufufuka kutoka kwa wafu. Injili yote inategemea tukio hili.But on one event the two faiths stand far apart: the death of Jesus on the cross. For Christians, the cross is the heart of the message. Paul wrote, "we preach Christ crucified" (1 Corinthians 1:23). For most Muslims, the crucifixion of Jesus never happened at all. This is not a small difference. If Jesus did not die, there was no sacrifice for sin, and if He did not die, He could not rise from the dead. The whole gospel depends on this event.

Habari njema kwa mchungaji ni kwamba swali hili si la imani peke yake. Ni pia swali la historia. Tunaweza kuuliza mashahidi wa mwanzo walisema nini, waandishi waliokuwa adui walisema nini, na wanahistoria wa leo wanahitimisha nini. Katika swali hili ushahidi una nguvu sana. Katika sura hii kwanza tutaeleza kwa uangalifu kile Waislamu wanachoamini, kisha tutachunguza ushahidi, na mwishowe tutaonyesha kwa nini msalaba una umuhimu mkubwa hivyo.The good news for the pastor is that this question is not only a matter of belief. It is also a matter of history. We can ask what the earliest witnesses said, what hostile writers said, and what historians today conclude. On this question the evidence is very strong. In this unit we will first describe carefully what Muslims believe, then examine the evidence, and finally show why the cross matters so much.

Kurani Inasema NiniWhat the Qur'an Says

Kifungu muhimu ni Kurani 4:157-158. Sura ni sehemu au "kitabu" cha Kurani, na ayah ni mstari, kwa hiyo "4:157" inamaanisha sura ya 4, ayah ya 157. Sura ya 4 inaitwa al-Nisa, yaani "Wanawake." Katika kifungu hiki Kurani inawakosoa Wayahudi fulani wa zamani kwa kutokuamini kwao na kwa kujivunia kwamba walimuua Yesu.The key passage is Qur'an 4:157-158. A sura is a chapter of the Qur'an, and an ayah is a verse, so "4:157" means sura 4, ayah 157. Sura 4 is called al-Nisa, "The Women." In this passage the Qur'an criticizes certain Jews of the past for their unbelief and for boasting that they had killed Jesus.

Katika tafsiri ya Pickthall maneno muhimu ni: "hawakumuua wala hawakumsulubisha, bali ilionekana hivyo kwao" (Kurani 4:157). Mstari unaendelea kusema kwamba wale wanaobishana juu ya jambo hilo wana shaka na hufuata dhana tu, na kwamba kwa hakika hawakumuua. Mstari unaofuata unasema, "Bali Allah alimchukua kwake" (Kurani 4:158).In Pickthall's translation the key words are: "they slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them" (Qur'an 4:157). The verse goes on to say that those who disagree about it are in doubt and follow only conjecture, and that they surely did not kill him. The next verse says, "But Allah took him up unto Himself" (Qur'an 4:158).

Hiki ndicho kifungu pekee katika Kurani kinachosema moja kwa moja juu ya kusulubiwa. Ni kifupi, na hakielezi kwa kina kilichotokea. Maneno ya Kiarabu yanayotafsiriwa "ilionekana hivyo kwao" (shubbiha lahum) si rahisi kuyaelewa, na wanazuoni Waislamu wameyaeleza kwa njia tofauti. Aya nyingine mbili pia zinahusika katika mjadala huu. Katika Kurani 3:55 Mungu anamwambia Yesu kwamba atamchukua na kumwinua kwake. Katika Kurani 19:33 mtoto Yesu anasema juu ya amani siku aliyozaliwa, siku atakayokufa, na siku atakayofufuliwa akiwa hai. Waislamu kwa kawaida huelewa aya hizi kuwa zinasema juu ya kifo kitakachokuja baadaye, si msalabani.This is the only passage in the Qur'an that speaks directly of the crucifixion. It is short, and it does not explain what happened in detail. The Arabic phrase translated "it appeared so unto them" (shubbiha lahum) is not easy to understand, and Muslim scholars have explained it in different ways. Two other verses are also part of the discussion. In Qur'an 3:55 God says to Jesus that He will take him and raise him to Himself. In Qur'an 19:33 the infant Jesus speaks of peace on the day he was born, the day he dies, and the day he is raised alive. Muslims usually understand these verses to refer to a death that comes later, not on the cross.

Kwa Nini Waislamu Wanakataa KusulubiwaWhy Muslims Reject the Crucifixion

Inasaidia kuelewa kwa nini msalaba ni mgumu kwa Mwislamu kuukubali. Sababu hizo ni za dhati, na zinatoka katika imani za kina juu ya Mungu.It helps to understand why the cross is hard for a Muslim to accept. The reasons are sincere, and they come from deep convictions about God.

• Mungu huwalinda na kuwatetea manabii wake. Waislamu wengi wanaamini Mungu hangeruhusu nabii mkuu kama Yesu kufa kifo cha aibu mikononi mwa adui zake.• God protects and vindicates His prophets. Many Muslims believe God would never allow a great prophet like Jesus to die a shameful death at the hands of his enemies.

• Kila mtu hubeba dhambi zake mwenyewe. Kurani inafundisha kwamba hakuna nafsi inayobeba mzigo wa nafsi nyingine (kwa mfano Kurani 6:164 na 35:18). Wazo kwamba mtu mmoja anaweza kufa kwa ajili ya dhambi za wengine linaonekana si la haki.• Each person carries his own sins. The Qur'an teaches that no soul bears the burden of another (for example Qur'an 6:164 and 35:18). The idea that one person could die for the sins of others seems unjust.

• Mungu husamehe amtakaye. Katika Uislamu Mungu ni mwenye rehema na anaweza kusamehe bila dhabihu yoyote, kwa hiyo msalaba unaonekana si wa lazima.• God forgives whom He wills. In Islam God is merciful and can forgive without any sacrifice, so the cross seems unnecessary.

• Kurani ndilo neno la mwisho. Kwa Mwislamu, Kurani ni usemi wa moja kwa moja wa Mungu, kwa hiyo ikisema Yesu hakusulubiwa, jambo hilo limekwisha.• The Qur'an is the final word. For a Muslim, the Qur'an is the direct speech of God, so if it says Jesus was not crucified, that settles the matter.

Angalia kwamba sababu hizi kwa kiasi kikubwa ni za kitheolojia, si za kihistoria. Msimamo wa Waislamu haukutokana na ushahidi mpya kuhusu Yerusalemu ya karne ya kwanza. Unatokana na Kurani, iliyotolewa Arabia miaka mia sita hivi baada ya tukio hilo.Notice that these are mostly theological reasons, not historical ones. The Muslim view did not arise from new evidence about first-century Jerusalem. It arises from the Qur'an, given in Arabia about six hundred years after the event.

Maelezo ya Waislamu Juu ya KilichotokeaMuslim Explanations of What Happened

Kama Yesu hakusulubiwa, basi umati pale Golgotha uliona nini? Waislamu wametoa majibu kadhaa. Ni muhimu kuyajua, kwa sababu rafiki yako Mwislamu kwa kawaida atashikilia mojawapo.If Jesus was not crucified, then what did the crowd at Golgotha see? Muslims have given several answers. It is important to know them, because a Muslim friend will usually hold one of them.

Nadharia ya Kuwekwa Mtu Mwingine Mahali pa YesuThe Substitution Theory

Msimamo wa kimapokeo ulioenea zaidi ni nadharia ya kuwekwa mtu mwingine mahali pa Yesu. Inasema kwamba Mungu alimfanya mtu mwingine afanane kabisa na Yesu, na mtu huyo akasulubiwa badala yake, huku Yesu mwenyewe akichukuliwa hai kwenda mbinguni. Mfasiri mkuu al-Tabari (alifariki mwaka 923 B.K.) alikusanya ripoti kadhaa kuhusu mtu huyo mbadala alikuwa nani. Wengine wanasema alikuwa mwanafunzi aliyejitolea. Wengine wanasema alikuwa Yuda, kama adhabu ya usaliti wake. Majina mengine pia yamependekezwa. Kurani yenyewe haimtaji mtu yeyote. Waislamu wengi wa Kisunni na wa Kishia wanashikilia namna fulani ya msimamo huu, na wengi wanatarajia Yesu kurudi duniani kabla ya Siku ya Mwisho.The most common traditional view is the substitution theory. It says that God made another man look exactly like Jesus, and that this man was crucified in His place, while Jesus Himself was taken up alive into heaven. The great commentator al-Tabari (died AD 923) collected several reports about who the substitute was. Some say it was a disciple who volunteered. Others say it was Judas, as a punishment for his betrayal. Other names have also been suggested. The Qur'an itself does not name anyone. Most Sunni and Shia Muslims hold some form of this view, and many expect Jesus to return to earth before the Last Day.

Nadharia ya KuzimiaThe Swoon Theory

Msimamo wa pili unasema kwamba Yesu kweli alipigiliwa misumari msalabani lakini hakufa huko. Alizimia, au "alizirai," akashushwa akiwa hai. Baadaye alipona. Msimamo huu unafundishwa na harakati ya Ahmadiyya, iliyoanzishwa na Mirza Ghulam Ahmad huko India mwishoni mwa miaka ya 1800. Waahmadi wanafundisha kwamba Yesu alinusurika, akasafiri kuelekea mashariki, na akafa miaka mingi baadaye huko Kashmir. Waislamu wengine wengi wanaiona Ahmadiyya kuwa nje ya Uislamu wa kawaida, lakini wazo la kuzimia lilienea sana kupitia midahalo ya hadharani, hasa kupitia mzungumzaji wa Afrika Kusini, Ahmed Deedat, aliyelitumia mara nyingi dhidi ya Wakristo.A second view says that Jesus was really nailed to the cross but did not die there. He fainted, or "swooned," and was taken down alive. Later He recovered. This view is taught by the Ahmadiyya movement, founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in India in the late 1800s. Ahmadis teach that Jesus survived, travelled east, and died much later in Kashmir. Most other Muslims regard the Ahmadiyya as outside mainstream Islam, but the swoon idea spread widely through popular debates, especially through the South African speaker Ahmed Deedat, who used it often against Christians.

Maoni MengineOther Views

Idadi ndogo ya waandishi Waislamu wa kisasa wanasoma Kurani 4:157 kwa njia nyingine. Wanasema aya hiyo inakana tu kwamba Wayahudi ndio waliokuwa chanzo halisi cha kifo cha Yesu, kwa sababu Mungu peke yake ndiye huamua mtu atakufa lini. Kwa mtazamo huu, huenda Yesu kweli alikufa msalabani. Huu ni msimamo wa wachache, na usidhani kwamba rafiki yako Mwislamu anaushikilia. Njia ya busara ni kuuliza, "Unaamini nini kilimtokea Yesu?" kisha kusikiliza kabla ya kujibu.A smaller number of modern Muslim writers read Qur'an 4:157 another way. They say the verse only denies that the Jews were the real cause of Jesus' death, because God alone decides when a person dies. On this reading, Jesus might really have died on the cross. This is a minority view, and you should not assume your Muslim friend holds it. The wise approach is to ask, "What do you believe happened to Jesus?" and to listen before you answer.

Ushahidi wa Kihistoria wa KusulubiwaThe Historical Evidence for the Crucifixion

Sasa tunageukia ushahidi. Wanahistoria hujaribu kujua kilichotokea kwa kuangalia vyanzo vya mwanzo kabisa, hasa vyanzo vilivyo karibu na wakati na mahali pa tukio. Hutoa uzito zaidi kwa mambo yanayoripotiwa na vyanzo kadhaa vinavyojitegemea, na kwa mambo yanayoripotiwa hata na maadui. Kusulubiwa kwa Yesu kunakidhi vipimo hivi vyote.Now we turn to the evidence. Historians try to find out what happened by looking at the earliest sources, especially sources close to the time and place of the event. They give extra weight to facts reported by several independent sources, and to facts reported even by enemies. The crucifixion of Jesus meets all of these tests.

Injili NneThe Four Gospels

Injili zote nne zinaeleza kusulubiwa kwa undani: Mathayo 27, Marko 15, Luka 23 na Yohana 19. Zinamtaja gavana wa Kirumi, Pontio Pilato. Zinataja mahali, Golgotha, nje ya Yerusalemu. Zinaweka tukio hilo wakati wa sikukuu ya Pasaka. Zinawataja watu waliokuwepo, kama Simoni Mkirene, Maria Magdalene na Yosefu wa Arimathaya. Injili ziliandikwa wakati ambapo bado walikuwepo watu waliokuwa wameona mambo haya, na zilienezwa katika ulimwengu ambamo wengi wangeweza kuyahakiki.All four Gospels describe the crucifixion in detail: Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23 and John 19. They name the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. They name the place, Golgotha, outside Jerusalem. They set the event at the time of the Passover feast. They name people who were there, such as Simon of Cyrene, Mary Magdalene and Joseph of Arimathea. The Gospels were written within the lifetime of people who had seen these things, and they were spread in a world where many could check them.

Injili pia zinaonyesha kwamba Yesu alitabiri kifo chake mara nyingi. Katika Marko 8:31, 9:31 na 10:33-34 anawaambia wanafunzi wake kwamba Mwana wa Adamu atatiwa mikononi mwa watu, atauawa, na atafufuka baada ya siku tatu. Alisema juu ya uhai wake, "Hakuna aniondoleaye uhai wangu, bali nauweka mimi mwenyewe" (Yohana 10:18). Kama nadharia ya mtu mwingine kuwekwa mahali pake ingekuwa kweli, utabiri wa Yesu mwenyewe, aliorudia mara nyingi, ungekuwa umekosea.The Gospels also show that Jesus predicted His death many times. In Mark 8:31, 9:31 and 10:33-34 He tells His disciples that the Son of Man will be handed over, killed, and raised after three days. He said of His life, "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself" (John 10:18). If the substitution theory were true, Jesus' own repeated predictions would have been wrong.

Barua za PauloThe Letters of Paul

Barua za Paulo ni miongoni mwa maandishi ya Kikristo ya mwanzo kabisa. Wanazuoni wengi, wakiwemo wenye mashaka, wanaweka tarehe ya barua kama Wagalatia, 1 Wathesalonike na 1 Wakorintho katika miaka ya 50 B.K., yapata miaka ishirini tu baada ya kusulubiwa. Paulo anasema juu ya msalaba tena na tena. Anawakumbusha Wakorintho ujumbe aliopokea na kuupitisha: "kwamba Kristo alikufa kwa ajili ya dhambi zetu, sawasawa na maandiko" (1 Wakorintho 15:3). Kifungu hicho ni kanuni ya imani ya mwanzo ambayo Paulo alipokea kutoka kwa wengine, kwa hiyo ni cha zamani zaidi hata kuliko barua yenyewe. Tutakichunguza kwa karibu katika Sura ya 7.Paul's letters are among the earliest Christian writings. Most scholars, including sceptics, date letters such as Galatians, 1 Thessalonians and 1 Corinthians to the AD 50s, only about twenty years after the crucifixion. Paul speaks of the cross again and again. He reminds the Corinthians of the message he received and passed on: "that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3). That passage is an early creed that Paul received from others, so it is even older than the letter itself. We will study it closely in Unit 7.

Paulo pia anaandika, "Lakini mimi hasha, nisijisifu, ila katika msalaba wa Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo" (Wagalatia 6:14). Aliwajua Petro na Yakobo, ndugu yake Yesu, binafsi (Wagalatia 1:18-19). Alikuwa akiandikia makanisa yaliyojumuisha watu waliojua matukio hayo kwa macho yao wenyewe. Mahubiri yaliyomo katika kitabu cha Matendo yanadai jambo hilo hilo tangu siku za kwanza kabisa za kanisa (Matendo 2:23, 36).Paul also writes, "God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Galatians 6:14). He knew Peter and James, the brother of Jesus, personally (Galatians 1:18-19). He was writing to churches that included people who had known the events firsthand. The sermons in the book of Acts make the same claim from the very first days of the church (Acts 2:23, 36).

Vyanzo Visivyo vya KikristoNon-Christian Sources

Waandishi ambao hawakuwa Wakristo pia wanataja kifo cha Yesu.Writers who were not Christians also mention the death of Jesus.

• Tacitus, mwanahistoria Mrumi, aliandika Annals yake yapata mwaka 116 B.K. Akielezea moto wa Roma chini ya Nero, anaeleza kwamba Wakristo walichukua jina lao kutoka kwa Christus, aliyeteswa hadi kifo chini ya Tiberio kwa mkono wa gavana Pontio Pilato (Annals 15.44). Tacitus hakuwapenda Wakristo hata kidogo, jambo linalofanya ushuhuda wake kuwa wa thamani zaidi.• Tacitus, a Roman historian, wrote his Annals around AD 116. In describing the fire of Rome under Nero, he explains that the Christians took their name from Christus, who had suffered the death penalty under Tiberius at the hands of the governor Pontius Pilate (Annals 15.44). Tacitus did not like Christians at all, which makes his testimony more valuable.

• Yosefo, mwanahistoria Myahudi, aliandika Antiquities of the Jews yake yapata mwaka 93 B.K. Katika kifungu kinachomhusu Yesu (Antiquities 18.63-64), anasema kwamba Pilato alimhukumu msalabani. Wanazuoni wengi wanaamini kwamba baadhi ya maneno katika kifungu hiki yaliongezwa baadaye na waandishi wa nakala Wakristo, lakini pia wanaamini kwamba kiini cha kifungu, pamoja na kusulubiwa chini ya Pilato, kinatoka kwa Yosefo mwenyewe.• Josephus, a Jewish historian, wrote his Antiquities of the Jews around AD 93. In a passage about Jesus (Antiquities 18.63-64), he says that Pilate condemned Him to the cross. Most scholars believe some words in this passage were added later by Christian copyists, but they also believe that the core of the passage, including the crucifixion under Pilate, comes from Josephus himself.

• Mwandishi Mgiriki Lucian wa Samosata, katika karne ya pili, aliwadhihaki Wakristo kwa kumwabudu mtu aliyesulubiwa Palestina.• The Greek writer Lucian of Samosata, in the second century, mocked Christians for worshipping a man who was crucified in Palestine.

• Mapokeo ya Kiyahudi ya baadaye katika Talmud ya Babeli yanasema kwamba Yesu alitundikwa usiku wa kuamkia Pasaka, njia ya kawaida ya kuelezea kusulubiwa.• A later Jewish tradition in the Babylonian Talmud says that Jesus was "hanged" on the eve of Passover, a common way of describing crucifixion.

Hakuna kati ya waandishi hawa aliyekuwa na sababu ya kusaidia upande wa Wakristo. Hata hivyo wanakubaliana juu ya jambo la msingi: Yesu aliuawa chini ya Pontio Pilato.None of these writers had any reason to help the Christian cause. Yet they agree on the basic fact: Jesus was executed under Pontius Pilate.

Wanahistoria Wanahitimisha NiniWhat Historians Conclude

Kwa sababu ya ushahidi huu, kusulubiwa ni mojawapo ya mambo kuhusu Yesu ambayo karibu wanahistoria wote wanayakubali, wawe waumini au la. Bart Ehrman, mwanazuoni maarufu mwenye mashaka asiyeamini ufufuo, bado anasema kwamba kusulubiwa kwa Yesu chini ya Pilato ni mojawapo ya mambo yaliyo hakika zaidi tunayoyajua kumhusu. John Dominic Crossan, mwanazuoni mwingine aliye mbali na imani ya Kiinjili, alisema kwamba kusulubiwa ni jambo la hakika kama ukweli wowote wa kihistoria unavyoweza kuwa.Because of this evidence, the crucifixion is one of the facts about Jesus that nearly all historians accept, whether they are believers or not. Bart Ehrman, a well-known sceptical scholar who does not believe in the resurrection, still argues that the crucifixion of Jesus under Pilate is one of the most certain facts we have about Him. John Dominic Crossan, another scholar far from evangelical belief, said that the crucifixion is as sure as any historical fact can be.

Kuna sababu nyingine moja zaidi ya wanahistoria kuamini jambo hili. Masihi aliyesulubiwa alikuwa aibu. Kwa Wayahudi, mtu aliyetundikwa mtini alikuwa chini ya laana ya Mungu (Kumbukumbu la Torati 21:23). Kwa Warumi, kusulubiwa ulikuwa kifo cha watumwa na waasi. Paulo anakubali kwamba msalaba ulikuwa "kikwazo" na "upumbavu" kwa wengi (1 Wakorintho 1:23). Hakuna mtu wa karne ya kwanza ambaye angebuni Mwokozi aliyesulubiwa. Wakristo wa mwanzo walilihubiri kwa sababu lilikuwa kweli.There is one more reason historians trust this fact. A crucified Messiah was an embarrassment. To Jews, a man hanged on a tree was under God's curse (Deuteronomy 21:23). To Romans, crucifixion was the death of slaves and rebels. Paul admits that the cross was "a stumbling block" and "foolishness" to many (1 Corinthians 1:23). No one in the first century would invent a crucified Savior. The early Christians preached it because it was true.

Linganisha hili na maelezo ya Kurani. Kurani 4:157 ilikuja miaka mia sita hivi baada ya tukio, Arabia, mbali na Yerusalemu. Haidai kutegemea shahidi yeyote wa macho wala chanzo chochote cha maandishi cha awali. Mwanahistoria lazima apendelee ushuhuda wa vyanzo vingi vya mwanzo, vya kirafiki na vya kiadui, kuliko kauli moja ya baadaye. Mwislamu anaiamini Kurani kwa sababu anaamini ni neno la Mungu, si kwa sababu ushahidi wa kihistoria unaunga mkono jambo hili.Compare this with the Qur'an's account. Qur'an 4:157 came about six hundred years after the event, in Arabia, far from Jerusalem. It does not claim to rest on any eyewitness or earlier written source. A historian must prefer the testimony of many early sources, friendly and hostile, over a single late statement. A Muslim believes the Qur'an because he believes it is God's word, not because the historical evidence supports it on this point.

Kujibu Maelezo ya WaislamuAnswering the Muslim Explanations

Tukiwa na ushahidi mkononi, tunaweza kujibu nadharia hizo mbili kuu kwa upole lakini kwa uwazi.With the evidence in hand, we can answer the two main theories gently but clearly.

Kujibu Nadharia ya Kuwekwa Mtu MwingineAnswering the Substitution Theory

Kwanza, nadharia hii inamfanya Mungu awajibike kwa udanganyifu mkubwa. Kama Mungu alimfanya mtu mwingine afanane na Yesu, basi aliwadanganya askari, umati, mama yake Yesu, wanawake waliokuwa msalabani na mitume. Ukristo ungekuwa umeanza kwa sababu Mungu aliwadanganya wanafunzi. Hilo halilingani na Mungu aliye wa kweli na achukiaye uongo. Unaweza kumwuliza rafiki yako kwa heshima, "Je, Mungu angewadanganya wafuasi waaminifu zaidi wa nabii wake mwenyewe?"First, the substitution theory makes God responsible for a great deception. If God made another man look like Jesus, then He deceived the soldiers, the crowds, the mother of Jesus, the women at the cross and the apostles. Christianity would then have begun because God fooled the disciples. That does not fit the God who is true and who hates falsehood. You can ask your friend respectfully, "Would God deceive the most faithful followers of His own prophet?"

Pili, nadharia hii inapingana na Yesu mwenyewe. Kama tulivyoona, Yesu alitabiri kifo chake mara kwa mara. Msalabani alisema maneno ya msamaha na ya kumwamini Baba (Luka 23:34, 46). Mtu mbadala aliyekuwa Yuda au mgeni asingeweza kusema hivyo.Second, the theory contradicts Jesus Himself. As we saw, Jesus predicted His death again and again. On the cross He spoke words of forgiveness and of trust in the Father (Luke 23:34, 46). A substitute who was Judas or a stranger could not have spoken in this way.

Tatu, angalia maneno "ilionekana hivyo kwao" yanakiri nini. Hata Kurani inakubali kwamba kwa kila aliyekuwepo ilionekana kana kwamba Yesu amesulubiwa. Kwa maneno mengine, mashahidi wa macho waliona kusulubiwa kwa Yesu. Swali basi ni kama tunaamini walichokiona na kukiripoti mashahidi, au kauli iliyoandikwa karne sita baadaye inayosema macho yao yalidanganywa.Third, notice what the phrase "it appeared so unto them" admits. Even the Qur'an grants that to everyone present it looked like Jesus was crucified. In other words, the eyewitnesses saw a crucifixion of Jesus. The question then is whether we trust what the witnesses saw and reported, or a statement written six centuries later that says their eyes were deceived.

Kujibu Nadharia ya KuzimiaAnswering the Swoon Theory

Nadharia ya kuzimia inapingana na tunachojua kuhusu kusulubiwa kwa Kirumi. Askari wa Kirumi walikuwa wauaji wenye ustadi. Yesu alichapwa viboko kabla ya kusulubiwa, kipigo ambacho mara nyingi kiliwaua watu peke yake. Alipigiliwa msalabani na akaning'inia pale kwa saa nyingi. Yohana anaripoti kwamba askari "alimchoma ubavuni kwa mkuki, mara ikatoka damu na maji" (Yohana 19:34). Pilato hata alihakikisha kwa akida kwamba Yesu amekwisha kufa kabla ya kumpa Yosefu mwili wake (Marko 15:44-45).The swoon theory runs against what we know about Roman crucifixion. The Roman soldiers were skilled executioners. Jesus was flogged before the crucifixion, a beating that often killed men by itself. He was nailed to the cross and hung there for hours. John reports that a soldier "pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out" (John 19:34). Pilate even checked with the centurion that Jesus was already dead before giving the body to Joseph (Mark 15:44-45).

Hata kama mtu angenusurika yote hayo kwa njia fulani, angekuwa dhaifu sana na mwenye majeraha makubwa. Mtu wa hali hiyo, anayehitaji matibabu, asingeweza kamwe kuwashawishi wanafunzi wake kwamba ameshinda kifo na amefufuka kwa utukufu. Mwenye mashaka wa karne ya kumi na tisa David Strauss, ambaye hakuamini ufufuo, alitoa hoja hiyo hiyo dhidi ya nadharia ya kuzimia. Nadharia ya kuzimia haielezi kifo wala imani ya wanafunzi. Qureshi, aliyelelewa katika familia ya Kiahmadi iliyofundisha kwamba Yesu alinusurika msalabani, alilichunguza swali hili kwa makini; tazama No God but One: Allah or Jesus? (2016).Even if a man had somehow survived all this, he would have been terribly weak and wounded. A man in that state, needing medical care, could never have convinced his disciples that he had conquered death and risen in glory. The nineteenth-century sceptic David Strauss, who did not believe in the resurrection, made exactly this point against the swoon theory. The swoon theory explains neither the death nor the faith of the disciples. Qureshi, raised in an Ahmadi family that taught Jesus survived the cross, examined this question closely; see No God but One: Allah or Jesus? (2016).

Hadithi ya Nabeel QureshiThe Story of Nabeel Qureshi

Nabeel Qureshi (1983-2017) alikulia Marekani katika familia ya Kiislamu ya Ahmadiyya yenye bidii, ya asili ya Pakistani. Kwa sababu Waahmadi wanafundisha nadharia ya kuzimia, swali hili liligusa moja kwa moja malezi yake mwenyewe. Akiwa mwanafunzi katika Chuo Kikuu cha Old Dominion alikutana na Mkristo, David Wood, na wawili hao wakaanza miaka mingi ya mabishano ya kirafiki. Qureshi alichunguza hoja ya kihistoria kuhusu kusulubiwa, ufufuo na uungu wa Kristo. Alisema kwamba kusulubiwa ni mojawapo ya mambo yaliyothibitishwa vizuri zaidi katika historia ya zamani, na akaona kwamba hangeweza kulikana kwa unyofu.Nabeel Qureshi (1983-2017) grew up in the United States in a devout Ahmadi Muslim family of Pakistani background. Because Ahmadis teach the swoon theory, this question touched his own upbringing directly. As a student at Old Dominion University he met a Christian, David Wood, and the two began years of friendly debate. Qureshi studied the historical case for the crucifixion, the resurrection and the deity of Christ. He argued that the crucifixion is one of the best-attested facts of ancient history, and he came to see that he could not deny it honestly.

Aliomba Mungu amwonyeshe ukweli, na yapata mwaka 2005 akawa mfuasi wa Yesu, kwa gharama kubwa ya uhusiano wake na familia yake. Alikuwa daktari wa tiba, na baadaye mzungumzaji na mwandishi. Alikufa kwa saratani ya tumbo mwaka 2017 akiwa na umri wa miaka 34. Kitabu chake Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus (2014) kinapendekezwa kusomwa katika kozi hii. Hadithi yake inaonyesha kwamba uchunguzi wa unyofu juu ya msalaba unaweza kufungua mlango wa imani.He prayed for God to show him the truth, and around 2005 he became a follower of Jesus, at great personal cost in his relationship with his family. He became a medical doctor and later a speaker and author. He died of stomach cancer in 2017 at age 34. His book Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus (2014) is recommended reading for this course. His story shows that honest study of the cross can open a door to faith.

Mfalme wa Amani Alichagua MsalabaThe Prince of Peace Chose the Cross

Kifo cha Yesu kilikuwa zaidi ya mwisho wa msiba wa kisiasa. Katika Injili kinaonyesha jinsi alivyochagua kutekeleza utume wake. Hakuongoza jeshi kuingia Yerusalemu ili kuwalazimisha watu wakubali yeye ni nani. Wakati wa kukamatwa kwake, mmoja wa wafuasi wake alipopiga kwa upanga, Yesu alisema, "Rudisha upanga wako mahali pake" (Mathayo 26:52). Mbele ya Pilato alisema, "Ufalme wangu ungekuwa wa ulimwengu huu, watumishi wangu wangepigana" (Yohana 18:36). Aliwafundisha wanafunzi wake kuwapenda adui zao na kuwaombea wanaowaudhi (Mathayo 5:44). Kisha aliteswa mikononi mwa adui zake badala ya kuwalazimisha kumwabudu.Jesus' death was more than the end of a political tragedy. In the Gospels it shows how He chose to carry out His mission. He did not lead an army into Jerusalem to force people to accept who He was. At His arrest, when one of His followers struck with a sword, Jesus said, "Put your sword in its place" (Matthew 26:52, NKJV). Before Pilate He said, "If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight" (John 18:36, NKJV). He had taught His disciples to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44). Then He suffered at the hands of His enemies rather than forcing them to worship Him.

Jina la Isaya "Mfalme wa Amani" (Isaya 9:6) si kisingizio cha kupuuza vifungu vigumu au maswali magumu kuhusu haki katika jamii. Linaliambia kanisa mahali pa kutazama ili kuona tabia ya utawala wa Kristo wa kuokoa. Msalaba wake, agizo lake la kuyafundisha mataifa, na ahadi yake kwamba "kweli itawaweka huru" (Yohana 8:32) vinakwenda pamoja. Hatumpimi Kristo kwa vita vya Wakristo wa baadaye, kama vile hatupaswi kudhani kwamba kila jambo walilofanya watawala Waislamu wa baadaye liliamriwa na Muhammad.Isaiah's title "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6) is not an excuse to ignore hard passages or hard questions about justice in society. It tells the church where to look to see the character of Christ's saving rule. His cross, His command to teach the nations, and His promise that "the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32) belong together. We do not measure Christ by the wars of later Christians, just as we should not assume that everything later Muslim rulers did was commanded by Muhammad.

Hii inaongeza makali ya ulinganisho tuliofanya kwa mara ya kwanza katika Sura ya 2. Katika mapokeo ya Kiislamu, Muhammad alikuwa kiongozi wa dini aliyeshika pia mamlaka ya kisiasa, ya kisheria na ya kijeshi. Huduma ya hadharani ya Yesu haikuwa kampeni ya ushindi wa kijeshi. Yote mawili yanapaswa kuelezwa kwa unyofu. Hitimisho la Kikristo ni kwamba msalaba haukuwa jambo lililompata Yesu tu; katika Injili ni sehemu ya kusudi lake la kujitoa kwa ajili ya wengine (Marko 10:45; Yohana 10:18).This sharpens a comparison we first made in Unit 2. In Islamic tradition, Muhammad was a religious leader who also held political, legal and military power. Jesus' public ministry was not a campaign of military conquest. Both must be described honestly. The Christian conclusion is that the cross was not simply something that happened to Jesus; in the Gospels it is part of His purpose to give Himself for others (Mark 10:45; John 10:18).

Kwa Nini Msalaba Ni KiiniWhy the Cross Is Central

Kusulubiwa si ukweli wa kihistoria tu. Ni kiini cha mpango wa Mungu wa wokovu. Mchungaji lazima aweze kueleza si tu kwamba Yesu alikufa, bali pia kwa nini.The crucifixion is not only a fact of history. It is the center of God's plan of salvation. A pastor must be able to explain not only that Jesus died, but why.

Msalaba UlitabiriwaThe Cross Was Foretold

Manabii walisema juu ya mtumishi anayeteseka. Isaya aliandika, "Lakini alijeruhiwa kwa makosa yetu, alichubuliwa kwa maovu yetu" (Isaya 53:5). Katika Zaburi 22, ambayo maneno yake ya kwanza Yesu aliyapaza msalabani (Mathayo 27:46), Daudi pia aliandika, "Wamenitoboa mikono na miguu" (Zaburi 22:16). Waislamu huwaheshimu manabii wa zamani, kwa hiyo inasaidia kuonyesha kwamba msalaba haukuwa ajali. Ulikuwa kusudi la Mungu, lililotangazwa zamani sana.The prophets spoke of a suffering servant. Isaiah wrote, "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities" (Isaiah 53:5). In Psalm 22, whose opening words Jesus cried out on the cross (Matthew 27:46), David also wrote, "They pierced My hands and My feet" (Psalm 22:16). Muslims honor the earlier prophets, so it is helpful to show that the cross was not an accident. It was God's purpose, announced long before.

Msalaba Ulikuwa Kusudi la YesuThe Cross Was Jesus' Purpose

Yesu alisema, "Kwa maana Mwana wa Adamu naye hakuja kutumikiwa, bali kutumika, na kutoa nafsi yake iwe fidia ya wengi" (Marko 10:45). Yohana Mbatizaji alimwita "Mwana-Kondoo wa Mungu, aichukuaye dhambi ya ulimwengu" (Yohana 1:29). Yesu hakufa kama mwathirika asiye na msaada. Alitoa uhai wake kwa hiari kwa ajili ya wengine.Jesus said, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). John the Baptist called Him "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Jesus did not die as a helpless victim. He gave His life willingly for others.

Msalaba Unaonyesha Haki na RehemaThe Cross Shows Both Justice and Mercy

Pingamizi la Waislamu kwamba Mungu husamehe tu amtakaye linaibua swali la kweli: Mungu mwenye haki anawezaje kusamehe dhambi bila kuishughulikia? Katika Biblia, dhambi ni nzito, na "pasipo kumwagika damu hakuna ondoleo la dhambi" (Waebrania 9:22). Msalabani Mungu hakupuuza dhambi. Aliiadhibu katika Mwanawe, aliyechukua mahali petu. Kwa njia hii Mungu ni mwenye haki na pia ndiye anayewahesabia haki wanaomwamini Yesu (Warumi 3:26). Hii pia inajibu pingamizi kwamba hakuna awezaye kubeba mzigo wa mwingine. Yesu hakuwa mtu wa tatu asiyependa. Ni Mwana aliyetoka kwa Baba na akachukua mzigo wetu kwa hiari.The Muslim objection that God simply forgives whom He wills raises a real question: how can a just God forgive sin without dealing with it? In the Bible, sin is serious, and "without shedding of blood there is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22). At the cross God did not ignore sin. He punished it in the person of His Son, who took our place. In this way God is both just and the one who justifies those who believe in Jesus (Romans 3:26). This also answers the objection that no one can bear another's burden. Jesus was not an unwilling third person. He is the Son who came from the Father and freely took our burden.

Hapa kuna daraja la msaada. Kila mwaka Waislamu huadhimisha Eid al-Adha, Sikukuu ya Dhabihu, wakikumbuka jinsi Mungu alivyotoa kondoo dume badala ya mwana wa Ibrahimu. Kurani inasema, "Tukamkomboa kwa dhabihu kuu" (Kurani 37:107). Unaweza kumwuliza rafiki yako fidia hiyo ilikuwa inaelekeza kwa nini. Wakristo wanaamini ilikuwa inaelekeza mbele kwa Yesu, Mwana-Kondoo aliyetolewa na Mungu.There is a helpful bridge here. Every year Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, remembering how God provided a ram in place of Abraham's son. The Qur'an says, "Then We ransomed him with a tremendous victim" (Qur'an 37:107). You can ask your friend what that ransom pointed to. Christians believe it pointed ahead to Jesus, the Lamb provided by God.

Msalaba Unaonyesha Upendo wa Mungu na Kutupa UhakikaThe Cross Shows God's Love and Gives Assurance

Zaidi ya yote, msalaba unaonyesha upendo wa Mungu. "Mungu aonyesha pendo lake yeye mwenyewe kwetu sisi, kwa kuwa Kristo alikufa kwa ajili yetu, tulipokuwa tungali wenye dhambi" (Warumi 5:8). Waislamu wengi huishi na kutokuwa na uhakika, wakitumaini kwamba matendo yao mema yatazidi matendo yao mabaya katika Siku ya Hukumu. Msalaba unatoa kitu tofauti: msamaha unaotegemea alichofanya Kristo, si tunachofanya sisi. Na msalaba si kushindwa. Mungu alimtetea Yesu kwa kumfufua kutoka kwa wafu na kumtukuza (Wafilipi 2:8-9), tutakayojifunza katika Sura ya 7.Above all, the cross shows God's love. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Many Muslims live with uncertainty, hoping their good deeds will outweigh their bad deeds on the Day of Judgment. The cross offers something different: forgiveness that rests on what Christ has done, not on what we do. And the cross is not defeat. God vindicated Jesus by raising Him from the dead and exalting Him (Philippians 2:8-9), which we will study in Unit 7.

Lengo la mchungaji si kupata ushindi dhidi ya Muhammad, bali kueleza kwa nini Kristo aliyesulubiwa ndiye kiini cha injili. Yesu alitoa uhai wake kwa hiari, na hakujaribu kuwalazimisha wengine wamkubali. Ushahidi wa kihistoria wa kusulubiwa ni muhimu kwa sababu ujumbe wa Kikristo unategemea kifo cha kweli na ufufuo wa kweli, si ishara ya kimaadili tu.The pastor's aim is not to score a point against Muhammad but to explain why the crucified Christ is the center of the gospel. Jesus gave His life willingly, and He made no attempt to force others to recognize Him. The historical evidence for the crucifixion matters because the Christian message depends on a real death and a real resurrection, not only on a moral symbol.

Kuzungumza Juu ya Msalaba na WaislamuSpeaking About the Cross with Muslims

Mchungaji aletaje ukweli huu katika mazungumzo? Hapa kuna miongozo ya vitendo.How should a pastor bring these truths into a conversation? Here are some practical guidelines.

• Anza kwa kukubaliana. Mshukuru rafiki yako kwa kumheshimu Yesu kama Masihi, na useme kwamba unataka kuelewa mtazamo wake.• Begin with agreement. Thank your friend for honoring Jesus as the Messiah, and say that you want to understand his view.

• Uliza maswali kabla ya kubishana. "Unaamini nini kilitokea Golgotha?" "Kwa nini Mungu amfanye mtu afanane na Yesu?"• Ask questions before you argue. "What do you believe happened at Golgotha?" "Why would God make someone look like Jesus?"

• Shiriki ushahidi kwa urahisi: Injili nne, barua za mwanzo za Paulo, na waandishi adui kama Tacitus na Yosefo.• Share the evidence simply: four Gospels, Paul's early letters, and hostile writers such as Tacitus and Josephus.

• Eleza kwa nini msalaba unakuhusu wewe binafsi: dhambi zako zimesamehewa na una amani na Mungu.• Explain why the cross matters to you personally: your sins forgiven and your peace with God.

• Mwalike rafiki yako asome mwenyewe maelezo ya Injili ya kusulubiwa, kama Luka 23.• Invite your friend to read a Gospel account of the crucifixion, such as Luke 23, for himself.

• Kamwe usiidhihaki Kurani wala Mtume wa Uislamu. Sema kwa upole na hofu, kama 1 Petro 3:15 inavyofundisha.• Never mock the Qur'an or the Prophet of Islam. Speak with meekness and fear, as 1 Peter 3:15 teaches.

• Kuwa na hekima kuhusu usalama. Mahali pengine mdahalo wa hadharani huleta hatari kwako au kwa rafiki yako. Mazungumzo ya utulivu na ya faragha mara nyingi ni bora zaidi.• Be wise about safety. In some places public debate brings danger to you or to your friend. A quiet, private conversation is often better.

Fikiria mchungaji katika mji wenye watu wa dini mbalimbali ambaye jirani yake Mwislamu anamwuliza kwa nini Wakristo huvaa msalaba, alama ya aibu. Anaweza kujibu, "Kwa sababu juu ya msalaba huo Yesu alibeba aibu yangu, ili nisamehewe." Jirani huyo huenda asikubali siku hiyo, lakini anaweza kuendelea kuuliza maswali kwa miezi mingi. Msalaba, ukielezwa kwa upendo, mara nyingi huzungumza kwa undani zaidi kuliko hoja yoyote.Picture a pastor in a mixed town whose Muslim neighbor asks him why Christians wear a cross, the sign of shame. He might answer, "Because on that cross Jesus carried my shame, so that I could be forgiven." The neighbor may not agree that day, but he may keep asking questions for many months. The cross, explained with love, often speaks more deeply than any argument.

MuhtasariSummary

Kurani 4:157 inasema kwamba Yesu hakuuawa wala kusulubiwa, bali ilifanywa ionekane hivyo. Waislamu wengi wanaeleza hili kwa nadharia ya kuwekwa mtu mwingine, ambamo mtu mwingine alifanywa afanane na Yesu. Ahmadiyya na wanamidahalo maarufu kama Ahmed Deedat walifundisha nadharia ya kuzimia, ambamo Yesu alinusurika msalabani. Dhidi ya zote mbili kunasimama ushahidi imara wa kihistoria: Injili zote nne, barua za mwanzo za Paulo, kanuni ya imani ya mwanzo ya 1 Wakorintho 15:3, na waandishi wasio Wakristo kama Tacitus na Yosefo. Hata wanazuoni wenye mashaka kama Bart Ehrman wanakubali kusulubiwa kuwa jambo la hakika. Nadharia ya kuwekwa mtu mwingine inamfanya Mungu kuwa mdanganyifu na inapingana na maneno ya Yesu mwenyewe. Nadharia ya kuzimia inapuuza ustadi wa Warumi katika kuua na haiwezi kueleza imani ya wanafunzi. Msalaba ulitabiriwa na manabii, ulikuwa kusudi la Yesu mwenyewe, na unaonyesha haki ya Mungu na upendo wake. Wakati wa kukamatwa kwake Yesu aliweka upanga kando na akatoa uhai wake kwa hiari (Mathayo 26:52; Yohana 10:18); Mfalme wa Amani alishinda kwa msalaba, si kwa nguvu. Wachungaji wanapaswa kueleza ukweli huu kwa uwazi, uvumilivu na heshima.Qur'an 4:157 says that Jesus was not killed or crucified, but that it was made to appear so. Most Muslims explain this with the substitution theory, in which another man was made to look like Jesus. The Ahmadiyya and popular debaters such as Ahmed Deedat taught the swoon theory, in which Jesus survived the cross. Against both stands strong historical evidence: all four Gospels, the early letters of Paul, the early creed of 1 Corinthians 15:3, and non-Christian writers such as Tacitus and Josephus. Even sceptical scholars like Bart Ehrman accept the crucifixion as certain. The substitution theory makes God a deceiver and contradicts Jesus' own words. The swoon theory ignores Roman skill in execution and cannot explain the disciples' faith. The cross was foretold by the prophets, was Jesus' own purpose, and shows both God's justice and His love. At His arrest Jesus put away the sword and gave His life willingly (Matthew 26:52; John 10:18); the Prince of Peace conquered by the cross, not by force. Pastors should explain these truths with clarity, patience and respect.

Maswali ya KutafakariQuestions for Reflection

1. Kwa nini kusulubiwa ni mstari muhimu wa kugawanya kati ya Ukristo na Uislamu?1. Why is the crucifixion such an important dividing line between Christianity and Islam?

2. Ni sababu ipi kati ya zile ambazo Waislamu hutoa za kukataa msalaba unadhani ndiyo yenye nguvu zaidi, na ungeijibuje?2. Which of the reasons Muslims give for rejecting the cross do you think is the strongest, and how would you answer it?

3. Kwa nini ushuhuda wa waandishi adui kama Tacitus ni wa thamani hasa kwa mwanahistoria?3. Why is the testimony of hostile writers like Tacitus especially valuable to a historian?

4. Ungemweleza vipi rafiki Mwislamu kwamba msalaba unaonyesha haki ya Mungu na rehema yake?4. How would you explain to a Muslim friend that the cross shows both God's justice and His mercy?

5. Unawezaje kuwasaidia washiriki wa kanisa lako kuzungumza juu ya msalaba na majirani zao Waislamu kwa usalama na upole?5. How can you help members of your congregation speak about the cross with their Muslim neighbors safely and gently?

6. Agizo la Yesu la kuweka upanga kando na maneno yake kwa Pilato yanasaidiaje kueleza kwa nini kifo chake kilikuwa cha hiari?6. How do Jesus' command to put away the sword and His words to Pilate help explain why His death was willing?

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