Fundamentals of the Christian Faith in the Light of the Gospels
by Maulana Sadr-ud-Din
Jesus, a Human Being and an Apostle of God: Jesus was an Apostle of God
Jesus answered them, and said:
“My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me” (John, 7:16).
“If I honour myself, my honour in nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that He is your God” (John, 8:54).
“For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say and what I should speak” (John, 12:49).
“Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth” (John, 9:31).
These are precious truths which have been set forth with clarity to convince us that Jesus was not God, but was God’s apostle, who preached that the pleasure of God can be obtained by worshipping Him and doing His will. Jesus has also stated that mankind consists of those who sin against God, and those who do His will; all mankind is not sinful. Jesus has again described himself as an apostle, and stated in categorical terms that the teaching preached by him was not his own personal word, but the Word of the Most High God, which he received and communicated to the people. The inevitable logical conclusion, therefore, is that if Jesus had called himself an apostle, he was, most surely, a human being, and the term “man” used in respect of him in John 8:40 supports the view that he was but a mortal.
The Gospel has the following fact on its record:
“And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou has sent me” (John, 11:41– 42).