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 the Son of a Carpenter
Is not this the carpenter’s son?
“[People said:] Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house” (Matthew, 13:55–57).
Both Matthew and Mark state in unison that Jesus was by profession a carpenter, and the son of a carpenter. Both the Evangelists further state that children (boys and girls) other than Jesus were also born to Joseph and Mary. They also declare that Jesus claimed to be a prophet, and not the Divine Being, and that he was not the son of God, but the son of Joseph and Mary; it was, however, on account of his righteousness and rectitude that he was metaphorically called the Son of God.
Jesus’ childhood:
“And Jacob begat Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ” (Matthew, 1:16).
“After the birth of Jesus, his parents apprehended danger to his life as stated in Matthew” (2:13–15):
“…behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: and was there until the death of Herod.”
It is evident from this passage that Jesus’ life was in danger, and it was for this reason that his parents, Joseph and Mary, fled from their country, and took refuge in Egypt. Such flight from danger is human, not Divine.
The logical conclusion, therefore, emerges that Jesus’ parents knew full well that there was no Divinity in Jesus, otherwise not even a shadow of fear could ever have crossed their minds, nor would they have felt the necessity of fleeing from the enemy’s country.