Fundamentals of the Christian Faith in the Light of the Gospels
by Maulana Sadr-ud-Din
Significance of the Term “Son of God”: Significance of becoming the Son of God, and becoming the Son of the Devil
It is recorded in John (13:2) that the devil put into the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray his Master, which shows that Judas Iscariot was, in fact, a human being, and the devil had filled his heart with wickedness, so that he was, as it were, the devil incarnate. This statement has also been repeated in Luke (22:3) as:
“Then entered Satan into Judas.”
Now, turn to Matthew:
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (5:9).
“Love your enemies … and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven” (5:44–45).
These verses make it clear that by adopting the life of righteousness and noble deeds, a man can become the Son of God. These verses indicate also that Jesus Christ counted himself among the prophets, and held that people had ever been persecuting and killing the prophets, and that similar plans were being made against him. Most significant facts indeed!
Jesus, to quote another example, rebuked Peter, and called him Satan. When Peter took Jesus away, and began to rebuke him:
“… [Jesus] turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men” (Mark, 8:32–33).
It was on account of Peter’s unfaithfulness and disloyalty that Jesus called him Satan; otherwise he was every whit a human being and no physical change took place in his body. His faith, however, was weak, in consequence whereof devilry had crept into his heart. It was for this reason that he cursed and swore against Jesus, saying,
“I know not this man of whom ye speak” (Mark, 14:71).
These lucid texts reveal that it is erroneous to found one’s faith on metaphorical expressions.