In the first part of the Story of Prophet 'Eesaa (Jesus), may Allah exalt his mention, we highlighted the most important events in his life: his miraculous birth, his childhood, the opposition of the Jewish authorities to his mission, his miracles, etc. Here we continue his story:
Prophet 'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention, continued calling people to Almighty Allah and laying down for them what might be called the 'Law of the Spirit.' Once, when standing on a mountain surrounded by his disciples, 'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention, saw that those who believed in him were from among the poor, the wretched, and the downtrodden, and their number was small. Some of the miracles which 'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention, performed had been requested by his disciples, such as their wish for a 'holy table-spread' to be sent down from heaven.
Allah the Exalted Says (what means): "[And remember] when the disciples said: 'O 'Eesaa, Son of Maryam! Can your Lord send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven?' ['Eesaa] said: 'Fear Allah, if you should be believers.' They said: 'We wish to eat from it and let our hearts be reassured and know that you have been truthful to us and be among its witnesses.' Said 'Eesaa, the son of Maryam: 'O Allah, our Lord! Send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven to be for us a festival for the first of us and the last of us and a sign from You. And provide for us, and You are the best of providers.' Allah said: 'Indeed, I will send it down to you, but whoever disbelieves afterwards from among you - then indeed will I punish him with a punishment by which I have not punished anyone among the worlds.'” [Quran: 5:112-115]
'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention, commanded his disciples to fast for thirty days; at the end of it, they asked 'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention, to bring food from heaven to break their fast. 'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention, prayed to Allah after his disciples had doubted Allah's power. The great table came down between two clouds, one above and one below, while the people watched. 'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention, said: "O Lord! make it a mercy and not a cause of distress." So it fell between 'Eesaa's hands, covered with a napkin.
'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention, suddenly prostrated, and his disciples followed suit. They sensed a fragrance, which they had never smelled before. 'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention, said: "The one who is the most devout and most righteous may uncover the table, that we might eat of it to thank Allah for it." They said: "O Spirit of Allah! You are the most deserving."
'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention, stood up, performed ablution and prayed before uncovering the table, and behold, there was a roasted fish. The disciples said: "O Spirit of Allah! Is this the food of this world or of Paradise?" 'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention, said to his disciples: "Did not Allah forbid you to ask questions? It is the divine power of Allah the Almighty, Who said: 'Be' and it was. It is a sign from Almighty Allah warning of great punishment for unbelieving mortals of the world. This is the kernel of the matter."
It is said that thousands of people ate from it, and yet it was never entirely consumed. A further miracle was that the blind and lepers were cured by 'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention, by Allah's leave.
The Day of the Table became one of the holy days for the disciples and followers of 'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention. Later, the disciples and followers who forgot the real essence of the miracles, worshipped 'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention, as a god. Almighty Allah asserts (what means): "And [beware the Day] when Allah will say: 'O 'Eesaa, Son of Maryam! Did you say to the people: 'Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?' He (i.e. ‘Eesaa) will say: 'Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen'" [Quran: 5:116]
'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention, went on his mission, until the corrupted leaders and hypocritical men of religious power felt his threat to them. So the forces of evil accused him, may Allah exalt his mention, of magic, infringement of the Mosaic Law, and allegiance with the devil; and when they saw that the poor people followed him, they began to scheme against him.
The Sanhedrin, the highest judicial and ecclesiastical council of the Jews, began to plot against 'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention. The plan took a new turn. When the Jews failed to stop the call of 'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention, they decided to kill him. The chief priests held secret meetings to agree on the best way of getting rid of 'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention. While they were in such a meeting, one of the twelve apostles, Judas Iscariot, went to them and asked: "What will you give me if I deliver him to you?" Judas bargained with them until they agreed to give him thirty pieces of silver, known as shekels. The plot was laid for the capture and murder of 'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention.
The priests had no authority to pass the death sentence at that time, so they convinced the Roman governor that 'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention, was plotting against the security of the Roman Empire and urged him to take immediate action against him. The governor ordered that 'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention, be arrested and crucified.
The Glorious Quran, contrary to the Gospels, affirms that Allah, the Exalted, did not permit the people of Israel to kill or crucify 'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention. Allah saved him from his enemies and raised him to heaven. They never killed 'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention; they killed someone else.
Allah the Almighty declares (what means): "And [We cursed them for] their saying: 'Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, 'Eesaa, the son of Maryam, the messenger of Allah.' And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise." [Quran: 4:157-158]
Almighty Allah also revealed (what means): "[Mention] when Allah said: 'O 'Eesaa! Indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify [i.e., free] you from those who disbelieve and make those who follow you [in submission to Allah alone] superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that in which you used to differ.'" [Quran: 3:55]
Almighty Allah refutes the claims of the Jews and the Christians many times in the Glorious Quran. For example, He Says (what means): "