Jesus: Son of Mary

The Quran refers to Jesus as "Jesus son of Maryam" many times. All Muslims believe that Jesus was miraculously born without a father by Mary, the virgin. In previous sections, we read how Mary has an exalted status over the rest of women of the world, and how she became pregnant with Jesus.

Here we will discuss:

1. Jesus: His first miracle (from Quran and from Bible).

2. Jesus: Miracles and His Preaching.

3. The Table Spread.

4. The Evil Plot.

Jesus: His First Miracle.

After the questioning and accusations of the Jews (read the earlier section), Mary in obedience to her Lord, spoke nothing and pointed to the baby. The crowd was outraged. They proclaimed: 'What kind of an answer is this! You turn to your child in your defense?!' And they were right. Under normal circumstances and in usual situations this is not a proper behavior of a sane person. But the circumstances were not normal, and the situation was far from usual. It is then that the miracle happened.

"They said:

'How can we talk to one who is a child, in the cradle?' He (The baby) said:

'I am a slave of Allah [i.e. created by God and belong to Him], He has given me the Scriptures and made me a Prophet; And He has made me blessed wheresoever I be, and enjoined on me Salat (prayer), and Zakat (giving alms to the poor) as long as I live. And dutiful to my mother (i.e. made me kind and good to my mother) and made me not arrogant, unblest. And peace be upon me the day I was born, and the day I shall be raised alive (i.e. on The Day of Judgment and Resurrection)!' "(Quran 19:29-33)

And this was the first miracle of Jesus son of Mary. Only a baby, he talked to the Jews, asserting his subjugation to his Lord, and describing that this miracle - his talking - is a sign from their Lord - a sign of his prophet hood. He told them of the Scriptures to be given to him from God, and told them that he was ordered to pray and be kind to the poor as long as he lived. He told them that he was blessed by God, and was kind and respectful to his great mother, not arrogant. And that peace is upon him the day his was born, and peace will be upon him the day he will be resurrected on The Day of Judgment and Resurrection, when every person is going to be resurrected and Judged by God according to his/her deeds.

The First Miracle in The Bible

In contrast, the Bible presents the first miracle performed by Jesus in John:20. He was over 30 years of age when he turned water into wine:

"And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, they have no wine. Jesus saith unto her,

'Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.'

His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six water pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now." (John 2:110)

Jesus: Life Full of Miracles and Preaching.

The life of Jesus son of Mary was full of miracles. To this the Quran states:

"He will speak to the people in the cradle and in manhood, and he will be one of the righteous ... And He (God) will teach him (Jesus) the Book and the wisdom (of the prophets) and the Torah and the Injeel (name of Scriptures). And will make him a Messenger to the Children of Israel (saying):

'I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, that I design for you of clay, as it were, a figure of a bird and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah's Leave (with God's Permission); and that I heal him who is born blind, and the leper, and I bring to life, the dead by Allah's Leave (with God's Permission). And I inform you of what you eat, and what you store in your houses. Surely, this is a sign for you, if you believe." (Quran 3:46,48-49)

Like all the Prophets, Jesus was given miracles as signs and support from God to his divine inspiration. With that inspiration he preached:

"And I have come confirming that which was before me of the Torah, and to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden to you, and I have come with proof from your Lord. So fear Allah (God) and obey me. Truly! Allah (God) is my Lord and yours, so worship Him (Alone). This is the Straight Path.' " (Quran 3:50-51).

The Disciples and The Table Spread.

Despite all the signs from God and preaching, Jesus found resistance among the Jews. But some became dedicated disciples:

"And when I (God) put in the hearts of the disciples to believe in Me and My Messenger (Jesus), they said:

'We believe. And bear witness that we are Muslims (Muslims means submitters to God in peace and obedience, see meaning of Islam). When the disciples said:

'O I'esa (Jesus) son of Maryam! Can your Lord send down to us a table spread (with foods) from the heavens?' He (Jesus) said:

'Fear Allah (God) if you are indeed believers (i.e. dot ask for more miracles if you truly believe).' They said:

'We wish to eat thereof and to be stronger in Faith, and to know that you have indeed told us the truth and that we ourselves be its witnesses.' I'esa (Jesus) son of Maryam said:

'O Allah, our Lord! Send us from heaven a table spread that will be an Eid (a festival and celebration) to the first and last of us and a sign from You; and provide us sustenance, for You are the Best of sustainers.' " (Quran 3:111-114).

And God answered his request and sent down the table spread of food, another sign from Him.

The Plot: Evil Conspiracy.

Unhappy with his preaching, the disbelieves from among the Jews conspired an evil plot: to suppress the voice of truth, to assassinate the great teacher, to murder the wise preacher.

"And they (the disbelieves) plotted [to kill Jesus] and Allah planned too. And Allah is the Best of planners. When Allah said:

'O I'esa (Jesus)! I will take you and raise you to my Myself and clear you of those who disbelieve, and I will make those who follow you (your teachings) superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me shall be your return, and I will judge between you in the matters in which you used to dispute.'" (Quran 3:54-55).