Once upon a time, there was a little kingdom in which ruled a very powerful king. One day, the king sent out his messengers to all his subjects inviting them to gather in his castle’s courtyard one fine morning. As directed, all the people of his kingdom arrived in the courtyard on the appointed day and, at the appointed hour, the king appeared at his balcony to address them. Here is what he said: "Oh’ my people, as you know that all of you have descended from the same ancestors and you also know that your earliest ancestors had committed a rebellion against this kingdom which is a capital crime and whose penalty is death. And therefore I must condemn you to die."

The crowed gasped; they could not believe their ears because they had always assumed the king to be fair. After the initial shock had subsided, one man gathered enough courage to speak up. He asked, " My Lord, how can this be? None of us here have ever rebelled against your kingdom. How can you hold us responsible for something we did not do and did not have any control over?" The king replied, " I know what you do not". At this a woman screamed, " My Lord, what about my baby? He is only a few days old; surely, he is innocent! What about him?" "He must too die; no one is innocent, all of you must die for the crimes of your fathers", replied the king. Then the king smiled and said," I tell you what, just to show how much I love you, my subjects, I will do something for you so you will not have to die. Instead, I will torture and kill my only son for the crimes of your fathers. But there is a requirement: those who are willing to drink my son’s blood and eat his flesh will be spared, all others shall perish".

The prince, who was standing just a few feet away, was horrified. He turned to him and cried, "Father, Father, what are you saying? Why are you doing this to me?" The father replied, "Son, you know not what I know and this hurts me more than it hurts you." The prince realizing that his father was not joking, tried to escape but to no avail. The king’s soldiers captured him and you know the rest of the story.

Again, I don’t tell you this story to offend you or make fun of Christianity; God does not allow me to do so. I tell you this story to make a point: Christianity to a Muslim makes as much sense as this story. It may make sense to you, and that is OK, but it certainly does not to me or to other Muslims.

Once upon a time, there was a little kingdom in which ruled a very powerful king. At one point there had been no subjects in his kingdom, but one day he chose to make two subjects. He made them perfect, with no misdeed to their account. He provided their food for them in the form of fruit trees. He provided many trees for them with many varieties of delicious fruit. He only forbid them to eat from one tree and warned them that if they ate of that tree they would immediately die. In time they decided that he was unfair and decided to eat from the forbidden tree. When they did that one seemingly insignificant act of rebellion, they realized things had changed drastically; they were afraid and hid themselves. When the king came to see them, they were hiding because they realized they had caused a spiritual separation from the king to whom they owed their very life and being. When the king came to where they were, he told them they needed a covering of righteousness. Then he provided a temporary covering, reducing the shameful consequences of their foolish rebellion and clearing the path for reconciliation. He then promised a permanent covering that would come in the future.

From that day on every subject in that kingdom had at one time or another personally rebelled and defied the king. Yet if there was true admission of wrong, they king was patient. As years went by, people continued to commit acts of rebellion. One day, the king sent out his messengers to all his subjects inviting them to gather in his castle’s courtyard one fine morning. As directed, all the people of his kingdom arrived in the courtyard on the appointed day and, at the appointed hour, the king appeared at his balcony to address them. Here is what he said: "Oh, my people, as you know, all of you have descended from the same ancestors and you also know that your earliest ancestors had committed a rebellion against this kingdom which is a capital crime and whose penalty is death. You also are increasingly continuing in that same rebellion. It grieves my heart to see the people I made and have provided for, acting in this way against me since it is necessary that I be a just king. Therefore, I want to remind you of the consequences that come to all those who continue in such a careless attitude. You will eventually be condemned to die. Long ago I gave you the sign of physical death to warn you to deal with the spiritual death (separation) that you find yourselves in. I want to remind you that once you die physically your fate is sealed and the full reckoning begins."

The crowed gasped; they realized they had forgotten to heed the king's sign. After the initial shock had subsided, one man gathered enough courage to speak up. He asked, " My Lord, how can this be? None of us here have ever rebelled against your kingdom. How can you hold us responsible for something we did not do and did not have any control over?" The king replied, " I know exactly what you do and what you know" and he had the man taken away and executed for his brash denial of the state of his own heart. At this a woman screamed, " My Lord, what about my baby? He is only a few days old; surely, he is innocent! What about him?" "Let him speak for himself. I will look after him. Don't lose your own soul on the pretense of concern for your baby," replied the king. Then the king with concern and compassion in his eyes looked upon his subjects with kindness and said, "Long ago I promised your ancestors a permanent covering. Every temporary covering was a sign of this permanent covering that was to come. I am about to show you this permanent covering that has allowed for my mercy in the past to be shown to all those who took me at my word. This permanent covering promised many years ago will save you from spiritual death. The prince of this kingdom has come in perfection and has remained in perfection and in complete submission to my will to this very day. He, too, was present at the beginning of time and has shared my care and concern for you. He is willing to be tortured and killed not only for the crimes of your fathers but also for your crimes as well. To show his right to bear this burden, he will rise victoriously from the dead and be your covering of righteousness. But there is a requirement: after he returns to life, those who are willing to trust that he allowed his own blood to be shed to save you and are willing to follow in his steps will be spared, and he will share his spirit with you. Herein, you will find my mercy. All others shall perish".

At this the people began to murmur. "How can we believe in a king and his prince who will allow his prince to knowingly suffer and be killed, bearing our shame?" The prince, who was standing just a few feet away, winced in pain. Then he turned to look at the people. He knew of the king's care and concern for his subjects, but he knew that it had also been wisely written that if the king were to punish men for their wrongdoing, he would not leave, on the earth, a single living creature. He knew that would be an extremely sad day for the king if that ever happened. Realizing that the soul of every subject was burdened with wrongdoing, and realizing that his was the only unburdened soul he turned to the king and said, "My will is your will; your will be done." The king replied, "Son, you know what I know and this will hurt me as it will hurt you." Then the prince turned to the people, "If I would die or be slain, would you cease to follow me when I am victorious and am raised back to life?" At this the people bowed in shame. The prince, realizing his time had come, submitted fully to the king. When the king's men came to take him, he said, "I'm the one you are looking for." Seeing strength and willingness in the face of death, the king's men were so amazed to the point that one of the king's men confessed his trust in him on the spot. The king’s soldiers captured him. This was the mercy of God at work.