“They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but it was made to appear so to them…” (Qur’an 4:157)
It was an early spring morning in Damascus. I was sipping thick Arabic coffee with an elderly Muslim man named Abu Zayd. Our conversations were always rich with poetry, proverbs, and sharp theological jabs. That morning, he leaned in and said, “Brother, we love Isa. We honor him. But you Christians, you dishonor him by claiming he died a cursed death.”
This is not an isolated sentiment. Across the Muslim world, the crucifixion is one of the most significant stumbling blocks to the Gospel. To many Muslims, the idea that a prophet, let alone someone as exalted as Jesus (Isa al-Masih), would suffer a humiliating execution is unthinkable. In their framework, honor must triumph. Prophets must not fail. And divine rescue must come before death.
But here is where the Cross, in all its scandal, shines with divine wisdom.
1. Understanding the Objection: The Theological Wound Beneath the Rejection
Muslim objections to the crucifixion are not merely historical; they are deeply theological and cultural. The Islamic worldview sees God’s prophets as under divine protection. The shame of crucifixion appears to contradict God’s justice and honor.
Behind the rejection is a deeper fear: If God allowed this to happen to Isa, what does that say about God’s power? About God’s justice? About the hope of the faithful?
To overcome the objection, we must speak not just to the facts of history, but to the heart of Islam’s longing: for a God who is both just and merciful, powerful yet near.
2. Historical Integrity: Why the Crucifixion Cannot Be Denied
The crucifixion of Jesus is one of the most historically attested events in ancient history. Early Roman sources, Jewish texts, and multiple New Testament accounts all confirm it. Even skeptical historians agree: Jesus died by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate.
To deny this is to erase history. But our goal is not to win an argument—it is to witness to the truth. The Qur’anic text itself is ambiguous; Surah 4:157 says, “It was made to appear so to them.” This leaves room for interpretation, and many classical Islamic scholars debated its meaning.
We must present the crucifixion not as a defeat, but as a divine paradox: strength revealed in weakness, victory through apparent loss.
3. The Cross in Context: Reframing Shame and Honor
In the honor-shame culture of the Middle East, the Cross seems like the ultimate dishonor. But the Gospel turns that very paradigm upside-down. What seems shameful becomes the very means of glory.
The prophet Isaiah, revered in both traditions, wrote:
“He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows… he was pierced for our transgressions.” (Isaiah 53)
This is not defeat. This is substitution. Not abandonment, but atonement.
In the Cross, God does not abandon His messenger; He reveals His deepest love for mankind. The dishonor Jesus bore was not His own—it was ours. And in bearing it, He lifted us to honor.
4. Theological Fulfillment: Why the Cross is Central to God’s Story
Muslims believe in a merciful God, but they have no assurance of forgiveness. The Cross is where God’s justice and mercy meet. Sin is not swept under the rug. It is judged—and the judgment falls on Jesus.
No other event in history answers the cry of the human heart for justice, mercy, and reconciliation.
The Cross shows us a God who does not remain distant, but enters into human suffering. A God who does not ignore sin, but absorbs its consequences. A God who dignifies the shamed, lifts the lowly, and triumphs through sacrifice.
5. Missional Wisdom: How to Share the Cross with Muslims
- Listen before speaking. Many Muslims reject the crucifixion not from malice but misunderstanding. Ask what they believe and why.
- Appeal to the prophets. Use the shared respect for figures like Abraham and Isaiah to build a bridge.
- Present the paradox. Help them see that what seems like defeat is actually divine strategy.
- Honor their values. Don’t dismiss the importance of honor; show how the Cross restores true honor.
- Pray for revelation. Only the Spirit can unveil the glory of the Cross.
The Cross is the Crux
The Cross is not a mistake to be explained away. It is the very center of God’s redemptive plan. What appeared as humiliation became exaltation. What seemed like defeat was actually the greatest victory.
Abu Zayd and I continued our conversation that morning until the call to prayer echoed through the neighborhood. As he stood up, he looked at me and said, “You have given me much to think about.”
Yes, the Cross offends. But for those who dare to look deeper, it also invites. It invites us to see a God whose love stoops low enough to lift us high.
That is why the Cross matters.
The Basin and Towel 