01-27-2007, 01:47 PM
In the Name of God - Father Son Holy Spirit.
Although you said there's no need to reply, like you, I'm sorry, I felt compelled to :D
Wael, 2 out of the 3 passages you mentioned are self-explanatory (when read in the correct context), so all I'm going to do is rewrite them within their proper boundaries & leave the meditation to you. I'll provide a brief explanation for the 3rd passage, however, I recall that you & I have previously been through it. Please pay attention this time, Mister :angry2: :lol:
I can't find an RSV translation online so I've opted for the NAB, which can't be too bad considering it's the one used on the Vatican's official website - it's way easier to understand...
<i><b>St John 5:19-46</b></i>
19
Jesus answered and said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, a son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees his father doing; for what he does, his son will do also.
20
For the Father loves his Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed.
21
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes.
22
Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to his Son,
23
so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
24
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life.
25
Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
26
For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to his Son the possession of life in himself.
27
And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
28
Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
29
and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation.
30
"I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.
31
"If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony cannot be verified.
32
But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true.
33
You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth.
34
I do not accept testimony from a human being, but I say this so that you may be saved.
35
He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light.
36
But I have testimony greater than John's. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.
37
Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form,
38
and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent.
39
You search the scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf.
40
But you do not want to come to me to have life.
41
"I do not accept human praise;
42
moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you.
43
I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him.
44
How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?
45
Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope.
46
For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me.
47
But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"
<i><b>St John 13:12-20</b></i>
12
So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you?
13
You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am.
14
If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet.
15
I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.
16
Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.
17
If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.
18
I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But so that the scripture might be fulfilled, 'The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.'
19
From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM.
20
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."
<i><b>St John 14: 9-31</b></i>
9
Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
10
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
11
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves.
12
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.
13
And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14
If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.
15
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
16
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate 8 to be with you always,
17
the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you.
18
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
19
In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live.
20
On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.
21
Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."
22
Judas, not the Iscariot, 11 said to him, "Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?"
23
Jesus answered and said to him, "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
24
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.
25
"I have told you this while I am with you.
26
The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.
27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
28
You heard me tell you, 'I am going away and I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.
29
And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.
30
I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me,
31
but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.
"Jesus is saying that the Father is "greater" because the Father's position in heaven is one of greater dignity and authority than the Son occupies on earth. This meaning, then, makes clear why the disciples should rejoice. The Son is returning to the right hand of the Father, to the glory He had with the Father before His existence on earth (St John 17:5). He had voluntarily humbled Himself in coming to earth (Philippians 2:6), taking the form of a servant. Now Jesus was returning to the Father to regain His former glory, where He could accomplish all the wonderful things promised to the disciples in His final discourse."
I'm aware that Muslims respect & honour Jesus Christ as a beloved Prophet, but isn't it true that Muslims regard Mohammad (PBUH) as the greatest of all prophets? Are you positive the Qur'an says not to make a distinction?
I just want you to know that although I'm always prepared to defend my faith, my goal isn't to convert anyone on these boards. I'm getting more than I originally bargained for. I had no idea I'd be spending so much time discussing my beliefs on an Islamic forum - hehe!
Glory to God, peace on earth, good-will to all.