The Text:
Joh 11:54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. (KJV)
The Challenge:
lets just stick to the simple fact that is pointed out here.
Im asking you a simple question. Is it fitting for your God to be scared of his own creations?
Yes or no then give explanation?
Dont avoid the question
Its not a trick question
Question is based on your book
My Response:
I carefully gave you the answer, namely, that you have misunderstood and misapplied John 11:54.
There is nothing in John 11:54 that suggests God is scared of his own creations.
Muslim Challenge Repeated:
out of fear or repercussions from the jews your God ran away to the wilderness out of fear.
Thats the context, so stop beating around the bush. Your God ran away from his own creation out of fear. Is that not so?
My Answer:
Absolutely not so. Read the verse in its immediate context. Read the verse from multiple English translations.
Not out of fear of repercussions from the Jews, but out of prudence Jesus walked away to the wilderness to avoid needless confrontation with the Jewish leadership who were planning to kill Him for, as John expresses elsewhere in his Gospel, Jesus knew His “time was not yet” and His “hour had not yet come.”
I carefully gave you the answer to the issues and questions you raised by presenting for you the immediate context of John 11:54. I also shared with you this verse from several modern English Bible translations.
You challenged the relevance of my first response to your Opening Post by citing Proverbs 22:3.
If you are really reading what I have posted carefully, I trust you will see the correctness of what I presented from the Bible.
Muslim response:
this is so childish that i have to do this. His prudence you say. What was the reason of his prudence to stay free of harm from his own creation. Out of fear
Its simple math, you may please to have your misconstrued understanding. But its clear and simple a logical reasoning that’s obvious to see.
In other plaves your God doesn’t even know about the future or whether one of the trees that he created bares fruits or not (the fig tree)
To many things with your God ain’t adding up.
My Response:
I do not mean to be disrespectful. It ought to be obvious to you and any reader here that it is very likely that I have a more complete and accurate understanding of the Bible than you may have.
If you are of the Islamic faith, I would certainly grant that it is most likely that you would have a much more complete and accurate understanding of the Koran than I could ever hope to have.
As for Jesus running away scared, that is nonsense.
Take into account the broader context of the New Testament historical records of what Jesus said and did:
Mat 26:44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
Mat 26:45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Mat 26:46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
Mat 26:47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
Mat 26:48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
Mat 26:49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
Mat 26:50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
Mat 26:51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.
Mat 26:52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Mat 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
Mat 26:54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
Mat 26:55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
Mat 26:56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
Note that Jesus displayed no fear here. He rebuked Peter for cutting off the High Priest’s servant’s ear.
He explained to Peter that He could summon twelve legions of angels for His defense should it be necessary.
But all this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.
Joh 18:3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
Joh 18:4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
Joh 18:5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
Joh 18:6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
Joh 18:7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
Joh 18:8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
Joh 18:9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
Joh 18:10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
Joh 18:11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
Notice particularly John 18:6, which states “As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.”
That is the historical record. Surely Jesus was in control of the situation.
Jesus commanded that the force which came to arrest Him “let these go their way” (John 18:8), which they did, Jesus thus fulfilling the related prophecy, “That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none” (John 18:9), fulfilling and confirming what Jesus stated in John 6:39 and John 17:12:
John 6:39
39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
King James Version
John 17:12
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
King James Version
