I hope that this does not offend anyone who believes that Jesus was crucified. But, I think that it's worth looking at one of the big differences between Christianity and Islam. --qrs

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One of the fundamental beliefs of Christianity relates that Jesus was crucified in order for God to forgive the sins of the people. Let us investigate this topic from the Bible, and find out whether Jesus was indeed crucified.

According to the Bible, Peter and the two sons of Zebedee were with Jesus Christ before the elders of the people and the chief priests came to take him to be crucified. Jesus at this point is quoted talking to Peter and the two sons of Zebedee as in Matthew 26:38 "Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me." Then the bible relates that Jesus went a little further away from them and prayed to God as in Matthew 26:39 "And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."

Matthew 26:39 means that Jesus had no intention of dying. It clearly states that Jesus was praying strongly (Matthew mentions Jesus repeating this prayer three times) to have this death removed from him.

Christians argue that this hesitation came from the flesh side of him (i.e., he was tempted), and that his soul which is godly did not have this hesitation at all. In Matthew 26:38 Jesus himself is quoted saying, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death." (Matthew 26:38). According to this verse, it's really the soul that was hesitating and not the body.

According to Hebrews 5:7, above mentioned Jesus's prayer was answered by God "Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared." The words "heard in that he feared" (Hebrews 5:7) mean that God responded to his prayer and saved him from death or crucifixion.

Bible tells us that when people were asking Jesus Christ if he was going to show them a sign, he replied by saying that the only sign they should expect is the sign of Jonas:

Matthew 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
Matthew 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Above verses quote Jesus explaining what would happen to him: that he would be in the heart of the earth for the same duration of time as Jonas was in the whale's belly i.e., 3 days and 3 nights , "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (Matthew 12:40). Now let's see if this prophecy claimed to be from Jesus came to pass.

It is accepted by christians that Jesus was crucified on Friday, and they call that Friday "Good Friday." Let's start counting, according to the bible:
Friday night Jesus was buried. This is night #1.
Saturday day Jesus was still in the grave. This is day #1.
Saturday night Jesus was still in the grave. This is night #2.

The following verses state that Mary Magdalene, very early in the morning before sunrise and after the Sabbath (Saturday), went to see Jesus, and found that he was not there:

Mark 16:1 And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
Mark 16:2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
Mark 16:3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
Mark 16:4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
Mark 16:5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
Mark 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

According to the bible the number of days and nights Jesus spent in the heart of the earth is 1 day and 2 nights. This challenges the authenticity of the whole story.

Some christians again argue that what Jesus wanted really to say was that he will be gone for a while, and not that he will be in the heart of the earth for exactly three days and three nights.
The sign should be something which is clear without any ambiguity in it, so that when it happens it cannot be missed nor something else will be mistaken for it.

Others argue that the Jews used a different system for the day and night which makes the prophecy come true. They say Jews used to consider a day shorter than we consider it now. However this is not true, a day does not become shorter at all. The difference between a Jewish day and a regular day is the time when they start and end. Jewish people considered the day was over when the sun went down, whereas now we consider midnight to be the end of the day. So it does not affect the calculation.

Why would Jesus have to die on the cross?
According to the Christian doctrine every human is born with sins, or all humans will eventually sin, and therefore it was necessary that someone as pure as Jesus should be sacrificed to wash away these sins. The question is: How can The One Who is The Most Just make someone suffer for the sins he did not commit? Isn't that unjust of Him? According to the Bible itself, there is no such thing as the sacrifice of one soul for saving the other. The Bible says:

Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
Ezekiel 18:21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

So Jesus cannot bear the sins of others either. If one is righteous then it shall be upon him, and if one commits a sin then it shall be upon him, and not on Jesus. Finally, the way to forgiveness is by repentance and keeping the commandments.

Also we see in the bible Solomon being quoted giving the same message in the book of Ecclesiastes 12:13 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."

Here is another verse for your attention: II Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." This verse clearly states that to seek forgiveness from God we have to humble ourselves, pray, seek His Face, and turn away from wickedness.

Now that we have seen this, Christians say that Jesus has changed some of these laws.
Did Jesus come to change laws?

Matthew 5:17 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil."
Matthew 5:18 and 19 "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Is Jesus the same as God?

In John 10:30 "I and my Father are one."
John 8:58 "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." My Christian brothers associate the phrase "I am" of this verse with the one in Exodus 3:14 "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."

Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Here Jesus is quoted describing himself with a divine quality, as well as in Revelation 1:17-18 "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."
The above verses, according to Christians, state that God and Jesus Christ to be the same.

Now, let me relate some other verses with different meaning:

John 5:19 "Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise."

John 5:30 "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."

John 20:17 "Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God."

Matthew 27:46 "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
All of the above verses state that Jesus had a God Whom he worshipped. Surely God does not worship.

John 5:37 "And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape." Jesus is quoted stating that no one had even heard God's voice, and not even seen His shape. Obviously Jesus is someone whose voice was heard, and whose shape was seen by men. And that means that God and Jesus are not the same.

John 14:28 "Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I."

Matthew 19:17 "And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." How would anyone be so sure that God and Jesus are same while being confronted by above verses?

These are contradictory ways Jesus is quoted to relate himself to God. How can it be possible, when God nor Jesus do not lie? The only explanation how it can be possible is that some men inserted the falsehood into the Bible and made it look as if it was from God or Jesus.

Is Jesus the Son of God?
One of the fundamental beliefs in Christianity is the literal sonship of Jesus Christ to God. This belief comes from the verse in John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Also in I John 5:1 "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him." these verses clearly state that Jesus is the only begotten, and born Son of God.

Again, let us look at other verses from the Bible.

In the book of Psalms 2:7 we find "I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee." David, in this verse, is quoted saying that God had told him he was the son of God and God has begotten him.

Some may say that Jesus unlike David had no human father. The question is what about Adam? Adam had no human father nor a human mother, and according to the Bible he too was the son of God. The Bible says, "And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli." (Luke3:23) The Bible goes on to mention the supposed genealogy of Jesus. At the end of this genealogy the Bible comes to Adam, and it says, "Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God." (Luke 3:38).

The truth is Jesus, David and Adam were a mere creation of God. The Koran says: "Verily, similitude of Jesus with God is as the similitude of Adam; He created him out of dust then said He unto him BE, and he became." (3:59).

God is quoted talking to Moses:
Exodus 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
Exodus 4:23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

Also, about David:

Psalms 89:27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

In both Exodus 4:22-23 and Psalms 89:27 Israel and David, respectively, were regarded as the first born sons of God. Clearly Jesus is not the only one mentioned as the son of God in the Bible. Could this mean that the word "born", as used in the Bible, does not indicate conception? Could it be just a Biblical expression used to show the closeness of people to God?

Finally, there were many other people mentioned in the bible as sons of God, and one of them was Solomon:

I Chronicles 22:9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.
I Chronicles 22:10 He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.

Also, remember that some of these verses are taken from the Old Testament, and that this book was originally written in Hebrew. Had the word "born" or "son" meant born or son in a literal sense then wouldn't the Jews have been ahead of everyone else in claiming their literal sonship to God, or in claiming the literal sonship of Solomon to God?

In I Peter 1:3 the Bible says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." The word begotten is also used here. Does the word "begotten" here mean conception?

Also in Job 38:28 the Bible says, "Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?"

If christians do not ascribe sonship in the literal sense when it comes to David, Israel, Adam the drops of dew, or "us unto a lively hope" then why do they do so when it comes to Jesus?

Finally, in the book Revelation 1:5 says, "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood." Why is it that when Jesus is mentioned as being begotten of God it is taken literally, but when he is mentioned that he is begotten of the dead it is not taken literally?
Who was Jesus then if not the literal son of God?
According to the Bible in Matthew 21:11 "And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." The verse says Jesus was a prophet of God. He was sent like other prophets to deliver the message of his ONE and only ONE God. Also, in Luke 24:19 the Bible says "And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people."

Jesus was a true messenger of God Almighty. He was sent by Him to deliver His message. The Bible says in John 5:30 "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." These are the characteristics of true prophets. They do as they are commanded. They are the best of all the people in devoutness. They are loved by God because of that, and their nearness to God comes from that.

Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ismael, Isaac, Jacob, Jonah, Moses, Jesus, Jonas, Muhammad and all the other prophets shared the same qualities. They all fully abided by what God has commanded them. The Koran says, "Say: (O' Our Apostle Muhammad!) (unto the People) 'We believe in God, and what hath been sent down to us, and what hath been sent down to Abraham and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Tribes, and what was given to Moses, and Jesus and the Prophets from their Lord, we make no difference between any of them, and unto Him we submitted'" (3:84).
Oneness of God
One of the main doctrines in Christianity is the trinity. This idea comes from I John 5:7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." This verse claims that God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost are one. These words are not Jesus' words nor God's. But according to the Christians John was inspired by God, and that is the reason for taking his words as the truth. Let us investigate the other verses of the Bible.
Mark 12:28 "…Which is the first commandment of all?"
Mark 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Then it continues in Mark:

Mark 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
Mark 12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Mark 12:34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

Had the concept of trinity been right, Jesus would have clarified to all who were listening that it is actually three in one. This was an important commandment. It was the commandment that came before all others.

The Bible is filled with verses indicating the absolute Oneness of God.

Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD." God is one and not three in one.

Isaiah 43:10-11 "Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour."

Ephesians 4:6 "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

I Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

James 2:19 "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." What makes the devil tremble is the belief that God is one, and not three.

Deuteronomy 4:35 "Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him."

I Samuel 2:2 "There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God."

Isaiah 44:6 "Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God."

Isaiah 44:8 "Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any."

Isaiah 45:5 "I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me."

Isaiah 45:6 "That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else."

Hosea 13:4 "Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me."

These verses state that God is "one", that there is nothing "beside" Him, that nothing is "like" Him. None of the above verses include anything that describes God as three in one. God did not say that he was one of the three, nor did Jesus.

They say although God and Jesus never mentioned the idea of the trinity, yet John was inspired by God to clarify this idea for all of us.

The fact is: God never said that He is three in one, nor were any prophets of God ever instructed to say that God is three in one. Someone invented this idea of trinity and the whole world of Christians believe him! Who has more authority? Who is more knowledgeable?

How about "The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ." ? The Author of this book, Joseph Smith, claims he too was inspired by God. There are hundreds of different denominations in Christianity, and many in almost all denominations claim to be inspired by God, yet they contradict each other. Can you believe that God is the author of confusion?
I Corinthians 14:33 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."
Men's words cannot be taken for granted, we need to analyze them. The Bible, as we know it today, has contradicting statements because of men who changed God's words and lied saying that this is from God.

What about worshipping God through Jesus?
The worship of God should be aimed directly to God. God does not need a medium for prayers to come to Him. This is clear from the Bible. When God says in such a bold manner:
Exodus 20:1-5:
"And God spake all these words, saying,
I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me."

God is the only One Whom we should worship. And He does not like us to worship anything but Him. Exodus 34:14 "For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God."

Romans 1:21-32:
"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

Jesus as in Koran
There are many books each claiming it got the message right. Here are some extracts from Koran for you to analyze whether this Book is the one which clarifies the matters. The following verses from the Chapter 19 (Mary) of the Koran narrate the story of the birth of Jesus:

And relate the story of Mary as mentioned in the Book, when she withdrew from her people to an eastern place; [16] And screened herself off from them. Then WE sent OUR angel to her and he appeared to her in the form of a well proportioned man. [17] She said, "I seek refuge with the Gracious God from thee if indeed thou dost fear HIM." [18] The angel said, "I am only a messenger of thy Lord, that I may give thee glad tidings of a righteous son." [19] She said, "How can I have a son when no man has touched me, neither have I been unchaste?" [20] The angel said, "Thus it shall be." But says thy Lord, "It is easy for ME; and WE shall do so that WE may make him a Sign unto men, and a mercy from US, and it is a thing decreed." [21]
So she conceived him, and withdrew with him to a remote place. [22] And the pains of child-birth drove her unto the trunk of a palm-tree. She said, "O, would that I had died before this and had become a thing quite forgotten!" [23] Then the angel called her from beneath her, saying, "Grieve not. Thy Lord has placed a rivulet below thee; [24] "And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree; it will drop upon thee fresh ripe dates; [25] "So, eat and drink and cool thine eye. And if thou seest any man, say, 'I have vowed a fast to the Gracious God; I will, therefore, not speak this day to any human being.'" [26]
Then she brought him to her people, mounted. They said, "O Mary, surely, thou hast committed a monstrous thing! [27] "O sister of Aaron, thy father was not a wicked man, nor was thy mother an unchaste woman!" [28] Thereupon she pointed to him. They said, "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?" [29] Jesus said, "I am a servant of God. HE has given me the Book, and has made me a Prophet; [30] And HE has made me blessed wheresoever I may be, and has enjoined upon me Prayer and almsgiving so long as I live; [31] And HE has made me dutiful towards my mother, and has not made me arrogant and graceless; [32] And peace was on me the day I was born, and peace will be on me the day I shall die, and the day I shall be raised up to life again." [33] That was Jesus, son of Mary. This is a statement of the truth concerning which they entertain doubt. [34] It does not befit the Majesty of God to take unto Himself a son. Holy is HE. When HE decrees a thing, HE says to it, 'Be,' and it comes into being.[35]

That was Jesus. He was sent by God to people to remind them about their true Deity, The One and only One Creator and Sustainer of the universe.

The Koran says in chapter 112 "Say: 'He, God, is ONE (alone). God, the Absolute, He begetteth not, nor is He Begotten, And there is none like unto Him.'"

Will you not analyze The Koran?

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