Jesus in the Bible and the Quran

The Name of Jesus in the Bible and the Quran

The name "Jesus" holds a significant place in both the Bible and the Quran, reflecting his importance in Christianity and Islam. In the King James Version of the Bible, "Jesus" appears 942 times, while in the Quran, Jesus (Isa) is mentioned 235 times. This blog explores the references and significance of Jesus in these sacred texts.

Jesus in the Quran

1. Al-Ma'idah 5:112: "˹Remember˺ when the disciples asked, 'O Jesus, son of Mary! Would your Lord be willing to send down to us a table spread with food from heaven?' Jesus answered, 'Fear Allah if you are ˹truly˺ believers.'"

2. Maryam 19:34: "That is Jesus, son of Mary. ˹And this is˺ a word of truth, about which they dispute."

3. Az-Zukhruf 43:58: "They exclaimed, 'Which is better: our gods or Jesus?' They cite him only to argue. In fact, they are a people prone to dispute."

4. Ali 'Imran 3:59: "Indeed, the example of Jesus in the sight of Allah is like that of Adam. He created him from dust, then said to him, 'Be!' And he was!"

5. Az-Zukhruf 43:63: "When Jesus came with clear proofs, he declared, 'I have come to you with wisdom, and to clarify to you some of what you differ about. So fear Allah, and obey me.'"

6. Maryam 19:36: "˹Jesus also declared,˺ 'Surely Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him ˹alone˺. This is the Straight Path.'"

7. Al-Ma'idah 5:78: "The disbelievers among the Children of Israel were condemned in the revelations of David and Jesus, son of Mary. That was for their disobedience and violations."

8. Al-An'am 6:85: "Likewise, ˹We guided˺ Zachariah, John, Jesus, and Elias, who were all of the righteous."

9. Maryam 19:30: *"Jesus declared, 'I am truly a servant of Allah. He has destined me to be given the Scripture and to be a prophet.'"

10. Al-Ma'idah 5:72 Surely, they have disbelieved who say: "Allah is the Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary." But the Messiah (Jesus) said: "O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Verily, whosoever sets up partners (in worship) with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise to him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the wrongdoers, there are no helpers.

11. Ali 'Imran 3:45 (Remember) when the angels said: "O Mary! Verily, Allah gives you the glad tidings of a Word from Him, his name will be the Messiah Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and in the Hereafter, and will be one of those who are near to Allah."

12. Ali 'Imran 3:61 Then whoever disputes with you concerning him (Jesus) after (all this) knowledge that has come to you, say: "Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves - then we pray and invoke (sincerely) the Curse of Allah upon those who lie."

13. Az-Zukhruf 43:61 And he (Jesus, son of Mary) shall be a known sign for (the coming of) the Hour (Day of Resurrection). Therefore have no doubt concerning it (i.e. the Day of Resurrection). And follow Me (Allah) (i.e. be obedient to Allah and do what He orders you to do, O mankind)! This is the Straight Path (of Islamic Monotheism, leading to Allah and to His Paradise).

14. Maryam 19:34 That is Jesus, the son of Mary - the word of truth about which they are in dispute.

15. Az-Zukhruf 43:61 And indeed, he [i.e., Jesus] will be [a sign for] knowledge of the Hour, so be not in doubt of it, and follow Me. This is a straight path.

16. Al-An'am 6:85 And Zachariah and John and Jesus and Elias. Each one (of them) was of the righteous.

17. Ali 'Imran 3:59 The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be". And he was.

18. Az-Zukhruf 43:57 When (Jesus) the son of Mary is held up as an example, behold, thy people raise a clamour thereat (in ridicule)!

19. Maryam 19:30 [Jesus] said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allāh. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.

20. Az-Zukhruf 43:58 They exclaimed, “Which is better: our gods or Jesus?” They cite him only to argue. In fact, they are a people prone to dispute.

21. Maryam 19:36 [Jesus said], "And indeed, Allāh is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path."

22. Ali 'Imran 3:59 Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allāh is like that of Adam. He created him from dust; then He said to him, "Be," and he was.

23. Maryam 19:30 "He [‘Îsâ (Jesus)] said: "Verily I am a slave of Allâh, He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet;"

24. Ali 'Imran 3:54 And they (disbelievers) plotted to kill ‘Îsâ [(Jesus) عليه السلام], and Allâh plotted too. And Allâh is the Best of those who plot.

25. Az-Zukhruf 43:63 When Jesus came with clear proofs, he declared, “I have come to you with wisdom, and to clarify to you some of what you differ about. So fear Allah, and obey me.

26. Al-An'am 6:85 And Zakariyâ (Zachariya), and Yahya (John) and ‘Îsâ (Jesus) and Iliyâs (Elias), each one of them was of the righteous.

27. Maryam 19:36 ˹Jesus also declared,˺ “Surely Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him ˹alone˺. This is the Straight Path.”

28. Ali 'Imran 3:53 Our Lord, we have believed in what You revealed and have followed the messenger [i.e., Jesus], so register us among the witnesses [to truth]."

29. Al-Ma'idah 5:111 And [remember] when I inspired to the disciples, "Believe in Me and in My messenger [i.e., Jesus]." They said, "We have believed, so bear witness that indeed we are Muslims [in submission to Allāh]."

30. Al-Ma'idah 5:78 Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel by the tongue of David and of Jesus, the son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed and habitually transgressed.

31. Ali 'Imran 3:3 It is He Who sent down to you (step by step), in truth, the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus).

32. Maryam 19:34 Such was Jesus, son of Mary. This is a statement of the Truth about which they are in doubt.

33. Al-Ahzab 33:7 And remember We took from the prophets their covenant: As (We did) from you: from Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus the son of Mary: We took from them a solemn covenant.

34. An-Nisa 4:159 And there is none from the People of the Scripture but that he will surely believe in him (i.e., Jesus) before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection, he will be against them a witness.

35. Maryam 19:30 Jesus declared, “I am truly a servant of Allah. He has destined me to be given the Scripture and to be a prophet.”

36. Az-Zukhruf 43:61 And (Jesus) shall be a Sign (for the coming of) the Hour (of Judgment): therefore have no doubt about the (Hour), but follow ye Me: this is a Straight Way.

37. Az-Zukhruf 43:63 When Jesus came with clear signs, he said, “I have brought you wisdom; I have come to clear up some of your differences for you. Be mindful of God and obey me.”

38. Al-Ma'idah 5:78 Those of the Children of Israel who went astray were cursed by the tongue of David and of Jesus, son of Mary. That was because they rebelled and used to transgress.

39. Al-Ahzab 33:7 And [mention, O Muhammad], when We took from the prophets their covenant and from you and from Noah and Abraham and Moses and Jesus, the son of Mary; and We took from them a solemn covenant.

40. An-Nisa 4:158 But Allah raised him [Jesus] up (with his body and soul) unto Himself (and he is in the heavens). And Allah is Ever All-Powerful, All-Wise.

41. Maryam 19:24 Then [the babe Jesus or Gabriel] cried unto her from below her, saying: "Grieve not: your Lord has provided a water stream under you."

42. Maryam 19:36 (Jesus had said): "Indeed Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so serve Him alone. This is the Straight Way."

43. Az-Zukhruf 43:61 Verily he [i.e., Jesus] is a portent of the Hour. So be in no doubt concerning it and follow Me. This is the Straight Way.

44. Maryam 19:37 Then the factions differed [concerning Jesus] from among them, so woe to those who disbelieved—from the scene of a tremendous Day.

45. Ali 'Imran 3:52 When Jesus realized they [still] did not believe, he said, “Who will help me in God’s cause?” The disciples said, “We will be God’s helpers; we believe in God—witness our devotion to Him.”

46. Ali 'Imran 3:48 And He (Allah) will teach him [Jesus] the Book and Al-Hikmah (i.e., the Sunnah, the faultless speech of the Prophets, wisdom), and the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel).

47. Al-Anbya 21:101 Verily, those for whom the good has preceded from Us, they will be removed far therefrom (Hell) [e.g., Jesus, son of Mary; Ezra].

48. Al-Ma'idah 5:78 Those of the Children of Israel who took to unbelief have been cursed by the tongue of David and Jesus, son of Mary, for they rebelled and exceeded the bounds of right.

49. Az-Zukhruf 43:63 When Jesus came with Clear Signs, he said: "Now have I come to you with Wisdom, and in order to make clear to you some of the (points) on which you dispute: therefore fear Allah and obey me."

50. Al-Ahzab 33:7 And remember when We took a covenant from the prophets, as well as from you, O Prophet, and from Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, son of Mary. We did take a solemn covenant from all of them.

51. Maryam 19:34 Such is Jesus, son of Mary. It is a statement of truth, about which they doubt.

52. An-Nisa 4:163 Lo! We inspire you as We inspired Noah and the prophets after him, as We inspired Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and Jesus and Job and Jonah and Aaron and Solomon, and as We imparted unto David the Psalms.

53. Az-Zukhruf 43:63 And when Jesus came with clear Proofs, he said: "I have come to you with Wisdom, and in order to make clear to you some of the points in which you differ. Therefore fear Allah and obey me."

54. Ali 'Imran 3:54 And the disbelievers made a plan against Jesus, but Allah also planned—and Allah is the best of planners.

55. Az-Zukhruf 43:59 He [i.e., Jesus] was not but a servant upon whom We bestowed favor, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel.

56. Al-Ma'idah 5:114 Said Jesus, the son of Mary, "O Allah, our Lord, send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven to be for us a festival for the first of us and the last of us and a sign from You. And provide for us, and You are the best of providers."

57. Al-Ma'idah 5:46 And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous.

58. Maryam 19:36 Jesus said: "And verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord. So worship Him (Alone). That is the Straight Path."

59. Al-Ma'idah 5:114 Jesus, son of Mary, prayed, “O Allah, our Lord! Send us from heaven a table spread with food as a feast for us—the first and last of us—and as a sign from You. Provide for us! You are indeed the Best Provider.”

60. Az-Zukhruf 43:63 When Jesus came with clear proofs, he said: "I have come unto you with wisdom, and to make plain some of that concerning which you differ. So keep your duty to Allah, and obey me."

61. Ali 'Imran 3:52 Then when Jesus came to know of their disbelief, he said: "Who will be my helpers in Allah’s Cause?" The disciples said: "We are the helpers of Allah; we believe in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims."

62. Al-Ma'idah 5:111 And when I revealed to the disciples of Jesus to believe in Me and My Messenger, they said: "We believe. And bear witness that we are Muslims."

63. An-Nisa 4:159 There is not one of the People of the Book who will not believe in Jesus before his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them.

64. Every one of the People of the Book will definitely believe in him before his death. And on the Day of Judgment, Jesus will be a witness against them.

65. Al-Ahzab 33:7 And when We exacted a covenant from the prophets, and from you, O Muhammad, and from Noah and Abraham and Moses and Jesus, son of Mary. We took from them a solemn covenant.

66. Ali 'Imran 3:55 When Allah said: "O Jesus! I will recall you and raise you up to Me and will purify you of the company of those who disbelieve, and will set your followers above the unbelievers till the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me you shall return, and I will judge between you regarding what you differed.

Jesus (Isa) is mentioned 235 times in the Quran, I just you an example of 66 verses.

Jesus in the Bible

The extensive references to Jesus in the Bible emphasize his role as the central figure in Christianity. From his miraculous birth to his teachings, crucifixion, and resurrection, Jesus' story is the foundation of Christian faith.

Key Verses from the Bible:

• Matthew 1:21: "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."

• John 14:6: "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'"

• Luke 24:6-7: "He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'"

Interpretations and Reflections

Jesus is a revered figure in both Christianity and Islam, though the two faiths view him differently. In Christianity, he is the Son of God and the savior of humanity. In Islam, he is a prophet and a servant of Allah, born of the Virgin Mary.

In our journey through life, we often seek guidance and wisdom beyond our own understanding. St. Mykul’s prayer is a beautiful expression of this desire, a heartfelt plea for divine intervention and alignment with Jehovah’s will. It serves as a reminder of the profound connection we can cultivate with the divine, allowing us to become vessels of His wisdom and love.

St. Mykul’s prayer:

“I pray for Jehovah to speak through me all the time, and I pray for Jehovah to remove all my thoughts, and implant His thoughts all the time, as I do not even want my thoughts.”