A Muslim named Adan Cabdi posed this question to me –
Here is my response. Please note, my experience with many Muslims who are not in the United States are quite combative and without some significant push back, there is a seeming lack of respect. So, having said that, you may not find this response to be what you would say, but I’m curious. What would you actually say?
Adan, why do you care where Jesus was on any hour, if you don’t believe God’s word was preserved and that Jesus is truly THE Son of God? Alhamd-Jesus. (We had already had an exchange where he said the Injeel was corrupted by man, with the implication that Qur’an is perfectly preserved. I had already cited from Qur’an that all of God’s word was preserved. He didn’t respond, but that’s why I took this perspective with him.)
According to John the Jew – Pilate said he found no fault in Jesus (meaning his perfection). The Jews then said, “according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.” Alhamd-Jesus.
John makes an interesting comment.
“Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, ‘behold the Lamb of God!'”
John continues a couple verses later, “He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).” If John was speaking by the Jewish time-keeping, it is now 4pm and the day is over at 6pm. I hope I’m not being to remedial for you. If you already knew this, then please let me know.
So, there is no point in saying “and remained with Him that day” if it were only for 2 hours. HOWEVER, if John was using Roman time-keeping, the 10th hour of the day is 10AM, starting from the 12am starting point. There is far more credibility and evidence to make this point. And so, saying they remained with him that day, makes far more sense.
Now, they “captured” Jesus at night. You know this right? It was after the last supper which would be sometime after nightfall and then later that evening he takes some disciples and they fall asleep on Jesus a couple times. Then Judas comes and they take Jesus away sometime in the night.
So – regarding what you asked – when John says, in 19:14 “Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”” – it was 6AM. You are still with me right? Keep that sixth hour in mind…
John wrote his gospel nearer the end of the 1st Century. Maybe around 90-95AD at a time when Jews and MANY Gentiles were now followers of the risen Jesus. Alhamd-Jesus
Mark however wrote earlier, perhaps in the late 50’s AD and he wrote with a Jewish audience in mind, as it was mostly Jews who had become disciples. NOT ALL, but most. When Mark says the 6th hour, he is using the Jewish time, which starts at 6AM. Do the math and we are looking at 12PM.
This is why it is so difficult to speak with Muslims who try so hard to look here, there and everywhere for conflicts in the Bible, but yet have no proof, ever. It is true, God/ALLAH preserves the Word of God in Injeel. Alhamd-Jesus. Habibi, God is Good and God is Faithful. He loves you, even if you hate the Jesus of the Bible. But I’m here to share the truth with you. But, you have to be able to hear it, to learn it. Peace and blessings to you.
For this audience: When Muslims say Alhamdulillah, they are saying “God is the Greatest.” Since, I am a Christian and Jesus is God – I say Alhamd-Jesus or Alhamdu-Isa – to reflect that Jesus is the Greatest. Isa is the Arabic of Jesus.