Consider with me this noble verse from Surat Al Imran (verse 45):
“When the angels said, ‘O Mary, indeed God gives you good tidings of a word from Him. His name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, distinguished in this world and the hereafter. “the close ones”
This verse represents a golden bridge between the Qur’an and the Bible. It not only tells us about the Annunciation of Mary, but also gives us keys to know the person of Christ as narrated in the Gospels.
First: the same good news, the same joy
The beautiful thing is that the good news of the birth of Christ was mentioned in our two holy books with the same great sentiments:
| In the Qur’an | In the Bible |
|---|---|
| The angels tell Mary that she will have a son | The angel Gabriel tells her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And, behold, you will conceive and bear a son, and you will name his name Jesus” (Luke 1: 30-31) |
| The son is called “Christ” | The proclaimed Son is “Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11) |
| He is “honorable in this world and the hereafter” | All “testify of him and marvel at his words of grace” (Luke 4:22) |
Second: What does it mean that “His name is Christ Jesus, son of Mary”?
This triple name carries deep meanings:
- Jesus: It means “anointed” or chosen. In the Bible, we see that Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit to be a prophet, priest, and king (Acts 10:38). It is what was promised from ancient times.
- Issa: It is a personal name, and it means “God saves.” The Gospel of Matthew says: “And you will call him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
- Son of Maryam: This phrase always reminds us of the miracle. He is the son of Mary without a human father, preserving her dignity. In the Gospel, Mary is called “the mother of Jesus” (John 2:1), and his lineage receives special attention.
Third: The good news of the title “A Word from Him”
The verse calls it “a word from Him.” We have already talked in a previous article about the meaning of the word. But let’s read how the Bible tells the same idea:
The Evangelist John says: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
Consider this beautiful similarity: What the Qur’an told us that Christ was a “word from God,” the Gospel explains by saying that this word “became flesh” in the person of Jesus Christ. It’s the same truth, but in more detail.
Fourth: “He is honorable in this world and the hereafter.”
What does it mean that he is worthy in this world and the hereafter? The Bible fills this phrase with life:
- Good in this world: We see him teaching people with love, healing the sick, accepting sinners and repentants, and Peter says about him: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).
- Good in the hereafter: In John’s Revelation we see him as a “standing Lamb” (Revelation 5:6) who will have all glory and honor and who will judge the world in righteousness.
Conclusion: An invitation to read
The Quranic verse about Christ is like a great business card. If we want to meet this “reputable” and “close” person, the Bible opens the door for us to get to know him closely.
Perhaps this is an invitation for each of us to open our book and ask honestly: Who is this great person whom more than two billion people on the face of the earth have come together to love and respect?