Bassam Zawadi another Apologist who won't hesitate to Distort the Bible and it's Meaning Wrote an Article and alleged Supposed "Contradiction" as to whether Jesus Performed a Sign or Not.
By God;s Help I will refute this Lie and show that Bassam Zawadi arguments can be answered once Again.
Here is his Article:
Did Jesus Perform Any Signs? If He Did Then How Many?
By
Bassam Zawadi
There is a contradiction in the Bible. In one verse we read that Jesus said that no sign will be given to his generation:
Mark 8:11-13
11The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign (semeion) from heaven. 12He sighed deeply and said, "Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign (semeion)? I tell you the truth, no sign (semeion) will be given to it." 13Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
However, in another place it says that his generation would be given the sign of Jonah...
Matthew 12:38-39
38Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign (semeion) from you." 39He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign (semeion)! But none will be given it except the sign (semeion) of the prophet Jonah.
Some Christians might try to say that Jesus meant that they would not receive a sign from heaven in Mark 8; however Jesus made it clear that they would not receive any semeion and did not specify which kind. Jesus said no semeion would be given to his generation. However, we don't see this in Matthew.
Source of information:
http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/c/1138988400-5563.html#38 (concordance for Matthew 12:38)
http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/c/1138988426-704.html#39 (concordance for Matthew 12:39)
http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/c/1138988338-6435.html#11 (concordance for Mark 8:11)
http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/c/1138988057-1616.html#12 (concordance for Mark 8:12)
Now obviously when Jesus was talking about giving the people the 'Sign of Jonah', he was referring to his alleged resurrection. (What would be miraculous about him dying and being buried?)
Another question that arises is the issue regarding all of Jesus' other miracles such as healing the blind, the leper, resurrecting the dead and feeding thousands with a little amount of food. Aren't all of these miracles considered signs?
Either there is a discrepancy between Jesus saying that he will give NO SIGN to the Jews except the sign of Jonah and him doing other miracles such as healing the blind and raising the dead.
Or the other option is Christians stating that Jesus' healing of the blind and his raising of the dead were not miracles or signs of his Prophethood. But that makes no sense. If they were not signs, then why would Jesus perform these miracles?
Someone might argue that Jesus meant to say that he would give no sign afterwards from that particular point in time. However, this could easily be refuted by simply reading on after that passage and seeing passages such as Mark 8:22-26, which show that Jesus healed a blind man or Mark 9:14-onwards, which show Jesus performing exorcism on a boy.
Questions That Christians Need to Answer
1) Why did Jesus say that no sign will be given to his generation in Mark 8:11-13, but said that one sign would be given in Matthew 12:38-39? Weren't Mark's audience misled by Mark's Gospel and understood that Jesus told the Jews that he will give them no sign?
2) If you were successful at harmonizing the difficulty above, then how do you explain the fact that Jesus told the Jews that he would only give them ONE SIGN and that is the sign of Jonah, while he did perform other signs such as healing the blind and feeding thousands with a little amount of food?
Bassam First takes issue with the Supposed Contradiction:
Here are verses I will Post them Back to Back:
Mark 8:11-13
11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for A SIGN FROM HEAVEN. 12 He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” 13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
And Matthew's Gospel
38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a SIGN from you.”
39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
First Off to refute Bassam's Lies what he doesn't Tell you is that Matthew Gospel and Mark Gospel are two different instances and Questions from the Jews.
Let me give you the context of both Passages and you'll see that they are different instances.
I'll Give the context of Mark 8:1-13
Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand
8 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said,2 “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”
4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”
5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied.
6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.9 About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, 10 he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12 He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” 13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
So in the The Context of Mark 8 that Bassam Quoted the Jews asked Jesus for a sign FROM HEAVEN after Jesus already Fed the 5 thousand. And the Jews were to blind to see the Truth and then Jesus told them that no SIGN FROM HEAVEN shall be given to the Jews. However I'll show you later in this same instance that Matthew explains this Story in fuller Detail with Jesus uttering Sign Of Jonah, which Mark obviously summarized and did not include it in his Gospel.
Now Let's Read Matthews Gospel and Read the Context:
I will post Matthew 12:22-28 for the context
Jesus and Beelzebul
22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satandrives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul,by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.
30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
The Sign of Jonah
38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth
So it is clear that in Matthews Gospel this is a Different encounter with Jews, Because this is the context that Jesus Healed and cast out Demons and still this wasn't Good enough for the Jews. The Jews Called him Beelzebul the Prince Of Demons and Jesus then had to explain to them that Kingdom can't divide against itself, in other words Satan cannot cast out Satan.
So it's clear in the context of Matthew why Jesus calls them an EVIL AND ADULTEROUS GENERATION because they claimed that Jesus was acting in the name of Satan. The Jews Asked Jesus for A SIGN (NOT A SIGN FROM HEAVEN) but a Sign and now Jesus tells them that the only sign that they will get will be THE SIGN OF JONAH.
So I don't Know how Bassam can say that this is a Supposed "Contradiction" because when we read the context they are two different instances and Questions.
IN Mark's Gospel The Jews ask Jesus for a Sign From Heaven, while in Matthews Gospel the Jews ask Jesus to show them A SIGN, NOT A SIGN FROM HEAVEN, and then Jesus calls them a Wicked an Adulterous Generation because that are blind and are hypocrites and called Jesus a evil worker of Satan when he casted out the Demon From The Possessed Man.
Different Event at Different Times So Bassam is Making a black Case.
So Jesus is Saying In Marks Gospel that NO SIGN FROM HEAVEN SHALL BE GIVEN TO THE JEWS AT ALL. HOWEVER I'LL SHOW YOU FROM MATTHEWS GOSPEL IN THE SAME EVENT JESUS INCLUDES THE SIGN OF JONAH, WHILE MARK DOESN'T AND JUST FOCUSES ON THE SIGN FROM HEAVEN THAT WILL NOT BE SHOWN.
And in Matthew's Gospel Jesus says THAT no sign WILL BE given ACCEPT THE SIGN OF JONAH AND THE WHALE.
NO CONTRADICTION.
Bassam then says "Now obviously when Jesus was talking about giving the people the 'Sign of Jonah', he was referring to his alleged resurrection. (What would be miraculous about him dying and being buried?)
Another question that arises is the issue regarding all of Jesus' other miracles such as healing the blind, the leper, resurrecting the dead and feeding thousands with a little amount of food. Aren't all of these miracles considered signs?
Either there is a discrepancy between Jesus saying that he will give NO SIGN to the Jews except the sign of Jonah and him doing other miracles such as healing the blind and raising the dead.
Or the other option is Christians stating that Jesus' healing of the blind and his raising of the dead were not miracles or signs of his Prophethood. But that makes no sense. If they were not signs, then why would Jesus perform these miracles?
Someone might argue that Jesus meant to say that he would give no sign afterwards from that particular point in time. However, this could easily be refuted by simply reading on after that passage and seeing passages such as Mark 8:22-26, which show that Jesus healed a blind man or Mark 9:14-onwards, which show Jesus performing exorcism on a boy."
Bassam Then Says that there's another problem because Jesus did many Miracles and therefore he did Many Signs.
The answer to this Question is simple Jesus Did perform Signs and Wonders but the People Did not accept him for who he is in other words Jesus performed so many Signs to confirm who he is but the Jews didn't believe that these were Signs but works from Satan.
In fact Bassam has to be consistent if Jesus did perform Signs as He did then why did the Jews ASK JESUS for Signs even tho he already Showed them his Miracles, Very Simply because the Jews did not consider Jesus's Miracles as Signs but sorcery or acts of Blasphemy, So Jesus says the Sign that will be given to you to Know who I really am will be My Death Burial and Resurrection which will prove that all My Miracles and my Wonders that I have done in front of you for years the Father will testify of it and ME and Confirm who I really I am by Resurrecting Me From the Dead.
In other Words the ONLY SIGN That will make the Jews Believe IN Jesus will be his Death Burial and Resurrection from the Dead because this will confirm ALL THE MIRACLES THAT CHRIST DID AND ALL THE THINGS THAT HE SAID ABOUT HIMSELF.
So Bassam is being Deceptive when handling Material.
And for further Proof that these are different Instances and Events I will quote Matthews Gospel where Jesus Feeds the 4 thousand.
And Here is is Matthew 15:29 -16:4
Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand
29 Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. 30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”
33 His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”
34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”
35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.
So This Passage is the Event From Marks Gospel when Jesus Also Feeds the 4 Thousand.
And here is same sign that the Jews Asked For in Marks Gospel that Bassam Zawadi Obviously Didn't Want you to Know.
The Demand for a Sign
16 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a SIGN FROM HEAVEN.
2 He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ 3 and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.[a] 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.
So We See Here in Matthews Gospel After Jesus Fed The 4 thousand The Jews Also asked JESUS for A Sign FROM HEAVEN,JUST LIKE MARKS GOSPEL and In Matthews Gospel we get the fuller Picture of the Story Jesus explains to them ABOUT THE SIGN FROM HEAVEN WHICH MARK CUTS and Then ALSO CALLS them Wicked and Adulterous Generation and says that NO SIGN SHALL BE GIVEN EXCEPT THE SIGN OF JONAH,WHICH MARK ALSO CUTS OUT BUT FOCUSES ON THE THE SIGN FROM HEAVEN AND LEAVES OUT THE SIGN OF JONAH.
It is clear that IN Mark's Gospel Mark cuts out the conversation of how Jesus explains to the Jews about the SIGN FROM HEAVEN and Calls them a Wicked Generation and Just Focuses on how SIGN FROM HEAVEN WILL NOT BE GIVEN that The Jews asked Jesus about but cuts out the Part where Jesus says that The only Sign that will be given to them is the Sign Of Jonah.
I will Post Marks Version of the Sign From Heaven and Re post Matthew Version and Put Both Stories together to show you that they perfectly Agree with each other.
Mark 18:11-13
11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for A SIGN FROM HEAVEN. 12 He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” 13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
Matthew 16:4
16 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a SIGN FROM HEAVEN.
2 He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ 3 and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.[a] 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.
So According to Both Mark and Matthew the Pharisees wanted Test Jesus.
Here are the Passages "MARK
The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him"
AND "MATTHEW
The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him"
Also Both Mark and Matthew agree that the Pharisees asked Jesus for a Sign From Heaven.
"Mark
they asked him for A SIGN FROM HEAVEN"
AND "Matthew
by asking him to show them a SIGN FROM HEAVEN"
And then from Here Matthew explains what Jesus says regarding the SIGN from heaven While Marks Skips all of this and says that Jesus tells them that NO Sign Shall be given to the Jews and then Matthew Continues Off Marks Gospel and adds in the Information where Jesus talks about the Sign of Jonah and The Sign From Heaven.
So Mark Jesus says "
“Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.”
So Mark Here is summarizing what Jesus Said in Matthews Gospel and just focuses on the Sign from Heaven that That the Jews asked about and then Matthew continues it off and says "
except the sign of Jonah.”
So Matthew explains Marks Story in Fuller Detail and also notice after Jesus says these words Both Matthew and Mark end the verse the same " Matthew
Jesus then left them and went away"
And In "Mark
”
Then he left them
."
So it is Clear that Both Matthew and Mark agree because they record the same incident However Matthew gives a FULL PICTURE of the Story While Mark summarizes and Just Focuses on the Sign from Heaven that the Jews asked Jesus about but leaves out The Sign Of Jonah,While Matthew Gives us the fuller story and Jesus does mention the Sign of Jonah.
You see how Deceptive Bassam is, Mark and Matthew Agree on the Events about the Sign of Jonah.
And another thing The passages that Bassam Quoted originally From Matthew
12:22-28 and Mark 8:11-13 are different Events and Contexts that's why I had to give you the passage from Matthew 15:29 -16:4 which is the same event where the Jews Also ask Jesus for A sign FROM HEAVEN and Jesus also says that NO SIGN shall be given Except the Sign From Jonah however Mark cuts that out Again and Focuses on the Sign from Heaven where There will be no Sign but doesn't include the Sign Of Jonah.
And as you can see Jesus Leaves them be in Both Stories because it's the same incident.
Bassam Then Post Questions "
Questions That Christians Need to Answer
1) Why did Jesus say that no sign will be given to his generation in Mark 8:11-13, but said that one sign would be given in Matthew 12:38-39? Weren't Mark's audience misled by Mark's Gospel and understood that Jesus told the Jews that he will give them no sign?
2) If you were successful at harmonizing the difficulty above, then how do you explain the fact that Jesus told the Jews that he would only give them ONE SIGN and that is the sign of Jonah, while he did perform other signs such as healing the blind and feeding thousands with a little amount of food?
The Answer to his First Question Is Easy Jesus in Mark 8:11-13 said that no Sign shall given from Heaven,however Mark Doesn't Include the Sign Of Jonah From Matthews Gospel,However in the very Same incident Matthew
15:29 -16:4 gives the fuller Picture of the Incident where Jesus utters the Sign Of Jonah. Also The Passage that Bassam Quoted were different Events to begin with they weren't the same Events, However Matthew records the same events from Mark 8:11-13 and gives a Fuller Picture to the Story and utters the sign of Jonah from Matthew 15:29 and adds on from Mark's Gospel where Jesus says that they will be No Sign from Heaven but stops there and Matthew continues on. And the answer to your Second Question is Is also Easy Jesus said that they will be ONE SIGN because according to the Jews Jesus;s Miracles weren't SIGNS OR MIRACLES but sorcery and Demonic activity. If you Read the Context The Jews called Jesus Beelzebub the Prince of Demons in Matthews Gospel After he Healed The Possessed Man. In Other words THE ONLY SIGN where the Jews will believe in Jesus is his Death Burial and Resurrection, to show and confirm who he Really is and all the Miracles and Wonders that he Did because No Matter what Jesus did or how much Miracles he did the Jews still would not believe him or consider them signs at all or miracles but Magic and Sorcery. The SIGN of JONAH is the sign that has God's approval of who Jesus is because If Jesus Did all those Miracles and the Jews Didn't believe in him those are not Signs according to them but If Jesus is put to death as a Blasphemer and is Raised to life then that means he really was who he said to be and what he did concerning Miracles was absolutely True.
So to sum up Jesus Did Say that there will no Sign From Heaven given to the Jews in both Matthew and Marks Gospel, However Mark Cuts out the Sign of Jonah and Just Focus's on the Sign From Heaven that will not be Given which both Gospels Agree and Matthew in The same incident continues in more Detail and includes the Sign Of Jonah that Mark Left Out.
So Much Bassam again for a Supposed Contradiction and Bassam Puts himself now in the same situation as Paul and Saami because he used the Very Books to Supposedly Prove his Case, that prove Muhammad is a False Prophet and That Islam is False.
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