Islam_in_Focus_text

as Joseph of Armathaea? This Joseph, according to Luke,
was wealthy and very interested in Jesus, and was a counse-
lor who did not consent to the counsel in the decision to re-
fer Jesus for crucifixion. Could he not have tried, even by
bribing the corruptible governor, to save Jesus from crucifix-
ion after he had failed to do so in the council chamber?
1 1 . How
many disciples did actually witness the alleged
crucifixion of Jesus, and what were their reactions? Can it be
true what Matthew says (26:56) that all the disciples forsook
Him and fled? Is this the criterion of the integrity and char-
acter of such great disciples of a great teacher? Only the be-
loved John is reported to have been present at the scene. But
how long was he present and how long did it take the con-
demned person to die on the cross in those days? According
to some reliable historical sources (see the article on the
Cross, The Chambers' Encyclopaedia, 1950), it usually took
a few days for the condemned to die on the cross. But why
was it only a few hours, not the usual few days, in the case
of Jesus? And why did he "die" on the cross while his two
other companions survived him? What about the darkness
which overshadowed all the land for three hours of the cruci-
fixion pericd (Matthew, 27:45; Mark, 15:33; Luke, 23:44);
Could a replacement or substitution have taken place on the
cross under the purple robe during that period of darkness
and confusion?