Does John 1:20-23, in reference to the prophet, refer to Muhammad? (original) (raw)
John 1:20-23 is where the Jews questioned John the Baptist and asked if he was the prophet spoken of in the Old Testament. John said he was not. In light of this, some Muslims say that the prophet referred to there is Muhammad. But this interpretation can’t work. I’ll show you why by examining the verses in question.
John 1:20–23, “And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.””
The prophet question refers to Deuteronomy. Let’s take a look.
Deuteronomy 18:15–18, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him. 16 “This is according to all that you asked of the Lord your God in Horeb on the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, let me not see this great fire anymore, or I will die.’ 17 “The Lord said to me, ‘They have spoken well. 18 ‘I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.”
Why the Muslims are wrong
First, the text says that the prophet will be raised will be from “your countrymen.” This means he will be a Jew. It cannot be Muhammad because he was not a Jew.
Second, the Quran says, “O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust” (Quran 5:51). So, if Muhammad is the prophet which Deut. 18:15-18 says must be from among the Jews, the countrymen, why does the Quran denounce the Jews?
Third, John the Baptist goes on to say, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘make straight the way of the LORD,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” What is important is that what John quoted was from Isaiah 40:3. In Hebrew, the word “LORD” is YHWH. That is the name of God – which occurs 6517 times in the Old Testament. So, John the Baptist said that he was preparing the way of YHWH. That’s Jesus! It is not Muhammad!
Conclusion
So, the Muslims are wrong. The prophet spoken of by John the Baptist is not Muhammad because he isn’t a Jew. Furthermore, the crowds of Jews recognized that Jesus was the prophet.
Matthew 21:11, “And the crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.'”
Related Articles
Thank you for your interest in supporting CARM. We greatly appreciate your consideration!
We'd love to keep you up to date with what is happening at CARM.
If you have any issues, please call the office at 385-246-1048 or email us at [email protected].
