Did Jesus Survive the Crucifixion?

For nearly two thousand years, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ have stood as cornerstones of Christian faith. According to church teachings, Jesus was crucified, died on the cross, and rose from the dead three days later, securing the hope of salvation for all believers. Yet, a fascinating question continues to linger through the ages: Did Jesus actually die on the cross? Or is it possible that he somehow survived?

In recent years, this age-old mystery has resurfaced, fueled by the discovery of ancient texts that challenge the established narrative. Islamic scriptures and Gnostic writings hint that while the crucifixion may have been witnessed by many, Jesus’ death might not have been as certain as tradition suggests. Could history’s most famous death be the greatest mystery of all?

A Mysterious Verse and the Question of Transmigration

In the Gospel of Matthew, there is a curious exchange between Jesus and his disciples that some interpret as a subtle clue to a larger mystery. In Matthew 16:13-16, Jesus asks his disciples who people believe he is. Their replies are curious: 

"Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

What could this mean? The suggestion that Jesus could be John the Baptist - who had died only shortly before this conversation - raises the possibility of a concept that was present in ancient thought: the transmigration of souls, or metempsychosis—the idea that a soul could move between bodies, even entering into an adult. This concept opens the door to an alternative reading of the Passion story.

The Islamic Perspective: “They Did Not Kill Him”

In Islamic tradition, the belief that Jesus was not crucified is deeply embedded. The Quran presents a counter-narrative to the Christian story, stating that Jesus was not killed, nor was he crucified, but that it appeared so to the onlookers:

"And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Mary, the apostle of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so (like Isa) and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow conjecture, and they killed him not for sure." — Quran 4:157

This verse casts doubt on the literal death of Jesus, suggesting instead that what people witnessed was merely an illusion or a substitute in Jesus’ place. The question remains: If Jesus was not killed, what exactly happened? How was it made to appear as though he had been crucified?

Adding to this mystery is another Quranic verse that hints at a long life for Jesus:

“And he shall speak to the people when in the cradle and when of old age, and (he shall be) one of the good ones.” — Quran 3:46

The reference to his "old age" suggests a life much longer than the 33 years traditionally believed. The Quranic narrative seems to imply that Jesus’ departure from this world occurred long after the crucifixion. Perhaps surprisingly, this belief in Jesus being spared from death originated in early Christian texts.

The “Gnostic” Perspective: A Secret Escape?

The idea that Jesus didn't die on the cross poses a direct challenge to Christian orthodoxy. Early Church councils, particularly the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, sought to solidify certain doctrines, including the divinity of Christ and the belief in his bodily resurrection. Other texts, such as the so-called “gnostic gospels,” which presented conflicting accounts of Jesus’ death, were deemed heretical and were largely destroyed. But, in 1945 copies of these texts were discovered in Egypt. Fascinatingly, their discovery corresponds to the time in which the Qaim has emerged.  

The Quran presents two critical ideas: that Jesus did not die, yet it appeared as though he did. Could this suggest a separation between Jesus's physical body and his soul? Might the crucifixion have involved only the body, while his soul lived on? Interestingly, several of the gnostic gospels confirm this very notion. In fact, these texts reveal further details about the story. 

In The Revelation of Peter, Jesus states:

“He whom you saw on the tree, glad and laughing, this is the living Jesus. But this one into whose hands and feet they drive the nails is his fleshly part, which is the substitute being put to shame, the one who came into being in his likeness. But look at him and me.”

Here, the "living Jesus" is understood as the eternal soul, while the figure on the cross is a substitute, someone who assumed Jesus’s body. 

Similarly, in The Second Treatise of the Great Seth, Jesus is said to have escaped death through transmigration:

“I did not die in reality but in appearance, lest I be put to shame by them… It was another, Simon, who bore the cross on his shoulder. I was another upon whom they placed the crown of thorns.”

This passage names Simon of Cyrene, a figure mentioned in the canonical Gospels, as the one who bore the physical cross. In the New Testament, we read:

“As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross.” — Matthew 27:32

Could it be that Simon not only carried Jesus' cross but also became a stand-in for Jesus during the crucifixion? According to gnostic texts, Simon’s body was used as a substitute, while Jesus' soul transferred to another body. 

Transmigration: Jesus’ Soul in a New Body? 

In The Second Treatise of the Great Seth, Jesus speaks of entering another body after leaving his own:

“I visited a bodily dwelling. I cast out the one who was in it first, and I went in. And the whole multitude of the archons became troubled. And all the matter of the archons, as well as all the begotten powers of the earth, were shaken when it saw the likeness of the Image, since it was mixed. And I am the one who was in it, not resembling him who was in it first…

And I subjected all their powers. For as I came downward, no one saw me. For I was altering my shapes, changing from form to form. And therefore, when I was at their gates, I assumed their likeness. For I passed them by quietly, and I was viewing the places, and I was not afraid nor ashamed, for I was undefiled. And I was speaking with them, mingling with them through those who are mine, and trampling on those who are harsh to them with zeal, and quenching the flame. And I was doing all these things because of my desire to accomplish what I desired by the will of the Father above.”

It may sound shocking to the modern Christian, however, these ideas were well-known and widely circulated in early Christian communities as evidenced by historical writings. For example, In the Gospel of Basilides, Saint Irenaeus reported that Basilides taught that Jesus did not die on the cross; but that the person crucified was, in fact, Simon of Cyrene. Irenaeus quotes Basilides: 

"He appeared on earth as a man and performed miracles. Thus he himself did not suffer. Rather, a certain Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry his cross for him. It was he who was ignorantly and erroneously crucified, being transfigured by him, so that he might be thought to be Jesus. Moreover, Jesus assumed the form of Simon, and stood by laughing at them." — Irenaeus, Against Heresies

This notion that Jesus' soul could leave his body and inhabit another aligns with the Quranic narrative that Jesus died only in appearance. It also might explain the strange events following the resurrection, where Jesus appeared to his disciples but was strangely unrecognizable.

For instance, when Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene after the resurrection, she did not realize it was him. According to the Gospel of John:

“At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, ‘Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?’ Thinking he was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’”— John 20:14-16

Why didn’t Mary recognize Jesus, someone she had followed so closely? Was it because his appearance had changed?

Post-Crucifixion Appearances: An Unrecognizable Jesus

The post-resurrection appearances of Jesus described in the New Testament are puzzling when viewed through the lens of traditional Christian doctrine. Each time Jesus appears, his followers struggle to recognize him, as if he was a different person.

In John 21, Jesus appears to his disciples by the Sea of Galilee, but they fail to identify him:

“Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee....Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”… — John 21:1, 4-7

None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord…This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.” — John 21:12-14

The disciples failed to recognize their beloved teacher even on the third time he appeared to them after the crucifixion. How would this be possible, if he did not assume a new appearance each time he saw them? Further accounts, like the appearance of Jesus to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, provide additional evidence of this:

“Afterward he appeared in a different form to two of his followers who were walking from Jerusalem into the country.” — Mark 16:12

Jesus’s followers in this account spent the entire day with Jesus before realizing his identity. 

Beyond the canonical gospels we find apocryphal texts that indicate Jesus was unrecognizable. One such example is the Secret Book of James. This text states that jesus appeared to his disciples well over a year after the resurrection, 

"Five hundred fifty days after he rose from the dead, we said to him, 'Did you depart and leave us?' Jesus said, 'No, but I shall return to the place from which I came. If you want to come with me, come.'” — The Secret Book of James

This passage suggests that Jesus did not leave the earthly realm but existed in another form, in another place, awaiting the right moment to return. Another inexplicable appearance of Jesus is recounted in The Acts of Peter and the Apostles, where the disciples encounter a pearl salesman named Lithargoel and follow him on a long journey. After spending a significant amount of time with him, they discover he was not a pearl salesman after all.

“He said to Peter, "Peter!" And Peter was frightened, for how did he know that his name was Peter? Peter responded..."How do you know me, for you called my name?" Lithargoel answered, "I want to ask you who gave the name Peter to you?" He said to him, "It was Jesus Christ, the son of the living God. He gave this name to me." He answered and said, "It is I! Recognize me, Peter." He loosened the garment, which clothed him - the one into which he had changed himself because of us - revealing to us in truth that it was he.”

All of these accounts clearly demonstrate that Jesus’s soul escaped the crucifixion and lived on. Meanwhile, the fact remains that his body was crucified. So who was the substitute referenced in the scriptures, who bore the cross?

Who was the Lookalike of Jesus?

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus says: 

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it...” — Mark 8:34-35

The only follower of Christ who did just that was Simon of Cyrene. He came to the aid of Jesus in his time of need. The idea that Jesus was aided by one follower is also found in the narrations. When Jesus asked his disciples, which of them would be willing to be crucified in his place, a youth volunteered. 

“When Allah (SWT) intended to raise Jesus to Him, He gathered his companions. In the house were twelve men from the disciples. As His hair and head were dripping with water, Jesus said to them, ‘Verily, from you are those who will disbelieve in me twelve times after they have believed in me. Which of you would be willing to take my likeness and be killed in my place, and be with me at the same degree?’ A youth volunteered, and Jesus said, ‘That’s you.’” — Tafsir Al Quran Al Azeem by Ibn Abi Hatem, p. 1110, Hadith no. 6232

This narration suggests that Jesus offered his companions a chance to assume his role and rank, the rank of a Mahdi. We find the same theme in the gospels of the Bible, when Jesus prays for the cup to be removed from him. Notably, at that moment an angel appears in order to strengthen him. 

“'Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.' An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him." — Luke 22:42-43

Would God deny Jesus’s request? Surely not. Indeed, Jesus himself states in the Gospels that he possesses God-given authority to choose whether or not he is to be killed. As he says:

“No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.” — John 10:18

Jesus had not yet completed his mission of establishing the new covenant. His plea to be spared from the crucifixion was not born out of fear or hesitation, but rather a desire to fulfill his divine purpose. In this light, he sought the help of one of his followers to stand in his place. This brings forth an intriguing question: Who was this mysterious substitute—referred to as Simon of Cyrene, the youth who volunteered, or the angel who strengthened Jesus?

To understand this, we turn to the gospel account of the Transfiguration, which offers a glimpse into the deeper, spiritual nature of Jesus's discipleship. In this story, it becomes evident that Jesus was not only followed by disciples in physical bodies but also by spiritual companions.

“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’” — Matthew 17:1-4

For a brief moment, Jesus’s disciples glimpsed the unseen, seeing Jesus in his true form of light alongside Moses and Elijah. Their appearance seemed so real that the disciples wanted to build tents for them. This suggests that other prophetic souls followed Jesus as well. The youth who volunteered to take Jesus’s place on the cross was among these spiritual companions.

According to The Goal of the Wise, Chapter 12,

“Simon of Cyrene, honored in the Bible as the only man who carried Jesus’s cross, was from the city of Cyrene, which was part of Egypt before becoming part of the Roman Empire. Simon traveled from Egypt to Jerusalem. The soul of Joseph descended into this Egyptian man who helped Jesus carry his cross. Jesus and Joseph then switched bodies; the soul of Jesus entered Simon, while the soul of Joseph, the substitute, entered the body of Jesus. The body of Jesus, with Joseph’s soul in it, was crucified, while Jesus escaped through Simon’s body. Thus, the look-alike of Jesus was the Egyptian companion, Joseph.”

Prophet Joseph was an incarnation of the Second Mahdi Aba Al Sadiq, peace be upon him. Additionally, from The Goal of the Wise, we know that Joseph in the soul world is a grandson of Imam Ali. According to the narrations, the Prophet Muhammad had prayed that the look-alike of Jesus be a successor to Imam Ali.

“…O Allah, grant him the endurance of Moses and make in his lineage the look-alike of Jesus (PBUH).” — Al-Ghayba, Muhammad Ibn-e Ibrahim Al-Nu'mani, Vol. 1, p. 142-143

Regarding the one who was crucified, the Bible mentions,

“Saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’” — Revelation 5:12

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” — Isaiah 53:7

He is repeatedly referred to as a lamb or a youth.

Other incarnations of the Look-Alike include:

• Prophet Joseph: As a young child, he faced oppression from his brothers and imprisonment.

• Abdullah Hashem: The father of Prophet Mohammed. One of his titles is Zabeeh (the sacrificed). He was almost sacrificed by AbdulMuttalib but instead, a hundred camels were sacrificed in his place.

• Abdullah Radhiya: The infant son of Imam Al-Hussein, martyred in Karbala, symbolizing the slaughtered lamb.

• The Qaim, the Youth of Bani Hashem: Imam Mohammad Al Baqir said, “Allah (SWT) has a treasure in Taliqan, neither gold nor silver, but 12,000 from Khurasan. Their slogans are ‘Ahmad, Ahmad!’ A youth from Bani Hashem would lead them on a gray mule, with a red bandanna, as if I see him crossing the Euphrates. If you hear about him, follow him, even if you have to crawl over ice.” — Mutakhab Al Anwar Al Muthee'a, p. 343

Clearly, the theme of sacrifice is continually present around him.

The Crucifixion: An Atonement for Sins

This raises an important question: why is a sacrifice necessary? Since Christians view the crucifixion as the ultimate act of atonement for humanity’s sins, understanding its deeper meaning is crucial. The Goal of the Wise explores the true significance of the crucifixion and sheds light on its impact on humankind.

From the Goal of the Wise, Chapter 13, Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan, peace be upon him, explained: 

“The crucifixion and the crucified were a ransom and sacrifice, as is often said, to forgive the sins of mankind. However, this atonement did not cover all sins from the beginning of creation until the end, but only those of the people who lived during that time. It was meant to absolve the sins of the believers and those who were regretful, but not the sins of the criminals.”

Atonement for the sins of humanity is a concept deeply embedded in the Jewish scriptures. Youm Kaphour was a day in which the High Priest was required to make this sacrifice in a very specific manner within the Holy of Holies of the Temple once a year on the Day of Atonement, as prescribed in the Torah:

“Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year. With the blood of the sin offering of atonement he shall make atonement for it once in the year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord.” — Exodus 30:10

The sacrifice was carried out annually to erase the sins of the believers that had accumulated over the previous year. Energy, according to the principle of conservation, cannot be created or destroyed. Karma is the universe’s mechanism for returning energy that has been put out, meaning that if sin generates a certain kind of energy, it eventually returns as Karma, in line with the universal law. In order for sins to be forgiven, they must go somewhere. A Hujjah, or prophet can take upon themselves this burden to absolve others of the effects they might face due to their sins. This is driven by their love and mercy for God’s creation. The soul of Joseph chose to make this sacrifice and consequently reached a rank allowing him to return as a Mahdi in this cycle.

The profound significance of sacrifice lies in its beautiful act of selflessness. It does not, however, absolve believers from future sins, as the Church teaches today. People are held accountable for their actions within their own time. Just as one cannot be judged for a crime not yet committed, it follows that one cannot be forgiven for a sin not yet committed.

This Knowledge is the Bridge Between Christianity and Islam

The knowledge shared by Aba Al-Sadiq offers a compelling bridge between Christianity and Islam. His revelation—that Jesus's soul lived on while another endured the crucifixion—provides an astonishing explanation that unites the Quranic and Biblical accounts of the crucifixion and subsequent events.

Jesus “resurrected,” and returned to life in a new body just as the Christians believe and he lived on to speak to people “in old age” just as the Quran states. During his lifetime, Jesus established the Fifth Covenant between God and mankind, not with the Israelites, but with another nation, as he foretold: 

“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.” — Matthew 21:43

This new nation was the Ishmaelites, another fulfillment of God’s words in the Torah:

“And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.” — Genesis 17:12

This shift explains why Islam emerged where it did. Whereas previous covenants were made with the Israelite prophets, Jesus’s covenant extended to the Ishmaelites. The era of Hebrew prophets concluded, but God’s messengers continued. This fascinating revelation also explains curious narrations, which indicate that Jesus lived in Tikrit, modern-day Iraq, despite no scripture recording him there (Bihar al Anwar, vol. 52, p. 375). This narration is referencing the “lost years” of Jesus, after the crucifixion. 

Jesus bestowed the covenant upon a new chosen nation that maintained faith in his message until the arrival of the next Messenger from their own lineage—Prophet Mohammed. This transition explains why the Ishmaelites received the next messenger from among them, whose covenant would be universal.

With this revelation, the unity between these two major faiths becomes clearer than ever. Aba Al-Sadiq’s insights not only clarify the mystery of Jesus's life and mission but also pave the way for greater understanding between Christianity and Islam.

For further exploration into the crucifixion, resurrection, and the "lost years" of Jesus Christ, read The Goal of the Wise by Aba Al-Sadiq or watch The School of Divine Mysteries series.