We have touched on this above, but let us be crystal clear in the distinction between Muhammad and Jesus in the area of sin and character. Jesus was tempted in all points as are we, but was without sin. Muhammad was tempted, and like the rest of us, yielded to temptation.

Lings tells the story of the night Muhammad inadvertently caught a glimpse of the scantily-clad wife of his adopted son. He immediately desired her. Later he gets a revelation that it is perfectly acceptable for his son to divorce this woman and yield her to Muhammad, a man of almost 60 by this time. This will be his 5th wife. He is given permission not only to take another man's wife but to exceed the normal Muslim limit of four wives.

So much of what we would call character flaw, namely, his sexual life and his anger and his much bloodshed, is covered over by revelations that make it all sound holy and appropriate for an advanced man of God.

Nevertheless they don't come any more advanced than Jesus of Nazareth, and never once did He yield to such things. And that record is in the same Book that tells of adulterer David and polygamist Solomon and deceiver Jacob and all the rest. Never has there been a holy book with such un-holy revelations about its main characters. But of Jesus it is said that the Devil had nothing in Him. The only sin He ever experienced was yours and mine, when He became sin for us.