In order to secure the universality of Muhammad as the seal of all
prophets, Muslims have tried their best to deny Christ’s universal claim (John
14:6). The best way to achieve this has been to demote him to the position of
last national prophet to Israel. Thus, he loses all significance for the Gentiles
to whom Mohammad claimed to be sent. Statements such as, “I was not sent except to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel,” (Matthew 15:24) and Matthew 10:5-6 are
used to support this claim.
There are, of course, passages in the Bible that do speak of Christ’s
universal ministry. For example Jesus said, “I am the light of the world”
(Matthew 8:12). Jesus in the great commission ordered his disciples to “make disciples of all the
nations” (Matthew 28:19, 20). In another place, having seen the faith of a
centurion, he said, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not
even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west,
and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven...”
(Matthew 8: 10-12).
There are also passages in the Old Testament concerning the Servant of
the Lord and his universal mission, passages which, according to the New
Testament, find their fulfilment in Jesus (compare Isaiah 42:1 with Matthew
12:15-21).