Virginia Tech Killer References Jesus, Story of Abraham
April 19, 2007
I read this morning that, after comparing his death to that of Jesus Christ, Cho Sueng Hui, the Virginia Tech shooter, died with the name "Ismail Ax" written in red ink on his arm. Let's examine just what that's all about.
Abraham, father of the Jews, Muslims and Christians, was born in Iraq, the son of a wealthy idol manufacturer. Abraham came to believe that there was only one true God and, according to tradition, took up his ax and destroyed his father's idols.
After leaving Iraq and relocating to present-day Israel, he and a concubine bore a son, Ishmael. (The Muslim world prefers the Arabic spelling of the name: Ismail). When Abraham then had a son, Isaac, by his rightful wife, Ishmael and his mother were disinherited and sent out into what is now Saudi Arabia, and Isaac became the heir.
In a story that is familiar to most, God decided to test Abraham by telling him to kill his son, Isaac. Abraham took up the knife, but God stopped him at the last moment. Isaac lived and eventually became a man of great wealth. Ishmael, however, became a desert warrior chieftain. The Jews are the descendants of Isaac, while the Arabs are the descendants of Ishmael.
In the 7th Century, Muhammad, the founder of Islam, rewrote the story, naming Ismail as the true faithful descendant of Abraham, and that it was Ismail, not Isaac, whom God told Abraham to sacrifice (and then saved). For Muslims, Ismail, not Isaac, was the true "Son of Sacrifice." In the original version of the story, Abraham used a knife, but in some of the later Muslim versions, however, he used - surprise surprise - an ax.
Centuries later, a sullen, angry young man who rages against the wealthy and apparently against Christians, writes a play in which a mother and son try to kill his step-father. In the end, the boy is murdered by the step-father with a deadly blow.
Another thing I found interesting (and deeply disturbing) about Cho Sueng Hui was how, in a video testimony, he likened himself to Jesus Christ. "You thought it was one pathetic life you were extinguishing. Thanks to you, I die like Jesus Christ, who inspired generations of the weak and defenseless people," he said monotonously, scowling into the camera.
Of the wealthy, he later added, "You just love to crucifying me!"
My initial reaction to hearing/watching the video was one of anger and resentment. It sickened me to see the name of Jesus Chris, my Savior, besmirched by a wanton sinner. Those feelings, however, were subsequently replaced by stronger ones of deep sorrow for the entire Virginia Tech community and their families.