The Meaning of “We are helpers of God”

Regarding the meaning of “We are helpers of God”, there are several possibilities:

When Jesus (a.s.) said he wanted to take the path to paradise, asking who would accompany him on this spiritual journey, the disciples declared their companionship with the phrase “We are helpers of God.” In this possibility, there is no mention of sacrifice and struggle with wealth and life.

When Jesus (a.s.) faced conspiracy, he asked: who would help him by sacrificing their life? One person voluntarily sacrificed their life. This possibility can be accepted based on “and for their saying, ‘We killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the messenger of God’—though they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but so it was made to appear to them”;(486) however, it has a deficiency that will be addressed.

When Jesus (a.s.) saw the evident disbelief of his enemies and became aware of their conspiracy, like Abraham (a.s.) who said “Indeed I am going toward my Lord, who will guide me”,(487) he rose to fight against them and sought help from the disciples, who then took steps in this path, affirming their belief, making a covenant with God, and pledging allegiance to Jesus (a.s.).

The first possibility cannot be accepted because firstly, it has no Qur’anic evidence, and secondly, it presents human progression as isolated from society and towards seclusion, seeking paradise without enduring any hardship.

The second possibility is somewhat free from the deficiency of the first possibility, as it involves enduring hardship; however, not on the battlefield, but rather situational and temporary hardships. This is like the story of Abraham (a.s.) who said to his son (the sacrificed one): “My son! I see in a dream that I am sacrificing you.”(488) This act involves enduring hardship in God’s path. It is also similar to the Night of Sleep (Laylat al-Mabīt), when the blessed presence of the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) slept in the Prophet’s (s.a.w.) bed, and the verse “And among the people is he who sells his soul seeking the pleasure of God, and God is most kind to [His] servants”(489) was revealed about him.(490)

Based on this, when a group intended to kill Jesus Christ (a.s.), Jesus (a.s.) said: who would become like him and prepare themselves to be killed in the path of God’s religion, so that his religion would be helped. It should be noted that the first and second possibilities, in addition to being somewhat forced, are also not consistent with this verse: “The disciples said, ‘We are God’s helpers.’ Then a group of the Children of Israel believed, and a group disbelieved. Then We strengthened those who believed against their enemy, and they became dominant.”(491) O believers! Be helpers of God’s religion like the disciples of Jesus (a.s.), so that God will be your helper and make you victorious, just as He made the disciples of Jesus (a.s.) victorious.

The third possibility is neither forced upon the verse nor inconsistent with the aforementioned verse,(492) which discusses the disciples’ struggle against the disbelievers among the Children of Israel and the disciples’ victory.