What is the relationship between Jesus (as) and the Promised Messiah (as)?

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), the Promised Messiah, understood himself as a spiritual representative of Jesus (as). He came in the spirit and attitude of Jesus (as), who rejected violence in the name of religion and won hearts through patience and sacrifice.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) foretold that in a later age the son of Mary would appear among the Muslims as an Imam from among themselves. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) declared that he was this Promised Messiah. He did not see himself as Jesus (as) returned in person, but as his spiritual representative, coming in his spirit and with his attitude.

What is that spirit? Jesus (as) taught not to answer violence with violence. Whoever is struck on one cheek should turn the other as well. Whoever is persecuted in the name of God should show patience. Through such sacrifice one wins more hearts than with the sword. This is the true heart of the message of Jesus (as), even though it was often forgotten later.

This is exactly what makes a Messiah special. Other prophets were given permission by God to defend themselves with the sword when the sword was raised against them. A Messiah, by contrast, stands for the highest sacrifice and for renouncing all violence in the name of religion. That is why the tradition also says that the coming Messiah would bring war to an end.

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) taught exactly this attitude. He declared that fighting with the sword for the faith had no place in his age, and that Islam should spread through reasoning, prayer and good example. Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community still face persecution for their faith today and respond with patience rather than revenge. This shows the close bond between Jesus (as) and the Promised Messiah (as).