I have no doubt that Jesus (AHS) was lifted into heaven and that a look-alike was crucified. Frankly, I think that Jesus (AHS) himself didn't know that he wasn't going to be crucified. Life was a test for him as well, being a prophet. Frankly, I see the Christian tradition of cross veneration being borrowed from the Egyptian Ankh. The concept of the cross itself has been popular throughout the polytheistic world, from the Swastika of Vedic tradition, the Babylonian cross, the Mesomerican cross, the "4 dots" of the Dards, for example. All clearly represent the "death of the sun" during the winter solstice.
Then there's the other symbol of Christianity, the fish. Another Zoroastrian-mesopotamian concept. The Zoroastrians draw the Swastika, Fish, Ses, etc in front of their doorsteps using chalk like how the Hindus do so. There are way too many similarities with polytheistic traditions, when Christianity is compared to them. Way too many.
Peace.
So the symbol may have previous uses or been adopted from previous religions and or cultures. In fact it probably was and better for it. The fish that is. The fish, or Ichthys, was used as a secret symbol between early Christians. One would draw the first half, and if the other was a Christian they would finish it. Better to have a symbol that would not stand out as Christians were persecutred against.
As for the cross, i do not see it as coming from the ancient Egyptians. To them Jesus died on the cross, it is a sign of their salvation. They did not take the idea of Jesus dying for their salvation from ancient Egypt. People look at the idea of Jesus being killed on the cross as being so much later invented, that people got together and created a new faith or adapted old faiths but don't see how totally insane or ridiculious the idea of a crucified messiah was to them. On top of that we know Jesus appeared to be crucified.
But that isn't key to what I am asking. If Jesus did not know then that is even worse for then it means God decieved us. God could have chosen many other ways to save Jesus. Why save him via deception? And why then later condemn the people who follow this, truly believe this to Hell?
The only reason we accept that Jesus was not on the cross was because the Quran says it so, a form of blind faith. Historically Jesus died on the cross. All the evidence, other than the Quran, even the outside of Christianity evidence also say Jesus died on a cross.