Who is Jesus?

Jesus is a significant religious and historical figure. According to Christian belief, Jesus is the central figure of Christianity and is regarded as the Son of God and the savior of humanity. He is considered to be the Messiah (meaning "anointed one") who was prophesied in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and fulfilled those prophecies through his life, teachings, death, and resurrection. According to the New Testament of the Bible, Jesus was born in Bethlehem in present-day Israel, around 4 to 6 BCE. He is believed to have spent his early life in Nazareth, a village in Galilee. Jesus began his public ministry around the age of 30, traveling throughout the region, preaching, teaching, performing miracles, and calling people to repentance and a renewed relationship with God. Jesus' teachings emphasized love, compassion, forgiveness, and the establishment of God's kingdom on Earth. His sermons often included parables, which were stories with moral or spiritual lessons. He challenged the religious authorities of his time, criticized hypocrisy, and encouraged people to prioritize the love of God and others above rituals and legalism. Jesus' ministry culminated in his crucifixion in Jerusalem, around 30 or 33 CE, under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. According to Christian belief, his death was a sacrificial offering to atone for the sins of humanity, and his resurrection three days later demonstrated his victory over death. This event, known as the Resurrection, is considered central to Christian faith and is celebrated as Easter. The life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus are documented primarily in the four canonical Gospels of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These texts provide different perspectives on his life and teachings, as well as accounts of his miracles, interactions, and the events surrounding his death and resurrection. It's important to note that while Christianity is the religion most commonly associated with Jesus, he is also recognized in other religions such as Islam, where he is considered a prophet. Jesus has had a significant impact on the development of Western civilization, influencing art, literature, ethics, and philosophy for over two thousand years.