Jesus and Muhammad

Jesus and Muhammad

Jesus and Muhammad are both sought as very religious leaders who founded the largest religions in the world. Both men have affected humanity and laid down many principles to live by. Although they had the same "call of duty", they were definitely two different types of people. Jesus is said to be the Son of God, while Muhammad is a Messenger of God.

Jesus ''also called Christ which means king or Messiah'' was born in Israel 2000 years ago. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, through the holy spirit of God, in Bethlehem. For his first thirty years, Jesus lived a traditional Jewish life, working as a carpenter. "During this time, all of Israel was under Caesar's Roman dictatorship, including Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, and Nazareth, where he was raised." (Jesus Central, 2007) Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, in the river Jordan. Next Jesus was tested by Satan in the desert. Jesus spent 40 days in the desert. For the next three years Jesus set up his ministry with the 12 apostles; Andrew, Phillip, John, Matthew, James, James, Peter, Simon, Thomas, Judas, Thaddeus and Bartholomew. For three years Jesus taught his disciples the ministry of the church. "While Jesus worked miracles with the gifts of the holy spirit, many Jewish people though he was Beelzebub, the archangel of demons. Jesus practiced exorcisms." (Jesus Central, 2007) The Jewish people did not like that he proclaimed himself to be the son of God. Jesus' key messages included: God loves you and is with you. Love one another. The immense value of each person. The kingdom of God has come to earth. Reality of judgment to heaven or hell. God forgives those who ask. "Jesus followed the Jewish law perfectly. Still the religious leaders, using the argument of political disfavor, persuaded Pilate, a Roman governor of the Southern province of Israel, to authorize an execution." (Jesus Central, 2007) Jesus was brutally beaten led to Calvary and then nailed to the cross to die. He was buried and after three days raised from the dead. Jesus appeared to more than 300 people after his resurrection including his disciples. "As the result of his miracles, the number of disciples increased through the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1 Vs 1-8 and Acts 2 the Holy Spirit is at work even today. To many, this was conclusive proof that Jesus' claims to be God were real. The religious leaders responded by trying to stomp out Jesus' followers. Within 100 years, people throughout the Roman Empire ''Asia Minor, Europe'' became followers of Jesus. In 325 AD, the following of Jesus, Christianity, became the official religion of the Roman Emperor Constantine. Within 500 years, even Greece's temples of Greek gods were transformed into churches for followers of Jesus." (Jesus Central, 2007) Although some of Jesus' messages and teachings were diluted or miss communicated through the expansion of a religious institution, Jesus' original words and life still speak loudly for themselves.

Muhammad was born of a noble family of Banu Hashim ancestry. However, he was not fortunate enough to have been born wealthy as he was born an orphan. He is said to have been a merchant who traveled widely. Muslims believe that in 610, at about the age of forty, while praying in a cave called Hira near Mecca, he was visited by the Angel Gabriel. Later, he described the experience (to those close to him), and that the angel had commanded him to memorize and recite the verses sent by God which were later collected as the Qur'an. Gabriel told him that God (Allah) had chosen him as the last of the prophets to mankind. "He eventually expanded his mission as a prophet, publicly preaching a strict monotheism and warning against a Day of Judgment where all humans shall be held responsible for their deeds. He did not completely reject Judaism and Christianity, two other monotheistic faiths known to the Arabs; he said that he had been sent by God in order to complete and perfect their teachings. Many of his neighbors resented his preaching, and persecuted Muhammad and his followers. In 622, he was forced to flee from Mecca and settled in Yathrib (now known as Medina) with his followers, where he was the leader of the first avowedly Muslim community. War between factions in Mecca and Medina followed, in which Muhammad and his followers were eventually victorious".