According to the historical records of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was a chosen messenger of God and is held in honor both in the world and the Hereafter. The Gospel of Mathew states that he was born either during the reign of Herod l or in a period of the regime change (4 BCE). According to the Gospel of Luke, he was born during the reign of Emperor Augustus (27 BCE-14 CE) when a census was being conducted in Judea (6 CE). Such information cannot be verified. However, experts analyzing various sources believe that the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was born around 7-6 BCE.
The true religion brought by the Prophet Jesus (pbuh), God's chosen Messenger, exists today. However, it does so in name only, for it has been corrupted. Likewise, the revelation given to the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) by God exists only in name and certainly not in its original, for the Christian scriptures have been tampered with and altered. As we cannot acquire any true knowledge about the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) from this source, we turn to the only source that can provide true information: the Qur'an, which God promised to protect until the Last Day. The Qur'an reveals much about the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) birth, life, examples of his encounters with other people, the situation of those living around him, and many other subjects. It also provides many examples of his efforts to invite people to faith. The Qur'an relates the following words of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh):
"I come confirming the Torah I find already there, and to make lawful for you some of what was previously forbidden to you. I have brought you a Sign from your Lord. So heed God and obey me. God is my Lord and your Lord so worship Him. That is a straight path." (Surah Al-‘Imran: 50-51)
Only a few people answered his call and became his followers. The Qur'an reveals the existence of these devout believers as follows:
When Jesus sensed unbelief on their part, he asked: "Who will be my helpers for [the cause of] God?" The disciples said: "We are God's helpers. We believe in God. Bear witness that we are Muslims. Our Lord, we believe in what You have sent down and have followed the Messenger, so write us down among the witnesses." (Surah Al-‘Imran: 52-53)
According to the New Testament, the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) traveled to all corners of Palestine with his 12 disciples to call people to faith. On this journey, God allowed him to perform many miracles. He healed the sick and disabled, cured people suffering from leprosy, brought sight to those who had been blind from birth, and raised the dead. The Qur'an reveals these miracles in the verses below:
"I have brought you a Sign from your Lord. I will create the shape of a bird out of clay for you and then breathe into it, and it will be a bird by God's permission. I will heal the blind and the leper and bring the dead to life, by God's permission. I will tell you what you eat and what you store up in your homes. There is a Sign for you in that if you believe." (Surah Al-‘Imran: 49)
Remember when God said: "Jesus, son of Mary, remember My blessing to you and to your mother when I reinforced you with the Purest Spirit so that you could speak to people in the cradle and when you were fully grown; and when I taught you the Book and Wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you created a bird-shape out of clay by My permission, and then breathed into it and it became a bird by My permission; and healed the blind and the leper by My permission; when you brought forth the dead by My permission; and when I held back the Children of Israel from you, when you brought them the Clear Signs and those who did not believe said: 'This is nothing but downright magic.'" (Surat al-Ma’ida:110)
The Prophet Jesus (pbuh) performed great miracles, and many people were impressed by them. However, he always stated that these miracles happened only by the will of God and, according to the Bible, he always told the people he healed: "Your faith has saved you." In response, the people praised the Lord when they saw his miracles:
Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and laid them at his feet. And he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. (Matthew 15:29-31)
Despite the increasing obstacles and, in particular among the people who suffered from oppression and cruelty, the number of believers began to rise. At the time, the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and his disciples had wandered through all of the towns and cities in the land. Meanwhile, the priests and teachers of the law (scribes) began to scheme and plot against the Prophet Jesus (pbuh), who had been telling them of the wrongs inherent in the traditions that they had promoted for years, reminding them of the deviations in the order they had established and calling them to believe only in God and to live only for Him. (Luke 22:1-2, John 11:47-53)
Like all other Prophets, the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) called his people to believe in God, to submit wholeheartedly to Him, to live for His good pleasure, to refrain from sin and evil, and to do good. He reminded them of life's impermanence and of death's proximity, and told them that they would have to answer for all of their deeds in the Hereafter. He called them to worship God alone and to fear and mind only Him. The Bible also contains much advice and educational material (mashal) in this respect. According to the New Testament, the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) advised those who had "little faith" (Matthew 8:26), brought them the good news that "the kingdom of God is near" (Mark 1:15) and asked them to seek God's forgiveness. This dominion is the rule which the Jews expected to be established when the Messiah arrived, a rule that would bring them renewed faith and deliverance.
The Prophet Jesus (pbuh) remained true to the Mosaic law (the commandments of the Torah) and reprimanded people for straying from them or their hypocritical practice. According to the New Testament, he told them: "If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me" (John 5:46). The Prophet Jesus (pbuh) called people to return to the Torah. The Gospel of Matthew records his order to abide by the Mosaic law ("the holy law"):
I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (Matthew 5:17)
Ayone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of Heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 5:19)
The Qur'an says the following aboutthe Prophet Jesus:
[Jesus said,] "I come confirming the Torah I find already there, and to make lawful for you some of what was previously forbidden to you. I have brought you a Sign from your Lord. So heed God and obey me." (Surah Al-‘Imran: 50)