Jesus And Mohammed
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Jesus and Mohammed
Jesus and Mohammed were born in separate times. However, both men accomplished very similar tasks during their lives. Jesus was responsible for the promotion of Christianity, while Mohammed helped to spread the word of Islam. Both Jesus and Mohammed became known for the role they played in the establishment and strengthening of each religion. Although many similarities exist between the two men, there are also many differences in the lives of these historical figures.
Jesus was said to be the son of God. He was born in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph. The year is said to have been 4 B.C., although there are no historical records to prove this fact. The birth took place in a stable after Mary and Joseph endured a long journey and needed a place to sleep (Fisher, 2005). The birth of Jesus brought many people to Bethlehem to worship him. Many shepherds and men known as the wise men came to pay their respects.
Not much is known about the childhood of Jesus. He grew up in Nazareth and had a normal life. His father was a hard-working carpenter. Jesus was said to have been a humble boy. The Bible tells a story of the time when Jesus was twelve years old and he traveled to Jerusalem for Passover with his parents. Jesus ventured off and was later found at a temple discussing the word of God with the teachers and priests there (Smith, 2007). It was clear that he had a great understanding and knowledge of religion from an early age.
Jesus began his ministry when he was approximately thirty years old (Smith, 2007). Many people came to hear him speak and to learn his teachings about the word of God. Jesus taught people how to live and how to love one another. His main purpose in life was to spread the word of God and to teach people how they should live their life. Learning to love God as well as each other was important.
Jesus performed many miracles during his life. He was able to heal many different ailments. He walked on water and changed water into wine. He fed thousands of people and he even performed exorcisms (Fisher, 2005).
People from all different classes became followers of Jesus. His teachings were based on the idea that “God is forgiving to those that repent” (Fisher, 2005, p.294). Many people appreciated his teaching and the good deeds that he performed. However, some people viewed Jesus as a threat and were not willing to believe that he was the Son of God. Those opposed to Jesus claimed that he was a liar and believed that he should be punished for his actions. This did not stop Jesus as he continued his teachings and was willing to sacrifice himself for his followers. The Romans eventually captured Jesus. The people of Jerusalem were angry because they believed that Jesus was claiming to be their king. This was untrue, but nothing could calm the people of Jerusalem. Jesus was handed over to the military guards and was then beaten and crucified (Smith, 2007).
Three days after the death of Jesus, he was resurrected. He appeared to many of his followers and told them to continue his teachings. Many non-believers changed their mind after hearing stories from those that claimed that Jesus had visited them (Fisher, 2005). Christianity began to expand and flourish. The death and resurrection of Jesus united Christians and led many people to convert to Christianity (Smith, 2007).
Like Jesus, Mohammed was known for spreading the word of God. Mohammed was a prophet; therefore his purpose was to recite the teachings of God. He was born in 570 C.E. in Mecca, Saudi Arabia (Fisher, 2005). His uncle raised him since his father died before he was born. As a teenager, Mohammed traveled to Syria with his uncle where a Christian monk recognized markings on Mohammeds body that signified his status as a prophet. He is thought to have been the last of the prophets.
When Mohammed was twenty-five years old, he married a woman named Khadijah whom he had worked for. Khadijah understood his importance as a prophet (Fisher, 2005). She was very wealthy and she supported Mohammed and his purpose. When Mohammed was forty years old, he endured a spiritual journey, which is now known as Ramadan. During this journey, an angel named Gabriel visited him. Gabriel asked Mohammed to recite the words that are now the first verses in the Quran. Mohammed had been deeply shaken by this experience, but he was encouraged by his wife to do what was asked of him. He told his experience