Who Is Jesus According to Different Religions?

One Figure, Many Interpretations

Few historical figures have shaped the world as much as Jesus of Nazareth. His name is tied to calendars, art, music, ethics, and global history. Yet different religions interpret him in sharply different ways. To ask “Who is Jesus?” is not only to ask about one person, but to ask what a community believes about revelation, prophecy, God, salvation, and the meaning of history.

Below is a clear overview of how several major traditions understand Jesus, with a focus on their core claims rather than stereotypes.

Christianity: Messiah, Son of God, Savior

For Christians, Jesus is not merely a teacher. He is the Messiah (Christ), the Son of God, and the Savior of the world. The New Testament presents him proclaiming the kingdom of God, calling people to repentance and faith, healing, teaching in parables, and forming disciples. Christian faith centers on his crucifixion and resurrection, understood as decisive events for reconciliation with God and the defeat of death.

Most historic Christian traditions confess that Jesus is fully human and fully divine. That belief shapes Christian worship (prayer in the name of Jesus), Christian ethics (imitating his love, forgiveness, and concern for the vulnerable), and Christian hope (resurrection and a renewed creation).

Even within Christianity there are differences of emphasis (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, evangelical), but the central claim remains: Jesus is Lord, and his life and resurrection are the heart of the gospel.

Judaism: A Jewish Teacher, Not the Messiah or Divine

In Judaism, Jesus is generally seen as a Jewish figure of the first century, sometimes viewed as a teacher or preacher within the diverse landscape of Second Temple Judaism. However, Judaism does not accept Jesus as the Messiah in the Christian sense, and it does not regard him as divine.

Jewish messianic expectation is often connected with the arrival of an era of peace, justice, and restoration. Many Jewish perspectives do not see those expectations fulfilled in the history surrounding Jesus. In addition, Judaism does not recognize the New Testament as Scripture, so its picture of Jesus is not formed from the Gospels as authoritative texts in the way Christian faith is.

Because Judaism emphasizes covenant life, Torah, and the oneness of God, the worship of Jesus as divine is incompatible with Jewish theology. This explains why Christian claims about Jesus create a clear boundary between the two traditions.

Islam: Isa (Jesus) as Prophet and Messiah, Not Divine

In Islam, Jesus (Isa) is honored as one of the great prophets. Muslims affirm his miraculous birth from the Virgin Mary (Maryam) and regard him as the Messiah in an Islamic sense, but they reject the idea that he is God or the Son of God. The central Islamic commitment is strict monotheism: God alone is to be worshiped.

Islam also differs from Christianity in its understanding of the crucifixion. Many Islamic interpretations teach that Jesus was not crucified in the same way Christianity teaches and that God raised him. As a result, the Christian idea of salvation through Jesus' death and resurrection is not part of Islamic theology. Instead, salvation is tied to God's mercy, faith, and obedience.

In many Muslim traditions, Jesus also has an important role in end-times expectations, functioning as a sign of God's power and guidance rather than as a divine redeemer.

Other Perspectives: Moral Teacher, Symbol, or Historical Subject

Outside the major Abrahamic traditions, Jesus is often approached as a moral teacher, a spiritual example, or a historical subject. In academic contexts, scholars speak about the “historical Jesus,” attempting to understand his life within first-century Judea using critical historical methods. Conclusions vary, but many scholars agree he was a real figure whose movement had significant social and religious impact.

In more secular settings, people may admire teachings associated with Jesus (love of neighbor, forgiveness, concern for the poor, critique of hypocrisy) without accepting theological claims about miracles or divinity. Others reject Jesus altogether for cultural or historical reasons. These reactions are part of his lasting influence: Jesus continues to provoke questions about power, suffering, meaning, and hope.

Why These Differences Matter

Understanding how religions view Jesus helps avoid confusion in conversation. When a Christian says “Jesus is God,” a Jew may hear a denial of monotheism, and a Muslim may hear an unacceptable association of partners with God. When a Muslim calls Jesus a prophet, a Christian may feel that this reduces him, while a Jew may see it as closer to Jewish monotheism but still outside Jewish tradition.

In short: Christianity sees Jesus as Messiah and divine Savior; Judaism sees him as a non-messianic, non-divine Jewish figure; Islam honors him as a prophet and Messiah but not divine; other perspectives treat him as teacher or historical subject. The question “Who is Jesus?” is really a window into what each tradition believes about God and the world.