Jesus is regarded as the son of God and the Messiah (Christ). He is also known as Jesus of Nazareth, who is the central figure of Christianity. Christianity is based on the principles and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christianity is India's third largest religion, with approximately 24 million followers. The followers of Christianity are called Christians. Christianity teaches that God sent his son Jesus into the mortal world as his servant to help people in discharging their religious duties and also teaches about Jesus' earthly life. Jesus was a Jew who was regarded as a teacher and healer. He was baptized by John the Baptist, and was crucified in Jerusalem on the orders of the Roman Prefect of Judaea, Pontius Pilate, on the charge of sedition against the Roman Empire. He was the creator and eternal son of God, who lived a sinless life. During his mortal life, Jesus taught the principles of salvation. He showed us how to live a life that would merit the gift of eternal life. Jesus taught that life does not end after our bodies die. He made this startling claim: “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again.” According to the eyewitnesses closest to him, Jesus then demonstrated his power over death by rising from the dead after being crucified and buried for three days. It is this belief that has given hope to Christians for nearly 2000 years.

The death and resurrection of Jesus are usually considered the most important events in Christian Theology, partly because they demonstrate that Jesus has power over life and death and therefore he has the authority and power to give people eternal life. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a gift from God and fulfillment of his promise. It is the very foundation of Christianity. Christ's Resurrection is necessarily a glorious one; it implies not merely the reunion of body and soul, but also the glorification of the body. After the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Joseph asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Joseph was given permission to bury Jesus, so he brought fine linen, wrapped the body, laid Jesus in a tomb and rolled a large stone across the entrance. Jesus was in the grave for three days. Mary (the mother of Jesus), and Salome prepared spices to anoint Jesus' body. When they arrived at the tomb, the stone had already been rolled away.

Christians traditionally believe that Jesus was born to a Virgin Mary, performed miracles, founded the Church, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. According to Islam, Jesus is one of God's important prophets, the product of a virgin birth and a worker of miracles. Islam and the Baha'i Faith use the title "Messiah" for Jesus, but do not teach that he was God incarnate. He was the leader of an apocalyptic movement, wandering sage, charismatic healer and as the founder of an independent religious movement. The miracles of Jesus are the supernatural deeds performed by him during his earthly life. His miraculous healings, fulfill prophecy in Isaiah and identify Jesus as the Messiah.

There is no contemporary historical evidence demonstrating the date of Jesus' birth. Scholars generally conclude that Jesus Christ was born sometime between 7-2 BC/BCE and died sometime between 26-36 AD/CE. Jesus' childhood home is identified as the town of Nazareth in Galilee. Galilee is a large region in northern Israel. The four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, are the main sources for the biography of Jesus' life; they primarily characterize Jesus as the Messiah. All four of the New Testament Gospels describe the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. These authors give full accounts of the ancient Roman practice. Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Pilate tried to compromise with the religious leaders by having Jesus beaten, but this act didn't satisfy them, therefore Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified and Jesus was crucified on Golgatha.All paintings are courtesy of Art of Legend India.