The religion of Christianity has a foundation that is based around the teachings of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whose life story is told in the New Testament in the Bible. Jesus of Nazareth also widely known as Jesus Christ is the son of God according to Christians.The exact date of his birth is not known, however he was born to a virgin named Mary who had a fiancée, a carpenter whose name was Joseph. Before her pregnancy an angel named Gabriel appeared before Mary in a dream and prophesized she would give birth to a male child, upon her pregnancy the angel reappeared to Joseph and instructed him to Mary the pregnant virgin. “About 2000 years ago God sent an angel to Israel, to a virgin named Mary.
She was engaged to Joseph, a carpenter.The angel told Mary that by God's power, she would conceive and bear a son.” (Palmer, 2008, para. 1) .
Word of the Messiah’s birth soon traveled and got the attention of Three Wise Men who traveled from the Far East, the men wanted to worship Jesus and in an attempt to find him they visited a King named Herod who led Judea. In an effort to find Jesus and kill him, Herod tricked the Wise Men and told them he too wanted to worship Jesus and to inform him when they found the Messiah.The men eventually found Jesus and brought gifts of Frankincense, Myrrh and Gold, the men were warned by an angel of Herod’s trickery and they did not return to him as promised. Another angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to escape with his family to Egypt, soon after the family escaped King Herod grew furious, because the Wise Men did not return with news of the child’s ware bouts and demanded that every male child residing in Bethlehem under the age of two be killed.
Upon Herod’s death another angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, and told him that Jesus could safely return to the Israel. Jesus continued to live in Nazareth and learned the trade of carpentry from his father Joseph until about the age of 30 years old.According to the four Gospels of the Bible which are a compilation of the account of the life of Jesus, The Messiah came to the bank of the Jordan River where a man named John the Baptist was preaching and giving baptismal. Jesus requested that John baptize him and at first John was hesitant, because he felt Jesus should be baptizing him.John eventually agreed to baptize Jesus and after the Baptismal Jesus went to the desert where he fasted for forty days and forty nights, while facing numerous temptations on the journey.
Jesus continued to give sermons and perform miracles for the sick and needy. Along his travels many people wanted to be near and close to Jesus; however he chose 12 Apostles which were kept at his side.Jesus was eventually betrayed by one of his close Apostles named Judas, whom which identified him to high priest who wanted Jesus arrested, the arrest led to a trial were Jesus was mocked and crucified. Jesus had already prophesized his persecution, death and resurrection to his followers.
During the crucifixion Jesus was placed on a stake to suffer were he eventually died. Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb and three days after his crucifixion, he rose from the dead and made an appearance to his mother and other followers for forty days with promises of fulfilling his prophecy before he ascended into the heavens above.The Life of MohammedMohammed is the founder and restorer of the religion of Islam. Mohammed was born in the city of Mecca which is located in Arabia.
He was an orphan child who was raised by his uncle Abu Talib. Mohammed worked for a widow named Khadija, whom he married at 25 while she was 40.While in his forties Mohammed took a retreat to Mount Hira for the month of Ramadan and it was then when he witnessed his first revelation from an angel called Gabriel, who told him to recite. Upon hearing the voice, Mohammed emerged from the cave and saw the angel in the sky, the angel also proclaimed that Mohammed was the messenger of Allah.
In his return home, he told Khadijah of his sight and she assured him and was very supportive of his spiritually awakening journey.During the next three years Mohammed began to hold public sermons which he re-proclaimed the power of Allah and denounced idolatry and the treacherous ways of the Makkan people, whom placed idols in the temple of Abraham. Mohammed and his followers fled to Medina to escape persecution in Mecca, which resulted in a war between the two cities were the Medina defeated Mecca. War was waged on Medina again and a truce was made, Mohammed was able to return home and remove the idols from the Ka’bah, over several years he became ill and died.Compare what impact the death of each person had on his respective religion.
The persecution, death and resurrection of Jesus put major emphasis on the religion of Christianity. The death and resurrection of Christ proved to his followers that his message was true and real by all accounts, because Jesus, Himself had predicted his own fate. “While Jesus was alive, he had predicted that he would rise from the dead. He challenged his enemies: "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."He was speaking about his body (John 2:19-22).
Jesus also told his disciples many times that he would be killed by the leaders in Jerusalem, but be raised to life on the third day.”( Grace Valley Christian Center, 1984, para. 3). To Christians the death and resurrection of Jesus means a passage into the heavens which Christ suffered to provide for all mankind.
His death made it possible for Christians to receive salvation and eternal life, because he washed away their sins.The death of Mohammed impacted his followers in a profound way as well. While alive many considered the prophet to be a greatly beloved friend as well as a leader whom led his people out of war and false worship, he removed the shield that was previously placed before their eyes.Although Mohammed is not the one whom Muslims worship like Christians worship Christ, he helped restore the original message of the Islam religion and his followers show him great appreciation. “As Abu Bakr put it: “Whoever worshipped Muhammad, let him know that Muhammad is dead, but whoever worshipped God, let him know that God lives and dies not.
”(Nawwab, 2007, para. 4).Describe the ways each individual was/is worshipped. The worship of Jesus Christ is represented in many different ways. Many Christians observe Sunday as the Sabbath according to the 10 Commandments and on this day they attend Church services. During many services Baptisms are performed, when one proclaims their life to Christ and members engage in fellowship, where active church members enjoy the company of other Christians.
Christians also celebrate several holidays in remembrance of Jesus. These holidays are Christmas, Easter, Palm Sunday, Epiphany and Thanksgiving. Muslims do not worship the Prophet Mohammed in any way, because they feel that there is only one God, of whom which is Allah and no man is placed before Him. “Muslims strive to follow the great example of Muhammad, peace be upon him, but they do not worship him in any way.Additionally, Islam teaches Muslims to respect all of God's prophets and messengers - but respecting and loving them does not mean worshipping them. All true Muslims realize that all worship and prayer must be directed to Almighty God alone.
”(Do Muslims Worship Muhammad?, para 1). Mohammed is highly respected and regarded by the Muslim nation; however he is respected as just a messenger.Explain how their messages are being carried out in the world today. The message of Jesus represented and passed on through the New Testament in the Bible. The New Testament contains the Gospels of the Apostles which explain the life, miracles and prophecies of Jesus.
Christians use this as a guide to follow for everyday life triumphs, problems and advice. The New Testament is filled with the many predicaments that Christ encountered during his reign.The message of Mohammed is expressed in the colorations of the Qu’ran, which is the religious book for Muslims. The Qu’ran was written by his faithful companions, they dictated the words passed from Allah through the messenger Mohammed over a 23-year period.
The book is looked at and passed on as a collective guide that provides the knowledge of existence for Muslim people. For Muslims the power of the Qu’ran is to be kept in a purified state and by memorizing and reciting it as a child when the brain is most active. “Ideally, one learns the Qur’an as a child, when memorization is easiest and when the power of the words will help to shape one’s life.” (Fisher, 2005, p.
368.)ConclusionIn conclusion Jesus and Mohammed share some similarities and many differences between each figure. The death of Jesus impacted his followers in tremendous ways, while as the death of Mohammed did not have as big of an influence over his people.The way in which each figure is worshipped varies as well; while Jesus is recognized as the Son of God and worshipped, Mohammed is recognized as a prophet, but not at all worshipped. A common ground for the two are the way in which their word is observed and spread, the Bible is the main religious book for Christians and the Qu’ran is the majority religious book for Muslims, which are both books of guidance.ReferencesDo Muslims Worship Muhammad?.
Do Muslims Worship Muhammad?. Retrieved April 28, 2013, from http://islamicweb.com/begin/myth3.htmFisher, M.P.
(2005). Living Religions (6h ed.). Prentice Hall. Grace Valley Christian Center. (1984).
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Retrieved April 28, 2013, from http://www.dcn.davis.
ca.us/GO/gvcc/radio_trans/resurrection.html Nawwab I., (2007). A Brief History of Islam.
The Religion of Islam. Retrieved April 28, 2013, from http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/320/).Palmer K.
, (2008). Birth of Jesus. Life of Christ. Retrieved April 28, 2013, from http://www.lifeofchrist.com/life/lifescan/
