Jesus was a religious figure.
Jesus ( [ ˈdʒiːzəs ] ; c. 4 BC -- c. AD 30/33 ) , also referred to as Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus Christ , was a Jewish preacher and religious leader who became the central figure of Christianity . Christians believe him to be the Son of God and the awaited Messiah ( Christ ) prophesied in the Old Testament . In Islam , Jesus ( commonly transliterated as ) is considered one of God 's important prophets and the Messiah . In Abrahamic religions , the Messiah ( , sometimes spelled Moshiach ) , is the one chosen to lead the world and thereby save it .