Jesus of Nazareth

Jesus Christ

The Founder-Figure of Christianity

Overview

Jesus of Nazareth (called Yeshu Masih in Hindi/Urdu, Yesu in Tamil/Malayalam) is the central figure of Christianity. Christians believe him to be the Son of God — fully divine and fully human — who entered history to reveal God's love, was crucified under the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate, rose from the dead, and will return. His life is recorded in the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).

Key Facts

• Born: c. 4 BCE, Bethlehem; raised in Nazareth, Galilee
• Ministry: c. 28–30 CE — preaching, parables, healings across Galilee and Judaea
• Death: crucifixion at Jerusalem, c. 30/33 CE; Christians celebrate his resurrection on Easter
• Teachings: love of God and neighbour; the Sermon on the Mount ("Blessed are the peacemakers"); the Kingdom of God; forgiveness; care for the poor, the sick, and the outcast

Teachings

At the heart of Jesus's message stands the double commandment — "Love the Lord your God" and "Love your neighbour as yourself" — illustrated in parables still told in Indian Sunday schools, village catechism classes, and Christmas plays: the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, the Mustard Seed. The Lord's Prayer ("Our Father...") is prayed daily by Indian Christians in Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, English, and dozens of tribal languages.

Jesus in India

• The apostolic link: Indian Christianity traces itself to Jesus through St. Thomas the Apostle, who tradition holds was sent to India by Christ himself.
• Churches dedicated to Christ: from the Basilica of Bom Jesus ("Good Jesus") in Old Goa — housing St. Francis Xavier — to thousands of parish churches named Christ the King, Sacred Heart, and Infant Jesus (including Bangalore's famous Infant Jesus Shrine).
• Feasts: Christmas (birth) and Easter (resurrection) are public holidays in India, celebrated well beyond Christian homes.
• Shared reverence: Islam honours Jesus as the prophet Isa, born of the Virgin Mary (Maryam) — one of the points of contact between India's Christians and Muslims.

Practices

• Sunday worship: Eucharist/Mass or service, hymns, sermon, communion
• Daily prayer: the Lord's Prayer; the rosary among Catholics
• Lent and Holy Week: 40 days of fasting and reflection before Easter
• Service: schools, hospitals, and leprosy missions run by Christian orders across India embody the teaching that faith serves