Jesus Christ is the most influential figure in all of history. Whether or not Christ really was the son of God, his impact on society has been more monumental than any other character. Over the millennia, countless gatherers have followed him, and even today, Christianity is by far the largest religion in the world. If you stop to think about it, it is quite awing that one man has had such a profound influence upon the entire world.

The actual name of Jesus was Jesus of Nazareth, and after his death he was given the name Christ, which means Anointed One. He was born somewhere between 7 and 2 BC and died between 26-36AD. The specific dates are unknown, as the two gospels that describe Jesus's birth and death are somewhat ambiguous. His birthday is celebrated on December 25, which is around the date that his birth is estimated at. Christians believe that three days after Jesus died, he was resurrected, and was present on Earth for forty days until his body ascended to Heaven. He is seen as the Messiah, and as one who died for all of mankind's sins. In addition, he is the second segment of the Holy Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, Holy Ghost).

While Jesus Christ is primarily associated with Christianity, he is also referenced in other religions. In Islam, Jesus is seen as a prophet, but he is not believed to have any divinity to him. Therefore, they do not believe they he was ever resurrected, but instead, after his death, his body immediately ascended to heaven. Muslims do believe Jesus performed miracles, just without divine influence.

The life and story of Christ is told in the New Testament, which includes the important collection of gospels. The gospels are four canonical books that provide a complete overview of Jesus and all of his teachings. The four books are of Mark, Luke, John, and Matthew. Each one has a different view of Jesus's life and provides detailed information, and while they do follow some similar themes, they often are quite different. When all of the gospels are combined, an extraordinary depiction of Jesus can be concluded.

Jesus's birth is perhaps one of the most identifiable things about him. According to the Bible, Mary begat Jesus despite the fact that she was a virgin. This phenomenon is explained by the Holy Ghost, who is supposedly responsible for impregnating Mary. People believed in Jesus since he was born in such an unorthodox way, and it is probable that Jesus would not have had as monumental an effect if not for this part of his life.

When it came time for Jesus to die, he was about thirty years old. He had gathered a large following and was seen as the King of the Jews by many. Jesus foresaw his own death, and even the method in which it was to happen. At his final Passover seder, known as the Last Supper, Jesus himself told his disciples that one of them would betray him, and that betrayal would result in his ultimate demise.

Shortly after that, Judas betrayed him and had him arrested by the Roman Empire. Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, did not believe that Jesus deserved to be executed, as he did not commit any crime against the Romans, and he was not plotting to overthrow them. When he gave the people the choice of freeing Jesus or another criminal, named Barabbas, the people chose to free Barabbas, and thus Jesus was crucified.