Unfortunately, because of global religious conflict, the unifying love for Jesus in both Islam and Christianity is often overlooked. It may be surprising to some Christians that Jesus is considered a great prophet by Muslims. Indeed Jesus is a focal point in the Quran. He is mentioned more often in the Quran than even the Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet himself said that there is no one closer to Jesus in love and reverence than him.

Unlike any other figure, Jesus can perform miracles, such as breathing life into a figure of clay, giving sight to the blind, curing the leper and bringing the dead to life (Quran: Chapter 3, Verse 49). An entire chapter in the Quran is devoted to Mary, the beloved mother of Jesus. Muslims believe that Jesus was miraculously born from the Virgin Mary.

Traditional Muslims will always add the words “peace be upon him” every time they mention the name Jesus, so much do they respect and love him. In particular, Jesus is intensely loved by Muslim Sufi mystics who describe him as Ruh Allah, or “the spirit of God”. The love of Muslims for Jesus is perhaps most beautifully expressed by the great mystic poet Rumi, writing in the 13th century. Here is something exquisite from his famous “Jesus Poems”:

"Where Jesus lives, the great-hearted gather.
We are a door that's never locked.
If you are suffering any kind of pain,
stay near the door. Open it."

Though Jesus is not viewed in Islam as divine, he is nonetheless understood in terms remarkably harmonious with Christian sensibilities. Above all, each one of us, whether we see Jesus as divine or near divine or even as some historical myth can be inspired by the fact that perhaps more than any figure in history, Jesus has come to symbolize humility, compassion and love.