35 Amazing Jesus Christ Facts

By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer

Published November 2, 2019Updated November 29, 2024

Nearly all scholars agree that Jesus Christ existed. They don't agree on how well the Jesus in the Bible accurately reflects Jesus as a historical figure._[2]
Most Jews believe that Jesus Christ was not the Messiah and did not fulfill Messianic prophecy. They also do not believe that Christ was resurrected or divine._[8]
At the time of Jesus' birth, the town of Nazareth only had about 200–400 people. In the New Testament, the town is a literally joke, as seen in the Bible when someone says, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"
_[4]

Muslims believe Christ was a prophet and a messenger of God

In Islam, Jesus, or Isa, is considered an important prophet and a Messiah. Islam also holds that Jesus was born of a virgin, but that he was not the Son of God. Most Muslims believe that God brought Jesus to heaven and that he wasn't actually crucified._[8]
Jesus worked as a carpenter from ages 12 to 30, which means for 18 years, Jesus was akin to a day laborer._[4]
Even Jesus needed "alone time." The Gospels frequently mention that Jesus needed to withdraw from the crowds. One cave where he spent some time is called the Eremos Cave, from which the word "desolate" and "hermit" derive._[4]
Some scholars note that Jesus did not want to die. In the Garden of Gethsemane, he says, "Remove this cup from me" and, "My soul is sorrowful even unto death."_[4]
Byzantine artists tended to reimagine Christ as a young version of Zeus, to show His place as a cosmic King._[10]
Some of Jesus' critics in the Bible accuse him of drinking too much wine (Matthew Chapter 11, verse 19)._[10]
Jesus probably did not have long hair, even during his ministry when he would have had a more "natural" look. Jewish men who had long hair were most likely to have taken a Nazarite vow, which Jesus probably did not._[10]
During his life, Jesus was considered to be a radical because he talked to women, spent time with sinners, and allowed his followers to pick grain on the Sabbath._[9]

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

- Jesus Christ

Because Jesus was a Jew, he almost certainly had Jewish features, such as olive skin, brown eyes, and black hair._[10]
Scholars believe Jesus was about 5 feet, 5 inches (1.7 meters) tall, which is about the average height for an adult male at the time._[3]
During the time of Christ, most Jews used only one name, which could be followed either by the phrase "son of . . . " or the person's hometown, which is why Jesus is often referred to as Jesus of Nazereth._[3]
Scholars note that there were two solar eclipses around the time of Jesus' death: one in 29 AD, and one in 33 AD. The Christian Gospels state that the skies darkened after the crucifixion, which suggests that his death coincided with one of these eclipses._[6]
The Sanhedrin arrested and tried Jesus Christ. Pontius Pilate sentenced him to be scourged and crucified._[9]
Before Jesus died, he said, "I am thirsty." In response, he was offered wine mixed with myrrh or gall to drink. He refused it._[9]
According to the gospels of Mark and John, Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene after his resurrection. She was involved in his ministry from the beginning to his death, and she is mentioned more times than most of the apostles._[2]

Mary Magdalene initially mistook Jesus for the gardner until he said her name

It took Jesus six hours to die after he was hung on the cross._[9]
After Jesus was hung on the cross, Roman soldiers divided Jesus' clothes among themselves and cast lots for his robe._[9]
Torture in Christ's day was meant to psychologically destroy someone before they died from any physical wounds._[7]
While most scholars agree that Christ's crucifixion is an indisputable fact, they disagree about the reasons and context for it._[9]
The path that Jesus took to his crucifixion is called the "Via Dolorosa," which is Latin for "Way of Grief" or "Way of Suffering."_[2]

Via Dolorosa is translated as "Way of Suffering"

Because the Romans felt like it was too gruesome to crucify someone in town, they made people carry their own cross to the outskirts of town, which, in Christ's case, was to Golgotha._[7]
The word "crucifixion" literally means "fixed to a cross."_[9]
The Roman orator Cicero noted that of all the punishments, "crucifixion is the most cruel and most terrifying."_[9]
“Christ” is a title that comes from a Greek word meaning “Anointed One.”_[1]
Even though Pilate argued that he did not find Jesus guilty and allowed the Jews to choose to save Jesus, they choose to save a murderer called Barabbas and to crucify Jesus._[9]
While hanging on the cross, Jesus told his disciples to take care of Mary, his mother._[2]

The word "halo" is from the Greek word "halos," or "disk of the sun or moon; ring of light around the sun or moon"

The halo that often adorns Christ's and other saints' heads in works of art was originally a feature of the sun god (Apollo or Sol Invictus). It was appropriated for images of Christ to show his heavenly power._[10]
According to many scholars, Jesus' father, Joseph, died by the time Jesus started his ministry. This is perhaps why Jesus is often referred to as Jesus, the son of Mary._[5]
After Jesus' death, his brother James became a leader of the Jerusalem church._[9]
The Shroud of Turin is the best-known relic of Jesus and one of the most studied objects in human history._[2]
While experts continue to debate whether three or four nails were used in Jesus' execution, today, at least 30 nails are venerated as holy throughout Europe._[2]
Jesus had at least four brothers and two sisters. It is still highly debated whether Jesus married and had children._[8]