Jesus of Nazareth, known in his life as Yeshu bar Yosef, was a Jewish religious reformer who lived in the Galilee region of the Roman Province of Judea, or modern-day Israel, from 4 BCE to the early 30’s CE. Little of his life is generally agreed upon. In his adulthood, Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan by John the Baptist, a fellow Jewish religious leader and possible relative. Afterwards, he travelled around Judea, preaching about God’s fast-approaching judgement. In the 30’s AD, he was convicted of either blasphemy or conspiracy of treason against Rome and was executed by crucifixion.

As a preacher in a tumultuous time, Jesus needed to set himself apart from other charismatic religious leaders. To do this, he did not just preach sermons, but also spoke in parables. The parables recorded in the New Testament have common elements and meaning but with often differing effects. These parables were based on everyday practices, people, and plots that the common Jewish peasant at the time would have understood; examples being the construction of a house, a member of a hostile nation, and a wedding celebration. The meanings of the parables usually demonstrate God’s love for all or how one should act, although each parable focuses on a different aspect. The effects of speaking one parable usually differed from the next. Sometimes, the audience instantly understood his meaning, yet other times they were baffled. On multiple occasions, Jewish officials attended his speeches only to be confused by what he was saying. Results even varied with his close followers, who at times failed to understand Jesus’ messages.

Jesus lived a short life in poverty and obscurity. However, in the following centuries he became easily the most well-known historical figure of all time. He is the key figure and recognized as the Son of God and the Messiah in Christianity, the world’s largest religion, which currently has over two billion followers. In Islam, a religion of over one and a half billion adherents, he is seen as an important prophet. He is without doubt one of the most important figures in world history, and perhaps it’s most famous and influential rhetorician.