Religious scholars have debated for thousands of years what it means to be the Messiah and to bring in the messianic era. As a result of Roman limitations on religious and economic freedoms, many Jews prayed for the Messiah who they hoped would finally bring peace; hundreds of individuals emerged and gained followers during this period of messianic fervor. One of these men, Jesus, inspired the birth of a religion which would change the world. Christians have been linked to the Jews from the start, and the relationship between the religious groups has remained intertwined and often complicated.
