How does Christian tradition explain the significance of Jesus, and how does it compare to one other prominent religion?

Jesus is the most significant part of the Christian
tradition. Just looking at the etymology, "Christian" means, "like Christ." The crux of
Christianity is salvation through Jesus' death on the cross. Through His sacrifice, all
those who believe in Him are able to have eternal life (John 3:16). Christianity MUST
have Christ because without His death and resurrection 3 days later, the entire point of
Christianity - salvation and eternal paradise in Heaven with God - doesn't exist
either.

Christianity and Judaism are very similar except
for when it comes to Christ. Those of the Jewish faith also believe that there is a
Messiah who is coming to save them from eternal damnation, but that he has not come yet.
They do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, and that is the fundamental difference
between Christianity and Judaism.