How do different religions view Jesus, and why is His divinity unique in Christianity?

Many religions reference Jesus differently. Islam regards Him as Isa, a highly respected prophet born of a virgin who performed miracles but does not accept His divinity, arguing that God is one and unique (Quran 5:110). Judaism views Him as a teacher or historical figure, but not as the Messiah or divine. Other faiths like Hinduism see Him as a holy man or avatar among many, while Buddhism regards Him as an enlightened teacher who demonstrated compassion but not divine status. Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses have differing views on His nature, either as a created being or divine but not co-equal with God. In contrast, Christianity affirms His complete divinity—’He is the image of the invisible God’ (Colossians 1:15)—and His unique role in salvation, evidenced by Jesus’ own declaration, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life’ (John 14:6). Scripture and early church creeds like the Nicene Creed declare that Jesus is ‘God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,’ emphasizing His divine essence. This exclusivity makes His position unique—He is the only religious figure who claimed and proved His deity, making His role in salvation distinct and essential.