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I can only assume that most muslims pay lip service only to the notion of respecting Jesus, and say this because they are told to be a Muslim one has to believe in Jesus and all the prophets.. Can you believe, respect and love someone you don't know or understand?
And your objection is ? We believe in him as a prophet . And prophets are above all else . They dilevered the message and fulfilled their missions with honesty . Why NOT love them ?

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What does the Quran tell me of Jesus? We are told He was born miraculously.. But doesn't explain why. We are told He spoke from the cradle... But doesn't explain why.. Except for maybe saving His mother from shame.
He was born - peace upon him - miraculously and spoke in cradle because every prophet had a miracle(s) proving his prophecy . Moses peace upon him had the staff becoming a snake which made the wizards admit it is no sorcery like what they do but a true miracle from Allah . Read about it . Solomon peace upon him was able to understand birds and other creatures and he had a great kingdom . Read about it . Salih peace upon him had the pregnant camel appearing out of a rock . Read about it . Each prophet had miracles . It's as simple as that .

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He acted as God in giving life to clay birds... Even though Islam denies vehemently that Jesus was in any way divine.
You clearly - no surprise ! - didn't read the sign talking about this :

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5:110 [The Day] when Allah will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Pure Spirit and you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and [remember] when I taught you writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you designed from clay [what was] like the form of a bird with My permission, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird with My permission; and you healed the blind and the leper with My permission; and when you brought forth the dead with My permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from [killing] you when you came to them with clear proofs and those who disbelieved among them said, "This is not but obvious magic."
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Based on what you know about Jesus, I have to assume that the love and respect you say you have towards Him is out of a sense of obligation, because that's what you are told is required of you. I can't see it stems from any real knowledge and understanding of the person of Jesus.
You assume falsely . It is out of both obligation and understanding . If one is a true Muslim , he should love the prophets who delivered the message by default . Simple as that . We do understand them . They are the best of humanity and that's why they were chosen to deliver the messages . They struggled - Jihad - against the harms done to them by their people and many of them were even killed . Knowing that , how can anyone NOT love them ?!