Confucius was undoubtedly a great man, a major figure in world history. Consequently, he is often listed with other influential figures in the field of philosophy and religion, like the Buddha, Mohammed, Socrates, and --Jesus. However, I have always felt it wholly inappropriate that someone like Confucius should be equated with Jesus. This is not only because as a Christian I have a much deeper appreciation for Jesus than Confucius. It is also because Jesus was a figure fundamentally unlike Confucius (or Socrates or the Buddha or Mohammed). For his part, Confucius can rightly be called a great moral teacher. He told others to do good and taught how one should live a moral life. However, though in a sense Jesus too was a teacher of moral behavior, he was quite unlike Confucius. This is because Jesus not so much claimed to show us how to live the good life as how to obtain the good life, which was through faith in Him. He was not so much showing the way as asserting to be the Way. Someone like Confucius would never have made such claims. Indeed, as a "great moral teacher," Confucius would never have presumed to claim to be the Way, for if he had done so, he would have been lying--and that certainly would not have been moral behavior.
In fact, as C.S. Lewis points out, those who talk about respecting Jesus as a "great moral teacher" really have no grounds for doing so, if they believe He was merely a man--however great--like Confucius. For if Jesus was--like Confucius--only a man, and yet claimed to be God, He was lying, and therefore was no "great moral teacher." On the other hand, if He was telling the truth (which I believe He was), then He was much more than a "great moral teacher." Thus, to list Him with such figures as Confucius (or Socrates or the Buddha) is not actually showing Him respect, but dishonoring Him.
Finally, perhaps the most important difference between Confucius and Jesus is this--while there remain many shrines in China and other Asian countries where Confucius is venerated, Confucius is still dead. In glorious contrast, Jesus lives!
Image of Confucius from biography.com