incarnation

• incarnation:

  • god in flesh - jesus
  • two birth stories - matthew and luke
  • christmas celebrates incarnation
• luke's version of the birth story:

  • jesus was born in bethlehem
  • jesus laid in a manger
  • angels and shepherds
  • presentation at the temple
• matthew's version of the birth story:

  • jesus was born in bethlehem
  • star appears at birth - star in the east
  • wise men - magi
  • gifts: myrrh, frankincense, gold
  • wise men go and see kind herod
  • jesus goes to egypt and then nazareth when king herod dies
• mary:

  • protestants - view mary as a role model, but do not worship her
  • catholics - seen as the 'queen of heaven' , she is seen as a saintly person
  • orthodox - seen as the 'god bearer', have icons of her
• two sides of jesus:

  • human
  • divine - holy
• human side of jesus:

  • the physical birth of jesus
  • circumcision
  • born in a physical place at a physical time
  • he grows - like a normal human being
• divine side of jesus:

  • stars 'announcing' his birth
  • angels and shepherds
  • born to a virgin
  • was given special gifts - incense for a priest, gold for a king, and myrrh for anointing the dead