The Incarnation of Jesus

• Christian beliefs about Jesus

  • Christians believe that Jesus was God in Human form 
  • This a belief known as the incarnation (becoming flesh, taking a human form) 
  • Christians believe that Jesus was the Son of God, one of the persons of the Trinity

  
• Belief's about the conception of Jesus

  • On separate occasions an angel appeared to Mary and Joseph explaining that it was not an ordinary conception and it was not to be an ordinary child 
  • The gospels of Matthew and Luke explain that Mary conceived Jesus without having sex 
  • The virgin conception is evidence for the Christian belief that Jesus was the Son of God, part of the Trinity 
  • Through the incarnation, God showed himself as a human being (Jesus for around 30 years)

  
• What is special / significant about Jesus

  • Jesus was fully God and fully human , which helps explain his miracles and resurrection (rising from the dead) 
  • His words, deeds and promises have great authority because they are the Word of God

  
• Jewish beliefs about Jesus as the Messiah

  • Most Jews expected a Messiah who would come to save Israel and establish an age of peace  
  • However, Jews do not believe that Jesus was a person

  
• Christian beliefs about Jesus as the Messiah

  • Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah , but a spiritual one rather than a political one 
  • Gospel writers refer to Jesus as the Christ (‘anointed one’ or Messiah) 
  • But Jesus warned his disciples not to use the term, possibly because his opponents would have him arrested for blasphemy (claiming to be God)