Incarnation

• Incarnation


  The Christian belief that God became man in the person of Jesus
• The word Incarnation literally means "made flesh"
• The Incarnation is the belief that God is in the flesh in the person of Jesus
• Incarnation


  • Jesus is of one substance with the Father
  • Jesus has a virgin birth, with God as his Father
  • Jesus is the embodiment of God's words on Earth
• The Incarnation shows that Jesus is fully God and fully human
• Human nature of Jesus

  Jesus feels emotions such as love, sorrow, and anger
• Evidence of Jesus' human nature

  • Agony in the garden before his betrayal and arrest
  • Weeping when bringing Lazarus back to life
  • Chasing money lenders out of the temple in anger
• Divine nature of Jesus

  Jesus displays qualities of God such as omnipotence, omnibenevolence, and omniscience
• Evidence of Jesus' divine nature

  • Miracles such as turning water to wine, healing lepers, raising Lazarus from the dead
  • Sacrificing himself as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world
  • His resurrection
• The Incarnation helps Catholics respond to evil and suffering in the world
• Passion of Jesus


  Jesus' agony in the garden, arrest, trials, torture, carrying the cross, and crucifixion
• Jesus' cry on the cross "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" shows he truly understands suffering
• The Incarnation means Jesus can be a comfort to those who suffer, and suffering can help individuals grow closer to God
• Suffering provides opportunities for Catholics to help others, just as Jesus did
• Some people argue the Incarnation is impossible

  Catholics believe Jesus was divine because he was the Incarnation and conceived through the Holy Spirit
• Some people argue there is only one God


  Catholics believe God is three persons in one, the Trinity
• Some people see Jesus as just a good man


  Catholics believe Jesus performed miracles and was omnipotent, so he was more than just a good man
• Some people argue worshiping Jesus is idolatry


  Catholics believe Jesus is God in human form, so worshiping him is not idolatry