Incarnation Flashcards
What does the word ‘Incarnate’ mean?
Being made flesh.
What is the christian belief of Incarnation?
The christian belief that God came to earth in the flesh, as Jesus.
Why is Incarnation important to christians? - give 3
1) God loves humans so much he was willing to fully share in humanity - start of redemption.
2) Jesus experienced human physical and mental stresses, so christians feel closer to God.
3) Shows Jesus is both fully human and fully God.
What is The Annunciation?
The announcement to Mary that she will be the mother of the Son of God.
What happens when the Angel comes to Mary in Luke’s Gospel?
Luke’s Gospel focuses on Mary:
- The Angel Gabriel was sent to a town called Nazareth with a message for a young woman named Mary.
- The angel said “don’t worry Mary, for God has blessed you”. He explains that she will have the Son of God and shall call him Jesus.
- Mary was at first “troubled” as she was a virgin.
- Angel Gabriel explained that “the holy spirit would come down upon her”.
- Angel reminds Mary of her elderly cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant.
- Mary accepts what the angel has told her and says: “I am the Lord’s servant”. The angel left.
What are the key aspects of Luke’s Gospel on the Annunciation?
- The Annunciation is the beginning of God’s promise to the Israelites of sending a Messiah coming true.
- Jesus is hebrew for ‘saviour’.
- Jesus would be concieved by “the power of God”.
- Mary was a virgin. She had to be the most pure human.
- God’s gift had to be freely accepted by Mary. She had the choice to accept or reject God’s gift. Shows that God’s wishes require human involvement.
What happens in Joseph’s dream in Matthew’s Gospel?
Matthew’s Gospel focuses more on Joseph.
- Joseph, described as ‘the husband of Mary’, has a dream where he is told that Mary will have a baby, the Son of God, who shall be named Emmanuel.
- Joseph did not want to expose Mary publicly.
What are the key aspects of the Annuciation according to Matthew’s Gospel?
- Emmanuel means ‘God with us’ - shows that God was supporting both Mary and Joseph.
- This gospel stresses that Jesus was born of a virgin. Joseph is ‘the husband of mary’ - not the father of Jesus.
- Jesus was conceived of the Power of God.
- Joseph is willing to obey God’s plan.
- The virgin birth stresses that while Jesus was fully human, he was also fully God.
What are the similarities and differences between Luke and Matthew’s Gospel’s? Why is this?
Luke: Focuses on Mary. Angel appeared. Told to name child Jesus.
Matthew: Focuses on Joseph. Angel appeared in Joseph’s dream. Told to name child Emmanuel. Women had limited roles in Judaism - doesn’t mention Mary.
Similarities:
- Mary was a virgin.
- Both willingly obey God.
- Jesus conceived by the power of God.
What are the Three Titles of Jesus?
1) The Word of God
2) *The Son of Man
3) The Son of God
*Jesus referred to himself as the the Son of Man - until his trial.
Where does belief in Jesus as the Word of God come from?
John’s Gospel.
What are the 5 main teachings from the Gospel of John about Jesus as the Word of God? Give a quote that supports each one:
1) The word (Jesus) has always existed (eternal) - “In the beginning was the word” - mirrors Genesis (In the beginning…) ✅
2) The word is God - “The word was God”
3) The word and God are united and live in harmony. - “The word was with God”
4) Everything in existence depends on the word. - “What has come into being in him was life”
5) Jesus is the word of God - “The word became flesh and lived among us” ✅
What is the main thing to remember about Jesus as ‘The Word of God’?
God expresses himself through Jesus:
“The word became flesh and lived among us”.
What does Jesus as ‘The Son of Man’ mean?
Jesus was fully human - emphasises his humanity.
- He experienced the joys and dispairs of what it means to be humans.
- He was tempted, he wept when his friend died, and he suffered and died in agony.
What quote from Mark’s Gospel summarises Jesus as ‘The Son of Man’?
“the Son of Man must undergo great suffering”
What does Jesus as ‘The Son of God’ mean?
Jesus was fully God, as well as fully human - emphasises his divinity.
What story in Mark’s Gospel tells us that Jesus was ‘The Son of God’?
The trial of Jesus (Pontius Pilate) - Jesus was asked if he was the Son of God.
He said - “I am…you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Father…”
- Here, Jesus also acknowledges his human side, as well as the fact that he is fully God.
- Yet, Jesus’ resurrection proves that he was truly God.
What does Jesus being fully human and fully God NOT mean?
It doen’t mean Jesus was a hybrid or a mixture of both. He was FULLY human and FULLY God.
What are three of the most common christian symbols?
1) Ichtus
2) Alpha and Omega
3) Chi-Rho
What does the Ichthus look like?
The Ichthus symbol looks like a simple drawing of a fish.
What is the Ichthus symbol’s meaning and origin?
- Ichthus means fish in Greek.
- The symbol was often used in the early days of christianity where christians were persecuted for their faith. The symbol would be drawn on a dusty road to symbolise to a person that you were christian.
-It also is used as an acronym by christians:
I - Iseous - Jesus Ch - Christos - Christ Th - Theou - God U - Uious - Son S - Soter - Saviour
Acronym meaning: Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour.
What does Alpha and Omega look like?
It shows the first greek letter Alpha (A), on top of the last greek letter Omega (Ω)
What is the meaning of Alpha and Omega?
- Alpha (A) is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. Omega (Ω) is the last letter of the Greek alphabet.
- God is eternal - he is involved in everything from beginning to end.
What does the Chi-Rho look like?
The Chi-Rho is formed by the first 2 letters (when written in capitals) of the Greek word for Christ.
Chi = X Rho = P
What is the Chi-Rho symbol’s meaning?
Represents the belief that Jesus Christ saved all humans through his death on the cross.
Where in the world are christians persecuted for their faith?
North Korea - you must worship the country’s leader. If you belong to another religion, you are an ‘enemy of the state’ and can be imprisoned, tortured and executed.
Other examples:
- Somalia
- Iraq
- Syria
- Afghanistan
What 3 statues help christians understand Jesus’ qualities?
1) Christ the Redeemer
2) The Sacred Heart
3) The Crucifix
Where is the ‘Christ the Redeemer’ statue located?
On top of a mountain overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
What does the ‘Christ the Redeemer’ statue symbolise?
- Symbolises God’s continual love.
- Outstretched arms remind people of the cross on which Jesus died.
- Symbolises Jesus’ love and obedience to God the father.
- Jesus’ love extends to all people.
What are the features of a typical Sacred Heart statue?
It’s a statue of Jesus with:
- Holes in his hands.
- One hand pointing to his heart.
- An expression of peace and love.
- A crown of thorns.
- A piercing through the heart.
- Flames coming from the heart.
What does a Sacred Heart statue symbolise?
Symbolises the total, self-giving human love of Jesus.
- Flames from the heart symbolise the ‘burning love’ that Jesus has for us.
- Crown of thorns reminds us how the soldiers mocked Jesus.
What does a crucifix show?
A crucifix is a cross with Jesus in it.
Jesus is usually depicted as in agony, in kingly robes, wearing a crown or in priest’s vestements.
