The Incarnation (Catholic Christianity)

Incarnation - God taking on the human condition in Jesus

We must aknowledge that when Jesus assumed a human body, he was fully human: He was born, grew up, worked, had emotions, and consequently died.

The fact that God became flesh emphasises his love for us (and how he made us in his image).

God came into the world through Mary.

The Angel Gabriel sent a message from God to conceive Jesus in her womb, which is known as the annunciation.

Mary answered, "Let it be according to your word." 

Remember: The message Gabriel sent is also a message to the Jewish people as well as Mary, as God is fulfilling the promises that he made to Abraham.

Jesus means saviour.

Mary freely accepted to do God's will, showing her humble acceptance of the role God wants for her.

Hypostatic union - The union of Christ's humanity and divinity in one.

Throughout the Gospels, there is proof stating that Jesus fully experienced what it means to me human.

Jesus referred to himself as the Son of Man, stating his authority from God (Mark's Gospel), or that he was a fully normal person (Luke's Gospel).

If Jesus were not fully human, the pain and suffering that he knew was to come at his death would not have bothered him.

At the Garden of Gethsamane, Jesus even asked God to take his fate away from him, proving the Hypostatic Union to be true.

God's divinity is proved throughout his life through miracles, but the resurection completely proves it. Nobody can become God, as God by definition has no beginning or end

So it would be incorrect to say that Jesus was half God and half human, as he showed complete characteristics to prove that he was fully both.

Symbols are useful in religion as many religious ideas cannot be easily put into words, but symbols are easy ways to explain things simply (like these revision cards)! 

The ichthus (fish) is an easy and convinient symbol to prove that someone was Christian, and it was easy to rub out (as at the time, Christians were persecuted for their faith).

Only Christians would recognise what the symbol was. Icthus is formed as a type of acronym:

I is the first letter of the greek word Iesous, which means Jesus

C is the first letter of Christos, which means Christ

Th is from Theou, which means God

U is from (H)uios, which means Son

S is from Soter, which means Saviour

This as a whole translates Icthus as Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour.

Alpha an Omega

Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, while Omega is the last.

This means that God is involved in everything, from the beginning to the end.

The symbol goes back as far as the Book of the Revalation.

Chi-Ro

It's a monogram used by early Christians, to remind them of the death of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

It is an affirmation that Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed one of God.

Many Christians believe that it is an expression of our faith.

It symbolises a crucifix.