The nature of God and Jesus in ChristianityJesus – incarnation

For Christians, Jesus Christ is the incarnation of God on Earth. The word ‘incarnation’ means ‘enfleshment’ and refers to the process of God becoming a human being in the form of Jesus. Christians believe that God chose to reveal himself as a human being to spread his teaching, to show how life should be lived and to represent humanity for their salvation.

The Gospel of Luke (1:28–33) tells how the Angel Gabriel explained to the Virgin Mary that she would become pregnant through the Holy Spirit. This event is often referred to as the ‘annunciation’. The angel says to Mary: Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants for ever; his kingdom will never end. (Luke 1:30–33)

Jesus’ birth is believed to have been a miracle. It was miraculous as Mary was a virgin, made pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Jesus had no biological father on Earth. Mary’s husband, Joseph, can be seen as Jesus’ earthly stepfather.