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The incarnation is the Christian belief that God took human form by becoming Jesus. It literally means to take on flesh. The incarnation means that for Catholics, Jesus is fully God and fully human. He shows characteristics of both these states.

Jesus as the incarnate Son

• Jesus was human and was born to a human mother, Mary.
• Jesus prayed to God, as humans would pray to God. This shows there were times when Jesus sought guidance.
• Jesus was crucified and died on the cross. In this way, he was mortal.

Jesus as the Divine Word

• As the Divine Word Jesus was omnipotent and instructed his disciples to spread his teachings.
• Jesus was omniscient. He knew that Judas would betray him and Peter would deny him.
• Jesus performed miracles, for example very sick people and resurrecting the dead.
• Jesus exists outside human ideas of time. At the start of Gospel of John, Jesus is identified as the Word of God, which shows that Jesus is considered as eternal and has always existed: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1).

Importance of the incarnation for Catholics

Catholics believe the birth of Jesus fulfils the Old Testament prophecy that Christ would come to Earth as a saviour. Christians believe that God sent Jesus to die on the cross as a sacrifice to make up for the sins of humanity. This sacrifice offered reconciliation between God and humans and, according to Christian belief, gives humans the possibility of eternal life in Heaven after they die.