Lesson Seven - The Incarnation, Redemption

Text by Pat Austin, St. Patrick's Cathedral RCIA Instructor

The Incarnation

God uniting his divine nature to a truly human nature. We express this truth by saying "God became man." The Word became flesh. This truth - God uniting His Divine nature to a truly human nature - does not make two persons. Jesus is one divine person with two natures -- a Divine nature and a human nature. This one person is Jesus, God/Man, the second person of the Blessed Trinity.

March 25th -- The Feast of the Annunciation -- God chose Mary to be the Mother of our Redeemer, Jesus, the second person of the Trinity.

The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and asked her if she would consent to be the Mother of God. When Mary said, "yes," the Invisible Incarnation took place. God became man; the Word became flesh. The Church celebrates the invisible incarnation on March 25th. The Church celebrates the Visible Incarnation on December 25th.

When Mary said "yes," God united his Divine Nature to a truly Human nature. Expressed in scripture -- The Word Became Flesh. This union of the two natures is called the hypostatic union. These two words are from the Greek language which means "That which lies underneath."

Jesus possessed two natures but was one person -- Divine Person Jesus acted as one person. Jesus never said "The God part of Me" or when on the cross He didn't say "My human nature thirsts." He said "I thirst." This is a religious mystery made known through Divine Revelation -- we believe because God told us.

God chose Mary, a Hebrew girl, 14 - 16 years of age. She was a descendant of King David.

Mary was betrothed to Joseph -- an arranged marriage. Joseph received her into his home. Reference Mt. 1:24. Joseph is described in scripture as a "just" man. In Hebrew that word meant "possessed of all virtues."

The Doctrine of Immaculate Conception fits so well into our redemption. God preserved Mary free from original sin. It is right, just and fitting that the Son of God would dwell in purity. Also the body of Mary, which was the tabernacle for God the Son, Her Son, would be free from corruption -- Dogma of the Assumption.

Mary is Mother of God. A mother is a mother to the whole, complete child; not just to the physical. Mary gave birth to a complete person. Reference: Text page 65

Mary remained a virgin all of her life. She had no other children.

We don't have much information of the early years of Jesus. He was born in Bethlehem, presented into the Temple when He was six weeks old. The Wise men from the East visited Him. The Holy Family is then sent into Egypt for a few years. Through an angel's message, they returned home to Nazareth. When Jesus was twelve years old, scripture tells us that the Holy Family went to Jerusalem for an important feast. Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem for three days before Mary and Joseph found Him in the Temple. Luke tells us that Jesus returned to Nazareth with His parents and Lk. 2:52 says, "And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and grace before God and man." Reference: text page 67

Jesus is called the redeemer -- buy back what was lost. His work of redeeming us is called Redemption. Reference: Text pages 68-70.

Comparison -- First Eve said "no," Second Eve said "yes.";
                        First Adam said "no," Second Adam said "yes."

The World Situation at the Time of Jesus

Rome in charge -- territories controlled with a governor/procurator and Roman soldiers. "All roads lead to Rome."

Augustus Caesar - Emperor - 27 B.C. - 14 A.D. He was Julius Caesar's son, Octavian.

Augustus appointed Herod as ruler of Judea - this Herod ruled at the time of the birth of Jesus. This Herod was viscous; responsible for slaughter of Jewish baby boys at the time of the Wise men. Augustus once said of Herod, "I would rather be Herod's pig than his son." After Herod's death, his territory was divided between his three sons. See map.

Herod Antipas - Territory of Galilee. This Herod was the Herod of the adult life of Jesus. He had John the Baptist beheaded.

Archelaus -- Territory of Samaria/Judea - Archelaus was banished by Augustus in 6 A.D. - then Augustus appointed the first governor for Samaria/Judea.

Philip -- Territory in the North

Tiberius Caesar took over from Augustus: 14 - 37 A.D. Tiberius is the Caesar at the time of Jesus' death. Tiberius Caesar appointed the fifth governor of the area of Samaria/Judea -- Pontius Pilate.

Jews in Palestine were allowed their own government, but no capital punishment. They needed Rome for that. The Sanhedrin was the ruling body; very powerful, made up of the high priest and the chief priests. Most of them were "crooked politicians."

As Jesus preached about His Kingdom, people began to talk about a worldly king to free them from Rome and the Sanhedrin.

Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes began to fear that the people would cause a revolution. Hatred for Jesus grew among the Pharisees, Saducees and Scribes, especially after Jesus publicly condemned them. They wanted Him dead. Judas Iscariot was their man.

Jesus died on the cross for all mankind's sins, He paid the price. The gates of Heaven reopened. Jesus "descended into hell" - Apostle's Creed. This is not the Hell of damnation. This "hell" refers to the place of the dead or waiting. Some people referred to it as "limbo" where the souls of the Just were waiting for the gates of Heaven to open.

Jesus rose from the dead, with a glorified body, as ours will be - free from the limits of the physical world. Reference: Text page 74.

After 40 days Jesus ascended into Heaven. He will return as our risen King at the end of the world. He established a visible Church to continue to teach, govern, sanctify in the world until His return to judge the living and the dead.

Assignment for the next lesson:

Written by Gordon Higham:

"Woman was not taken from man's head to be ruled by him;
nor from his feet to be trampled upon
but from his side to walk beside him,
from under his arm to be protected by him,
and from near his heart to be loved by him."