🕊️ Jesus Christ

Attributes & Domains

The Mystery of the Incarnation

The central mystery of Christianity: the eternal Word (Logos) of God became human while remaining fully divine. This is the doctrine of the Hypostatic Union - Jesus Christ is one person with two natures: fully God and fully human.

The Divine Nature

• Eternal Pre-existence: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1)
• Creator: "All things were made through Him" (John 1:3) - co-creator with the Father
• Divine Powers: Performed miracles, forgave sins, commanded nature, raised the dead
• Worshipped as God: Thomas's declaration "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28)
• Claims to Divinity: "Before Abraham was, I AM" (John 8:58) - using God's name

The Human Nature

• Born of Woman: Virgin birth through Mary, true human birth
• Human Development: Grew in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52)
• Physical Needs: Experienced hunger, thirst, fatigue, pain
• Emotional Life: Felt joy, sorrow, anger, compassion, wept
• Temptation: Tempted in all ways yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15)
• Death: Truly died on the cross, body laid in tomb

The Life of Christ - Key Narratives

📖 Search for "Jesus" in the Bible | Search for "Christ" | Search for "Son of God"

Birth & Early Life

• Annunciation: Angel Gabriel announces to Mary: "You will conceive and bear a son" (Luke 1:26-38)
• Virgin Birth: Born in Bethlehem, laid in a manger, announced by angels to shepherds
• Visit of Magi: Wise men from the East bring gold, frankincense, myrrh
• Flight to Egypt: Escape from Herod's massacre of innocents
• Boy in Temple: Age 12, amazing teachers with understanding (Luke 2:41-52)

Ministry & Miracles (Ages 30-33)

• Baptism: Baptized by John in Jordan River, Spirit descends as dove, Father's voice: "This is My beloved Son" (Matthew 3:13-17) - 📖 Search "baptism"
• Temptation: 40 days in wilderness, resists Satan's three temptations (Matthew 4:1-11)
• Calling Disciples: Gathers twelve apostles, trains them for mission
• Sermon on Mount: Beatitudes, Lord's Prayer, radical ethics of Kingdom (Matthew 5-7)
• Nature Miracles: Calms storm, walks on water, multiplies loaves and fish, turns water to wine - 📖 Search "miracles"
• Healing Miracles: Heals blind, deaf, lame, lepers; casts out demons; raises dead (Lazarus, Jairus's daughter)
• Transfiguration: Revealed in glory on mountain, Moses and Elijah appear (Matthew 17:1-9) - 📖 Search "transfiguration"

Passion & Death

• Triumphal Entry: Enters Jerusalem on donkey, crowds shout "Hosanna!" (Palm Sunday)
• Temple Cleansing: Overturns money changers' tables: "My house shall be a house of prayer"
• Last Supper: Institutes Eucharist - bread as body, wine as blood of new covenant (Thursday)
• Gethsemane: Prays "Not My will but Yours," sweats blood, accepts the cup of suffering - 📖 Search "Gethsemane"
• Arrest & Trials: Betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, tried by Sanhedrin and Pilate
• Crucifixion: Flogged, crowned with thorns, carries cross, crucified between two thieves, Seven Last Words from cross, darkness at noon, temple veil torn, dies (Good Friday)
• Burial: Joseph of Arimathea places body in new tomb, stone rolled across entrance

Resurrection & Ascension

• Empty Tomb: Third day (Sunday), women find tomb empty, angels announce "He is risen!" (Easter) - 📖 Search "resurrection"
• Appearances: Appears to Mary Magdalene, disciples, 500+ witnesses over 40 days
• Doubting Thomas: Invites Thomas to touch wounds: "My Lord and my God!"
• Great Commission: "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19-20)
• Ascension: 40 days after resurrection, ascends to heaven from Mount of Olives, promises return
• Exaltation: Seated at Father's right hand, interceding for believers, reigning as King

Roles & Functions

Christ's Threefold Office

Medieval theology described Christ's work through three offices:

Atonement Theories

Various theological explanations for how Christ's death saves humanity:

• Ransom Theory: Christ's death pays ransom to free humanity from Satan's captivity
• Christus Victor: Christ defeats powers of sin, death, and evil through resurrection
• Satisfaction Theory: Christ's death satisfies God's honor and justice offended by sin
• Penal Substitution: Christ bears punishment for sin in place of humanity
• Moral Influence: Christ's death demonstrates God's love, inspiring transformation

Worship & Devotion

Sacred Days & Celebrations

• Christmas (December 25): Celebrates the Incarnation, birth of Christ
• Epiphany (January 6): Visit of Magi, manifestation to Gentiles
• Lent: 40 days of fasting and preparation before Easter
• Palm Sunday: Triumphal entry into Jerusalem
• Good Friday: Crucifixion and death
• Easter Sunday: Resurrection - the highest Christian holy day
• Ascension Day: 40 days after Easter, ascension to heaven
• Feast of Christ the King: Celebrates Christ's universal kingship

Forms of Devotion

• Eucharist/Communion: Central sacrament, partaking of bread and wine as Christ's body and blood
• Stations of the Cross: Meditation on 14 stages of Christ's passion
• Sacred Heart Devotion: Focus on Christ's love symbolized by His heart
• Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner"
• Lectio Divina: Contemplative reading of Gospel accounts of Christ's life