LESSON 1: JESUS THE FOUNDATION OF 1

THE CHURCH
Theology 2 (Cristology) | Year 1 Preliminary
BELIEFS ABOUT JESUS CHRIST According to most scholars, Jesus began his preaching
Why did the word became flesh? and healing ministry in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar
The catechism of the Catholic Church list four reign (from 27-28 AD) after being baptized by John
reasons: the Baptist in the Jordan River. After an experience of
1. God became flesh to save us from sin, death, and trial in the desert, Jesus chose 12 close followers called
eternal separation from God. He did so by reconciling apostles and had many other disciples as well. Jesus
us with God by toning for our sins. Christ gave his life proclaimed the coming of God's kingdom. Because of
so we could live. his preaching, deeds, and claims, Jesus ran afoul of the
2. “The Word became flesh so that thus we might Jewish religious leaders. He was committing
know God's love” (CCC, 485). Jesus Christ, as truly blasphemy, which is, claiming to make himself equal
human, is able to show us the true nature of God. to God. Therefore, he was handed over to Roman
3. God took human flesh to be our model of holiness. authorities and ended up suffering under Pontius
Jesus shows us how to imitate him: To love one Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
another as he has loved us (John 15:12).
CHRIST
4. God became human to make us sharers in his divine
Christ (Christos in Greek) translates to the Hebrew
nature.
title Messiah. The Messiah was the “Anointed one of
God's son, the second person of the Blessed Trinity, Yahweh” through whom all God's promises to the
took on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. God chosen people were fulfilled. Jews of Jesus time were
took on our human nature, body and soul. This is expecting the Messiah to be a political leader who
known as the doctrine of incarnation. God became would throw off the yoke of the Romans and restore
man in Jesus Christ who is God incarnate. At himself Israel to its position of glory. Although Jesus accepted
and third human history by becoming one of these the title Christ when he asked his apostles his true
creatures, while all the time remaining the creator of identity, to reinterpret the meaning of the title for
the universe. them. Jesus understood that the messiah's role was to
TITLE OF JESUS CHRIST suffer in accomplishing the father's will of ushering in
The personal name Jesus comes from the Hebrew the kingdom.
word (Yehoshua (Joshua) which means “God After the resurrection, Christians to a new look at
saves,” “God is Salvation,” or simply, “Savior.” Jesus' life. They saw that he was anointed with the
Thus, God's own name is present in the person of his Spirit of God to accomplish salvation through a life of
son. The angel Gabriel revealed this name to Mary, suffering service. He accomplished his task through his
thus signifying Jesus' identity and mission. From his three fold office of prophet, priest, and king. A
conception, God had destined that Jesus would save prophet is one who speaks for God; a priest is a
the world from sin and death. The gospels of Matthew mediator between God and human; and a king is a
and Luke the lost Jesus was born in Bethlehem in leader and ruler. As priest, Jesus offered his life for all
Judea during the reign of King Herod the Great, of us on the altar of the cross. Today he continues to
perhaps around the year 4-6 BC. He was raised by his fulfil the role of a high priest at each celebration of
mother of Mary and foster father, the carpenter the Eucharist.
Joseph, in the town of Nazareth in Galilee.
LESSON 1: JESUS THE FOUNDATION OF 2

THE CHURCH
Theology 2 (Cristology) | Year 1 Preliminary
As king, Jesus is the rightful ruler of the universe one Jesus often used the title Son of Man when he referred
who rules gently and compassionately. He uses the to himself. Its Old Testament is a vision described in
power of love and service to attract followers to his Daniel 7:13: “I saw . . . one like a son of man coming on
way. the clouds of heaven. “On the other hand, the title
SON OF GOD emphasizes Jesus' humanity, one who is like us and will
The gospels repeatedly make the truth that Jesus was suffer for and serve all people. On the other hand, Son
the unique son of God very clear. For example, at of Man describes Jesus as the judge through whom
both his baptism and transfiguration, the father calls God will fully established kingdom at the end of time.
Jesus his “beloved son”. Peter proclaims Jesus to be QUIZ 1
the “Messiah the Son of the Living God”, and Jesus 1. The second person of the Holy Trinity (God the Son)
himself clearly says that he is the son of God: “The
2. It refers to the passion, death and resurrection of
Father and I are one”. Jesus' Father is the first person
Christ (Paschal Mystery)
of the Blessed Trinity. Jesus Christ is the natural son
3. God took on our human nature, body and soul, this is
who shares in God's very nature. Human beings, on
known as the doctrine of (Incarnation)
the other hand, are God's adopted children.
4. He is the fulfilment of salvation history as foretold in
The simple statement that “Jesus Christ is Lord” is
the Old Testament (Jesus)
the earliest and shortest Christian Creed. Jesus
5. “The Word became flesh so that thus we might know
proved that he was God during his ministry through his
God's love.” (True)
miracles. He demonstrated his divine sovereignty by
work of power over nature, illness, demons, death, and 6. The personal name Jesus comes from the Hebrew

sin. Jesus has the same sovereignty as God and his word (Yehoshua (Joshua) which means? (God is
death and resurrection have one eternal life for Salvation)
humanity, a gift only God can grant. Jesus is the one 7. He was raised by his mother Mary and foster father,
true Lord and the only Lord deserving our total the carpenter Joseph, in the town of Nazareth in
allegiance. Galilee (Jesus)
OTHER TITLES AND SYMBOLS FOR 8. Claiming to make himself equal to God in an
JESUS example of (Blasphemy)
Besides the titles of Jesus revealed in the Creed, there
9. One who speaks for God (Prophet)
are other titles and symbols for Christ that come from
10. A mediator between God and human (Priest)
the New Testament and the early Church that tell
11. He is a leader and ruler (King)
more about him. Jesus upset many of his
12. Why Jesus was called the Son of Man? (because
contemporaries by rejecting their idea of the messiah
He is the Son of Mary born in the manger)
as a conquering, earthly ruler. He chose instead to be
a Suffering Servant who took on the sins of his people 13. At both his baptism and transfiguration, the father

and redeemed them. “The Son of Man did not come calls Jesus his (“beloved son”)
to be served but to serve and to give his life as a 14. Two (2) nature of Jesus (human & divine)
ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). 15. The first person of the Holy Trinity (Father)