Christ in Jesus. Christ in us

The Father's promise and God's plan

Throughout the entire Old Testament, God's people waited for the coming of the Messiah, the Anointed One. The promise was everywhere: in the Psalms, in the Prophets, in the Law. They expected a king like David, a deliverer like Moses, a prophet like Elijah. And they came. But none of them was the definitive promise.

The Spirit in the Old Testament: upon, not within

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit manifested Himself in specific moments. He came upon certain people to fulfill a specific purpose: upon the judges to deliver, upon the kings to govern, upon the prophets to proclaim. But it was always a temporary action. He came, empowered, and then withdrew.

In Saul, the Spirit came, and then withdrew. In Samson, He came with strength for battle. In all of them, the action was limited and conditional.

David is a striking exception. In 1 Samuel 16:13 it is written: “…from that day on, the Spirit of the Lord took hold of David.” It was something continuous, permanent, but even so, he prayed: “Do not take your Spirit from me”. The presence could still be lost. The promise was not yet complete.

The Word became flesh

Before there was a world, there was the Word. And the Word was with God. And the Word was God.

Everything that exists came through Him. Everything that has life has its origin in Him. And that life was the light of men.

The light shone in the darkness. The darkness did not understand it. They did not receive it. But it kept on shining.

The one who was eternal became visible. The invisible became flesh. The Word dwelt among us.

And we saw his glory. Glory as of the only begotten of the Father. Full of grace and truth.

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Jesus was the Christ. The Anointed One. The first man full of the Holy Spirit. The first to live totally submitted, totally led, totally inhabited by the Spirit. He is the perfect expression of the Father. The man in whom God can dwell fully.

The promise of God with us

Isaiah prophesied: “His name will be Immanuel, which means: God with us”. And in Jesus, this promise is fulfilled. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. But that presence, God with us, was still localized. It was in Jesus.

Jesus then promises: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you forever: the Spirit of truth… He lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14)

God with us would become God in us. And not for a time, but forever.

The error of tradition: stopping at Jesus

Tradition looks at Jesus, but does not see Christ.

It looks at the Christ, but does not believe He can be formed in us.

It admires Jesus as an example, as a savior, as a historical figure. But it does not recognize that He is the first of many children. That God's plan was to form a body, a family, a people full of the same Spirit.

That is why most churches preach a Christ outside of us. And that is why the Christian life becomes moralistic, wearying, barren.

The one sent has changed

Jesus said: “The work of God is to believe in the one he sent”. At that time, the one sent was Jesus. But He himself warned: “It is better for you that I go. If I go, I will send the Counselor.” And he breathed on the disciples: “Receive the Holy Spirit”.

Today, the one sent is the Holy Spirit. And to believe in the one sent today is to believe in Him. It is to be led by Him. It is to be born again. It is to let Christ be formed in us.

From shadow to fullness

In the Old Testament, the Spirit came upon. In Jesus, He dwelt. In us, He desires to make His home.

David said: “Do not take your Spirit from me”. But Paul says: “You are the temple of the Holy Spirit”. This is the new covenant. This is the good news. The Kingdom of God is in you.

Christ in Jesus is the revelation. Christ in us is the formation.

This is the plan. This is the way. This is the truth that sets us free.

We were not called merely to believe in Jesus.

We were called to be born of God.

To be made children.

To be filled with the same Spirit.

So that the world may not see only Jesus,

but see Christ formed in a living body,

in love, in truth, in power,

in us.