Jesus, Christ and Lord
Jesus was born as a man, was guided by the Spirit, was recognized as the Christ and was exalted as Lord. What does this sequence reveal about Christ in us?
Airton Humber · 06/06/26 · 4 min de leitura
Perhaps one of the simplest ways to look at the life of Jesus is to follow the sequence that the Scriptures themselves present.
First we see Jesus.
He is born, grows up, learns, works and lives as an ordinary human being. For about thirty years, he is known only as Jesus of Nazareth.
Curiously, Matthew does not end his genealogy only with the birth of Jesus. He writes:
“Jacob begat Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.”Matthew 1:16
As if, from the beginning, Matthew were inviting the reader to discover something that would still be revealed throughout the story.
Then we see Christ.
The Spirit of the Lord
Then comes the baptism.
The Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus, and the Father declares:
“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”Matthew 3:17
Shortly after, as he begins his work, Jesus makes a declaration that deserves our attention:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me…”Luke 4:18
Before speaking about miracles, power or authority, Jesus speaks about the Spirit of the Lord.
It is the Spirit who guides him.
It is the Spirit who anoints him.
It is the Spirit who leads his life and his mission.
Peter sees the Christ
Later, Jesus asks his disciples:
“And you, who do you say that I am?”Matthew 16:15
Peter answers:
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”Matthew 16:16
While many saw only Jesus, Peter saw the Christ.
Not by flesh and blood.
But by revelation from the Father.
Found in human form
But the story does not end there.
Paul describes the path that Jesus walked:
“And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross!”Philippians 2:8
This detail is very important.
Paul does not say only that Jesus died on the cross.
He makes a point of highlighting that he was found in human form.
He took the condition of a servant.
He humbled himself.
He obeyed.
The obedience happened in the human condition.
Perhaps that is precisely why Paul presents this path to the disciples right at the beginning of the chapter:
“Have among yourselves the same way of thinking as Christ Jesus.”Philippians 2:5
The goal is not merely to admire Jesus.
It is to understand the path he walked.
Because if we see only the divine side of Jesus, his example becomes distant and unreachable.
But when we see the man guided by the Spirit, obedient to the Father and dependent on God, the path begins to become visible.
And then we see the Lord.
Therefore God exalted him
Then Paul concludes:
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place…”Philippians 2:9
The exaltation does not appear separate from the obedience.
It is a consequence of it.
After the resurrection, Peter announces:
“This Jesus, whom you crucified, God has made both Lord and Christ.”Acts 2:36
So the sequence I see in the Scriptures is:
First, we see Jesus as a man.
He receives the Spirit and is confirmed by the Father as Son.
He lives guided by the Spirit of the Lord.
Then, he is recognized as the Christ.
He remains obedient to the cross.
And, later still, God exalts him as Lord.
Perhaps that is why the message of the apostles culminates in a simple declaration:
“Jesus Christ is Lord.”Philippians 2:11
The Spirit leads to lordship
Curiously, in our days we talk a lot about the Holy Spirit, but not always about his lordship.
However, the first public declaration of Jesus after his baptism was:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.”Luke 4:18
The Spirit does not lead to human prominence.
The Spirit leads to the lordship of God.
“The Lord is the Spirit…”2 Cor 3:17
Christ in us
But perhaps the story does not end in Acts 2.
Paul writes to the Galatians:
“My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.”Galatians 4:19
And to the Colossians:
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.”Colossians 1:27
These words are striking.
Paul is not speaking only about Jesus of Nazareth.
Nor only about the Christ recognized by Peter.
Nor only about the Lord exalted at the right hand of God.
He is speaking about Christ being formed in human beings.
Perhaps that is why he devoted so much effort to teaching, correcting and encouraging the churches.
The goal was not merely to pass on knowledge.
It was to cooperate with the work of God in forming Christ in his children as well.
Jesus is born as a man.
He receives the Spirit and is confirmed by the Father as Son.
He lives guided by the Spirit of the Lord.
He is recognized as the Christ.
He remains obedient to the cross.
He is exalted by God as Lord.
He pours out the Spirit on human beings.
So that Christ may be formed in us.
Perhaps that is why Paul calls this reality:
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.”Colossians 1:27
The story that began in Jesus does not end in him.
It continues in those who receive the Spirit and allow God to do his work in them.
Not as a copy of Jesus.
But as the continuation of what God himself began to reveal in him.
Learning to see
Matthew begins by saying:
“Jesus was born, who is called Christ.”Matthew 1:16
Peter declares:
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”Matthew 16:16
And, after the resurrection, he announces:
“This Jesus, whom you crucified, God has made both Lord and Christ.”Acts 2:36
Perhaps the journey of the disciples was precisely this: learning to see, little by little, what God was revealing in Jesus.
And perhaps our human journey is exactly the same.
