Jesus Christ is revealed as the Messiah, meaning the “anointed” one, and the Son of God (John 1:41, CCC 433, 436). As the Logos or Word made flesh, he is consubstantial with the Father and possesses divine knowledge and authority (Jn 1:14, CCC 261, John 1:48). His arrival was foretold by the prophet Isaiah, who spoke of a messenger preparing the way for the Lord (Isaiah 40:3). In his early life, his presentation in the temple identified him as the firstborn Son belonging to the Lord and the long-expected “light to the nations” (Luke 2:32, CCC 530), while his departure from Egypt mirrored the exodus, marking him as the definitive liberator of God’s people (CCC 531).

The public ministry of Jesus began with his baptism in the Jordan River, an event that served as his messianic consecration (Luke 3:22, CCC 438). This moment is marked by the descent of the Holy Spirit and the Father’s declaration of Jesus as his beloved Son, confirming his divine identity and inaugurating his mission as God’s suffering Servant (CCC 535). This consecration flows from his divine sonship and his total acceptance of the Father’s will.

Jesus’ ministry was situated within the context of Jewish tradition and faithfulness to the Torah, aiming to reconstitute the people of Israel (CCC 528). His primary purpose was to reveal God the Father and His reign, thereby establishing norms for righteous human behavior (Mt 11:27). He taught that true righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees and consists in doing the will of the heavenly Father (Matthew 5:20, Matthew 7:21). Regarding the law, Jesus did not come to abolish it but to fulfill it, bringing the law to a lasting expression of God’s will through a process of both continuity and discontinuity (Matthew 5:17-18).

The moral life modeled by Jesus emphasizes humility and service, teaching that to be first, one must be last and a servant of all (Mark 9:35). He revealed the Father’s will through his actions and provided a model for prayer by giving his disciples the Lord’s Prayer (CCC 2751, 2766). This prayer reflects a deep understanding of God’s nature and plan of salvation, focusing on reverence for God’s name, zeal for His kingdom, obedience to His will, and protection from evil (CCC 2751).

Through various signs and discourses, Jesus disclosed the gifts God the Father provides to humanity, manifesting himself as the bread, light, gate, shepherd, resurrection, and life (CCC 2.1-11). These revelations offer deliverance from darkness and full communion with the Father (John 6:35, 8:12, 10:9, 14:6). While his immediate mission was directed toward the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mt 1:1, 15:24), his ministry had a universal scope that anticipated the gathering of all peoples into the Kingdom (Isa 25:6). Although he had limited contact with Gentiles, he treated them with respect and acceptance (Mt 8:10-12).

The culmination of Jesus’ earthly life is the Paschal mystery, comprising his Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension (CCC 1067). He taught his disciples about his impending death and resurrection to ensure they understood the significance of his mission (Mark 9:31). The shedding of his blood during the Passion represents the greatest manifestation of love and the central act of human redemption.

Following his glorification through death and resurrection, Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit to fulfill the promises made to the fathers (CCC 729). He instituted the sacraments to provide a means of grace and established the Church as his mystical Body (CCC 1114, CCC 752). Before his ascension, he sent forth the apostles to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples of all nations, ensuring that his teaching would be preserved with fidelity through the apostolic ministry (Mt 28:19-20, Acts 1:21-22).