How many persons was Jesus?

from the old testament

• The Old Testament anticipated a single Person, a Messiah, who would be both divine and human. After Adam and Eve rebelled, inflicting humanity with corruption and death (Genesis 3), God cursed Satan with the promise that there would be someone from within humanity who would defeat him (Genesis 3:15). Scripture also taught that the Person would be a human descendant of King David (2 Samuel 7:12–13). This promised individual was known as the Messiah.
• The Messiah was not only said to be human but also to possess divine qualities. He is prophesied to be called “Mighty God” and “Everlasting Father” (Isaiah 9:6–7) and to ride on the clouds (Daniel 7:13).
• Therefore, while the Messiah was to be human, and a son of David, He would also be divine, and Lord over David (Psalm 110:1; cf. Matthew 22:41–46).

from the new testament

• Matthew, written to Jews to show them that the Messiah had come, shows how Jesus was descended from David as foretold (Matthew 1:1–17) but how He was Immanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). John also affirmed that Jesus (whom He called “the Word”) was eternally God (John 1:1) who “took on flesh” (humanity) to live among us (John 1:14).
• Jesus is both fully divine (Colossians 2:9) and fully human (Hebrews 2:14). That is, He has two natures.
• Despite having two natures, the Bible treats Jesus as one Person. When speaking of His divinity and humanity together, the singular personal pronoun “he,” never “they,” is used. An example is Philippians 2:6–7, which reads, “who though he [Jesus, singular] was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” So even after taking on a human nature, He remained one Person.
• His two natures were fully intact, meaning that He was not an amalgamation of divine and human, but fully divine while fully human. This is why He could be both hungry like normal humans (Matthew 4:2) and also forgive sins, as only God can (Mark 2:5–7, 10–11).

implications for today

Bridges make useful metaphors: We speak of crossing a bridge when we come to it, of issues that are water under the bridge, or even sometimes burning bridges. But the metaphor that best fits salvation is bridging the gap—in this case, between sinful humankind and our holy God through our Mediator, Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). Jesus, being fully God, is eternal, unchanging, and holy. Being fully man means that He lived like us but without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Being both in one person means that Jesus is the needed bridge.

Sin had to be dealt with, so the Father willingly crushed Christ (Isaiah 53:10) on the cross, causing Him to bear the penalty for sin (1 Peter 2:24). He punished Jesus as a substitute for the sins of repentant men and women. Because of the God-man Jesus, there is a way to the Father (John 14:6), through the repentance of sin and confession that Jesus is who Scripture says He is (Romans 10:9–10).

Consider your relationship with God. If you are not relating to Him through His Son, then you remain under His wrath (John 3:36). Repent and believe in Jesus today. All who do so will be made spiritually alive (Ephesians 2:5), be called God’s children (John 1:12), and live forever (John 3:16).