Watchtower Study, "Article 22," Week of August 4-10, 2025, Jehovah's Name: What It Means to Jesus, Answers.

Watchtower Study, "Article 22," August 4-10, 2025, Jehovah's Name: What It Means to Jesus, Answers.

“I have made your name known to them, and I will continue to make it known” (JOHN 17:26).

1, 2. a) What did Jesus do the night before he died?

The night of Nisan 14, 33 AD, was a very special and solemn moment. Jesus had just celebrated Passover with his disciples and then instituted the commemoration of his death, something we continue to remember every year to this day. But the most remarkable thing about that night was the prayer Jesus prayed, which we can read about in chapter 17.

Jesus didn't focus on praying for himself, but opened his heart to speak with his Father about very important matters. He showed how much he cared about glorifying Jehovah, how much he loved his disciples, and how important it was for him to make his Father's name known. This prayer also demonstrates that Jesus had complete trust in Jehovah, even in times of extreme pressure.

1, 2. b) What will we answer in this article?

This article focuses on helping us better understand the prayer recorded in John 17 and what it reveals about Jesus' heart. This leads us to three key questions that we will answer throughout the study:

1. What were Jesus' concerns at that moment? Despite the approaching pain and anguish, Jesus showed genuine concern for his Father's glorification and for the protection of his followers.

2. What was important to him during his life? Jesus valued Jehovah's name greatly, taught it, and made it known to others. This is confirmed in John 17:6, where he says he revealed that name to his disciples.

3. What lessons can we draw from this prayer? The article will help us imitate Jesus' attitude, always putting Jehovah's glory and the well-being of our brothers and sisters first.

“I HAVE MADE YOUR NAME KNOWN TO THEM”

3. What did Jesus say about the name Jehovah, and what did he mean? (John 17:6, 26)

When Jesus spoke those words, he wasn't simply speaking, revealing, or making known the name as if it were something new. The disciples already knew that God's name was Jehovah.

What Jesus meant was that he had shown what Jehovah is really like through his behavior, his example, and his teachings. He taught his disciples that God is not a distant figure, but a close and loving Father.

Through his miracles, his compassion, and his steadfastness in standing up for what was right, Jesus revealed his divine personality. Therefore, knowing Jehovah's name goes far beyond knowing how to pronounce it. It involves understanding who He is and developing a real friendship with Him, like the one Jesus had.

4, 5. (a) How can someone's name take on special meaning? Explain with an example.

The example in paragraph 4 shows something we can all easily understand: that names are not just words. Names can have a strong emotional value when they are linked to meaningful experiences.

This was the case with Jesus' disciples and the name Jehovah. They were very familiar with it because, as Jews, they read the Scriptures. But Jesus helped his disciples see what Jehovah is really like. Through his teachings, miracles, and his dealings with people, he showed them that Jehovah is a loving, close, just, and compassionate God. In this way, the name "Jehovah" became a living thing for them, with deep emotional and spiritual value.

4, 5. b) How did the name Jehovah come to have a very special meaning for the apostles?

Although the apostles knew Jehovah's name before following Jesus, it was he who helped them truly understand what lay behind that name. By Jesus' time, religious leaders no longer used God's name for fear of profaning it, replacing it with titles like "Lord." But Jesus corrected that by actively teaching about his Father and faithfully representing his character.

John 14:9 says that seeing Jesus was like seeing the Father. Jesus was a perfect reflection of Jehovah: He showed compassion for the sick, was indignant at injustice, loved the humble, and always spoke the truth. All of this made the apostles feel love, respect, and closeness toward him.

“YOUR OWN NAME, THE ONE YOU GAVE ME”

6. What did Jesus mean when he said that Jehovah had given him his own name? (John 17:11, 12)

By saying that Jehovah had given him his own name, Jesus was expressing his role as God's spokesman and authorized representative. For example, the prophets acted in Jehovah's name, representing his will to the people.

Jesus was much more than a prophet. As stated in John 5:43, he came in the name of his Father, which meant that his words, miracles, and ministry had the direct backing of heaven. John 10:25 confirms this when it says that his works were done in the name of Jehovah.

It's also important to remember that the name Jesus in Hebrew contains the divine name and means "Jehovah is salvation." Thus, from his creation, his identity was deeply connected to God's purpose.

7. Explain with an example why Jesus could speak in the name of Jehovah.

Jesus was able to speak in Jehovah's name because he was directly appointed by Him as His authorized representative. In ancient culture, ambassadors were not symbolic figures, but had real power to act and speak on behalf of a king or ruler. What they said had legal and political weight, and their words were considered as if they came from the ruler himself.

In that context, the example in the paragraph makes more sense. Jesus was, indeed, Jehovah's supreme ambassador on Earth. As John 7:16 says, "What I teach is not Mine, but His who sent Me." And in Matthew 21:9, when the people shouted, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of Jehovah!" they were acknowledging that Jesus was not acting on his own.

8. In what sense was Jehovah’s name “in” Jesus before he came to earth? (Exodus 23:20, 21)

These verses are key to understanding Jesus' authority and mission, even before his human birth. Jehovah warned the Israelites to obey that angel, because "my name is in Him." This language indicates that this angel was not only sent by God, but also had a special and direct relationship with Him.

Furthermore, since ancient times, Jehovah used his Son as a mediator to interact with humans. This demonstrates that Jesus was not a newcomer to biblical history, but has always played a central role in divine purposes.

ADDITIONAL COMMENT

Jehovah's name was on Jesus before he came to earth because he was his chief representative. Since Jehovah had chosen him, he spoke with divine authority and upheld the sanctity of God's name, as Exodus 23:20, 21 shows.

“FATHER, GLORIFY YOUR NAME”

9. How do we know that Jehovah’s name was very important to Jesus?

We know that Jehovah's name was very important to Jesus, because he not only mentioned it, but also honored it with his words and actions. Even before coming to Earth, he represented and defended it. Later, when he was on Earth, he did so again.

Jesus made it clear that glorifying his Father's name was one of his priorities. For example, in John 12:28, near his death, Jesus offered a heartfelt prayer, saying, "Father, glorify your name." This shows that, even in times of great pressure, Jesus was not seeking his own glory or security, but rather desired that Jehovah's name be honored.

10, 11. (a) How did Jesus glorify Jehovah’s name? (See also the image.)

From the beginning of his ministry, Jesus spoke of the Kingdom, the good news, and Jehovah's wonderful qualities. But he knew there was a great dispute to be resolved. Satan had accused God of being a liar and unjust, and he had questioned the loyalty of human servants.

Jesus responded to those lies with a life of perfect obedience, even in the midst of great trials. Therefore, his example not only glorified God at that time, but serves as a model for us to this day.

10, 11. (b) Why must Jehovah’s name be sanctified and vindicated?

Sanctifying and vindicating Jehovah's name is one of the central reasons we exist as God's servants. Satan's attack was twofold. On the one hand, he made Eve think Jehovah was lying; on the other, he insinuated that his government was unjust. Then, with Job, he said that no one serves God out of genuine love. These accusations called into question Jehovah's justice and goodness, damaging his reputation—that is, his name.

So it's not just about using God's name, but about living in a way that honors him. Every act of obedience we offer to Jehovah is a way of responding to Satan's lies and helping Jehovah's name be vindicated before the entire universe.

ILLUSTRATION

Jesus delivering the Sermon on the Mount to a large crowd.

Jesus taught his disciples the importance of sanctifying God's name. (See paragraph 10.)

“I GIVE MY LIFE”

12. What was Jesus willing to do for his love of Jehovah's name?

Jesus showed exceptional love for Jehovah's name. He not only lived a perfect life, but he was willing to die voluntarily to sanctify that name. John 10:17, 18 makes it clear that his surrender was conscious and out of love. He was not a passive martyr, but an active defender of his Father's sovereignty and honor.

The contrast with Adam and Eve is important, since they, being perfect, chose disobedience, thus dishonoring God's name. But Jesus, also perfect, chose to obey. Hebrews 5:7-10 shows that his obedience was the fruit of reverent fear and sincere submission. He learned to obey even in the midst of suffering.

13. Why was there no one better than Jesus to prove that Satan was the liar? (See also the image.)

Jesus was the ideal person to expose Satan because he knew Jehovah intimately. He was God's heavenly spokesman and had lived with his Father since ancient times. This means that he had a complete understanding of Jehovah's way of thinking, feeling, and acting. If he had detected any injustice, falsehood, or abuse of power in him, he would have known better than anyone.

Satan, from Eden, questioned Jehovah's goodness and intentions. He accused Him of being a liar and of being a God unworthy of selfless love. But Jesus came to prove that wrong. His life on Earth was living proof that it is possible to love and obey God even under pressure.

ILLUSTRATION

Jesus on the torture stake.

With everything Jesus did during his life, he proved beyond a doubt that it was Satan, not Jehovah, who was lying. (See paragraph 13.)

“I HAVE COMPLETED THE WORK YOU ASSIGNED ME”

14. How did Jehovah reward Jesus for being faithful?

Jesus received an unparalleled reward for remaining faithful until death. In his prayer the night before he died, he expressed with inner peace that he had completed the mission his Father had entrusted to him. This statement shows his absolute confidence that Jehovah would resurrect and glorify him, as mentioned in John 17:4, 5.

Acts 2:24 shows that Jehovah did not allow his Son to remain dead. He raised him from the grave and brought him back to life, not as a mere spirit, but as a glorified being, with an exalted position in heaven.

According to Philippians 2:8, 9, God elevated him to a higher position and gave him a name that is above every other name. This recognition puts him above every creature.

15. What else will Jesus achieve?

As Jehovah's appointed King, Jesus plays a key role in the final phase of God's purpose. He will soon lead the great battle of Armageddon to completely eliminate evil and bring about justice.

As mentioned in Revelation 19:11-16, Jesus will come as a heavenly warrior, with power and authority to execute divine judgment. After this victory, he will cast Satan into the "abyss," a symbolic place where he will be completely restrained for a thousand years, unable to influence humanity.

This will usher in Christ's peaceful millennial reign. During that time, He will raise the dead, heal humanity of sin, guide faithful people to perfection, and transform the Earth into a beautiful global paradise. In fact, Revelation 21:1-4 promises that there will be no more mourning, pain, or death.

ADDITIONAL COMMENT

Jesus will defeat God's enemies at Armageddon, imprison Satan for a thousand years, and, during that time, bring peace. He will resurrect the dead and turn the earth into a paradise. Thus will Jehovah's purpose be fulfilled.

16. What will life be like when the Thousand Year Reign ends?

At the end of the thousand-year reign, Jehovah's goal from the beginning will have been achieved: a perfect human family, living in peace and unity with its Creator. Thanks to the power of the Kingdom and the work of Jesus, sin and its effects will have been completely eliminated.

Illness, old age, and mental and emotional limitations will no longer exist. We will all be physically, emotionally, and spiritually perfect. 1 Corinthians 15:26 says that “death will be brought to nothing,” so the death inherited from Adam will also disappear.

17, 18. (a) What will happen at the end of the Thousand Year Reign?

At the close of the millennium, one of the most important themes in all of history will come to a close: the vindication of Jehovah's name. Since Eden, Satan has slandered God, calling him a liar, unjust, and selfish.

Yet for a thousand years, Jehovah will have demonstrated through his actions—through the Kingdom ruled by Christ—that he is just the opposite: a loving, just, and wise Father. There will be no doubt that Jehovah deserves all worship, and his reputation will be forever cleansed.

17, 18. b) What will Jesus do when his reign ends? (1 Corinthians 15:24, 28; see also the image.)

At the end of his thousand-year reign, Jesus will take an action that confirms his love and loyalty to Jehovah: he will return the Kingdom to the Sovereign of the universe. This act, prophesied in 1 Corinthians 15:24, 28, has profound significance.

Jesus is not like Satan, who covets power and glory. Jesus recognizes that everything he has accomplished—things like raising the dead, eliminating sin, and restoring peace and perfection—has been for his Father's glory, not his own. Having ruled with justice and love, Jesus will demonstrate that his purpose was never to usurp divine authority, but to cooperate with it.

ILLUSTRATION

Jesus in heaven, giving his crown to Jehovah.

Jesus will be willing to return the Kingdom to Jehovah at the end of his Thousand-Year Reign. (See paragraph 18.)

19. What does the name Jehovah mean to Jesus?

For Jesus, the name of Jehovah is everything. It's not just a name or a mission, but something deeply personal and sacred.

Throughout his life, both in heaven and on earth, Jesus demonstrated that he deeply values the honor, reputation, and sanctity of his Father's name. He was willing to suffer, be misunderstood, persecuted, and even die in order to sanctify that name.

Furthermore, the fact that Jehovah gave Jesus his own name as a representative demonstrates the enormous trust he has in him. And Jesus responded with complete faithfulness, upholding that name even in extreme circumstances.

WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?

How did Jesus make Jehovah's name known to his disciples?

Jesus made Jehovah's name known to them by speaking of his Father, teaching them about his qualities and his actions. He didn't just mention his name, but showed them what Jehovah is really like, both by his words and by his example.

What did Jesus mean when he said that Jehovah had given him his own name?

Jesus meant that Jehovah had appointed him as his representative. He came in his Father's name, acted with his authority, and glorified that name with everything he did. Furthermore, his very name, Jesus, includes Jehovah's name, and its meaning is: "Jehovah is salvation."

What was Jesus willing to do for Jehovah's name, and why?

Jesus was willing to give his life for Jehovah's name. He did so because he loved him deeply and wanted to sanctify that name, demonstrating that Jehovah is a just and trustworthy ruler and that Satan is a liar.