Watchtower Study, Jehovah's Name: What It Means to Jesus, Week of August 4-10, 2025, Comments and Responses.

Watchtower Study, Jehovah's Name: What It Means to Jesus, August 4-10, 2025, Comments and 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 before his death, on Nisan 14, 33 AD, Jesus met with his faithful apostles. After celebrating a special meal and offering them farewell words, he offered a profound prayer, which was recorded by the apostle John in chapter 17 of his Gospel.

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

In this article, we'll explore what we can learn from Jesus' prayer, what he was worried about at that time, and what was important to him during his life on Earth.

“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)

Jesus said to Jehovah in his prayer: “I have made your name known to them.” In making this statement, Jesus was not referring to teaching them that God’s name is Jehovah, since his disciples, as Jews, already knew that. Instead, he was referring to having revealed to them Jehovah’s personality, purpose, actions, and qualities.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

This passage reminds us that knowing Jehovah's name goes beyond knowing his name; it means understanding his personality and will. Today, by studying Jesus' teachings and applying them to our lives, we can also deepen our knowledge of Jehovah.

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

Someone's name can take on a special meaning when that person does something valuable for us. For example, if a brother named David, who is also a surgeon, saves our life during a medical emergency, his name will no longer be just David. Every time we hear it, we will remember his act of love and what he did for us, giving his name a special meaning.

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

The name Jehovah came to have a very special meaning for the apostles because, through Jesus' ministry, they came to better understand Jehovah's personality, purpose, and qualities. Jesus perfectly reflected his Father in his teachings and his dealings with people, allowing the apostles to understand who Jehovah is.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The apostles learned to appreciate Jehovah's name even more through Jesus' ministry. We too can deepen our appreciation by studying the scriptures and observing how Jehovah acts in our lives.

“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)

When Jesus said that Jehovah had given him his own name, he didn't mean that he was now called Jehovah. Rather, he meant that he acted as his Father's representative and spoke in his name. He performed powerful works with Jehovah's authority. Furthermore, Jesus' very name means "Jehovah is salvation," reflecting that his life and mission were totally linked to God's purpose and name.

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

When a ruler appoints someone as his ambassador, he gives that person the authority to represent him and speak on his behalf. The ambassador's words and actions carry the same weight as if they were expressed by the ruler himself. Similarly, Jehovah appointed Jesus as his representative and gave him the authority to speak and act on his behalf.

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

Jehovah's name was "in Jesus" in the sense that he was his representative and the chief defender of Jehovah and the sanctity of his name. Jesus is "the Word" because Jehovah has used him as a spokesman to give information and instructions to angels and humans.

“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 honored it both before coming to earth and during his human life. Jesus focused his ministry on making his Father known and glorifying his name. Shortly before his death, he even asked Jehovah to glorify his name.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Jesus always sought to honor and glorify his Father's name. This inspires us to do the same, ensuring that our words and actions reflect a deep respect for Jehovah's name.

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

Jesus glorified Jehovah's name by telling others about his beautiful qualities and wonderful works, and by teaching his disciples to pray that God's name would be sanctified.

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

Jehovah's name must be sanctified and vindicated because Satan slandered him in the Garden of Eden, accusing him of being a liar and of depriving Adam and Eve of something good. He also claimed that God's servants only serve him for self-interest, as in the case of Job. These lies attacked Jehovah's reputation.

We can participate with this comment: By imitating Jesus, we glorify Jehovah's name by speaking of his qualities and living in ways that defend his truth against Satan's lies.

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 was willing to give his life for the sake of Jehovah's name. Unlike Adam and Eve, who disobeyed, Jesus demonstrated his love for his Father by being obedient at all times, even under suffering. He remained faithful until death, and with that absolute loyalty, he demonstrated his love for Jehovah and his name.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

This sacrifice of Jesus teaches us how deep his love for Jehovah and his name was. He not only spoke about God's qualities, but he also gave his life to demonstrate that Jehovah is worthy of absolute loyalty.

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

There was no one better than Jesus to prove that Satan was the liar, because he is the one who knows Jehovah best in the entire universe. If Satan's accusations had any truth to them, Jesus would have known it. Nevertheless, he remained completely loyal, defending his Father's name and reputation at all times.

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?

Jehovah rewarded Jesus for his faithfulness by not leaving him in the grave, but resurrecting him and giving him a superior position in heaven. He also appointed him King of God's Kingdom, which will fulfill Jehovah's will on earth.

15. What else will Jesus achieve?

Jesus will soon destroy God's enemies at Armageddon, chain Satan, and establish a thousand-year reign. During that time, he will bring peace to Earth, help humanity achieve perfection, resurrect the dead, and transform the Earth into a paradise. Finally, Jehovah's purpose for all creation will be fulfilled.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Jesus' future accomplishments motivate us to support his Kingdom, trusting that it will fulfill Jehovah's purpose of restoring perfection and peace.

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

When the thousand-year reign ends, sin, imperfection, and death will have completely disappeared. Humanity will no longer need a ransom, a mediator, or priests to approach Jehovah, for all will be perfect.

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

At the end of the thousand-year reign, the debate over the sanctification of Jehovah's name will be brought to a close. His reputation will be fully vindicated, proving that Satan's accusations were pure lies.

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

Jesus will not rebel like Satan. Out of love for Jehovah, he will return the Kingdom to him and submit completely to his authority, thus demonstrating his loyalty and respect for divine sovereignty.

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, Jehovah's name is everything. He was faithful as his representative, willing to die for that name, and at the end of the thousand-year reign, he will return everything to his Father with love and loyalty.

WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?

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

Jesus introduced them to the name of Jehovah, teaching them who God really is: his personality, his qualities, his purpose, and his way of acting. Through his example, words, and actions, Jesus perfectly reflected his Father and helped his disciples come to know him deeply.

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

Jesus didn't mean to call himself Jehovah, but rather that he represented him with authority. He spoke and acted in his name as the spokesman and chief defender of the sanctity of that name.

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

Jesus was willing to give his life to sanctify and vindicate his Father's name. He did so out of deep love for Jehovah and to prove Satan's accusations false.