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.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

He was gathered with his faithful apostles in the upper room of a house. After a very special dinner, he offered them some encouraging farewell words, and shortly before everyone left, Jesus offered a very profound prayer.

What Jesus was most concerned about was the glorification of the Holy name of his father.

In this prayer Jesus was able to express his feelings toward his Father Jehovah and he was also able to teach his disciples what he expected of them regarding his Father.

We can learn from that prayer that Jesus prayed, which is very important, since it touches on very important points that have to do with the sanctification of Jehovah's name.

In John 17:25, we see what he was concerned about, for he said, “Righteous Father, the world has not really come to know you, but I know you, and they have come to know that you sent me.” So, his main motivation was to make Jehovah’s name known, and it was something he was concerned about and did very well.

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.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

In this article, we'll answer what Jesus was concerned 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.

That he had made him known to the people, but not his literal name. They already knew his name, the name of Jehovah. He meant that he had taught them what kind of person Jehovah is, including his purpose, his actions, and his qualities.

No one knew Jehovah better than he did, so no one could teach as many things about Jehovah as Jesus Christ.

In John 17:6, he not only says, “I have made known to them your name,” but at the end adds, “They have obeyed your words.” That is, he taught them what they were to do and what that name represented. And then, he demonstrated that Jehovah’s love was what he was to teach his disciples.

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.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

For example, an elder named David, a surgeon whom we've also known for many years in the congregation, imagines one of us suffers a medical emergency and is rushed to the hospital where he works. David then uses his medical knowledge to save his life. In this way, David is no longer just a simple elder of the congregation, but the person who saved his life.

The name David now becomes something special to the person whose life he saved. I mean, now he hears the name "David" and immediately thinks, "He saved my life."

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.

Although they already knew Jehovah's name, they came to know him even better because of Jesus' ministry, as he constantly reflected Jehovah's personality in everything he did and said. And, as we read in John 14:9, Jesus said that whoever had seen him had also seen his Father, so it was a great reflection of him.

Remembering what David's name meant to the brother who saved his life, knowing Jehovah can also give us life. This means that a fuller, more intimate feeling accumulates and is stored as we come to know Jehovah the way He desires us to.

When they saw how Jesus Christ treated people and how he taught them, they were learning how Jehovah treats and teaches people.

Some people say that the God of the Old Testament was a God of vengeance, of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." But Jesus showed that Jehovah is not like that: He is not a God of vengeance, but a loving and just God, who does not want evil to happen. This is what Jesus demonstrated: that Jehovah is loving, as he demonstrated by showing love to those who were favorable to Jehovah.

“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.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

He didn't mean that he had changed his name, but rather, as he himself said in John 5:43, he had come in the name of his Father, in the name of Jehovah. He was a representative, a spokesperson; he spoke in the name of Jehovah. In fact, he says, "The one you gave me." And the meaning of Jesus' name is also "Jehovah is salvation."

Jesus was so attached to the Father and tried to do His will in everything that when He said that the two were one, the way He acted was as if the Father Himself were acting.

Everything Jesus did, not only as a spokesman or representative, but also all his miracles and mighty works, were in the name of Jehovah.

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.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

It can be compared to how governments currently appoint ambassadors to different countries, because these ambassadors are the ruler's representatives. In other words, it's as if the president of the government or the king were speaking at that moment, since they have the same authority. The same thing happened with Jesus: when Jehovah sent his Son, he gave him that same authority; he was representing him and had the same voice, as if he were his Father.

It was clear that he was his representative because Jehovah had given him the power to perform miracles. For example, in the case of the Samaritan woman, power came out without him realizing it.

This was reflected in the biblical texts. In Matthew 21:9 they said, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord," and in Luke 13:35 they also acknowledged him, saying exactly the same words.

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.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

It is true that the Bible often uses expressions that imply that Jehovah is speaking when, in fact, it is an angel, because many angels represented Jehovah and spoke in his name, on his behalf. However, Jesus is the main representative and also the main defender of Jehovah and the sanctity of his name. So, in that sense, his name is in him.

Leviticus 27:34 says that Jehovah gave the commandments to Moses at Sinai. However, Galatians 3:19 mentions that it was transmitted through angels. That is, Jehovah sometimes used angels as representatives, but the message really came from Him.

In the sense that he is his representative and the main defender of Jehovah and the sanctity of his name.

“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.

Giving honor to Jehovah's name was vitally important to Jesus, and he continued this mindset while on earth. An example of this is shown in John 12:28, when he asked Jehovah to glorify his own name.

It's interesting to consider the context in which Jesus made this request to Jehovah, and that is that he was speaking precisely of his death. It was the 10th of Nisan, close to death, and he felt deeply distressed by any reproach that Jehovah's name might bear. That's why he made this request to Jehovah.

Throughout his time on Earth, Jesus demonstrated that the most important thing to him was the name of Jehovah. Why did he do this? Because it was his life; he had to represent Jehovah's name here on Earth. How? During his time here, he demonstrated this by the way he lived.

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.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

He did this in various ways, but one of them was when he told people about his qualities, his purpose, and his wonderful works. But that wasn't all he did; he also knew that his Father's name was deeply stained and needed to be sanctified.

Jesus showed the great importance of highlighting Jehovah’s name when praying and teaching his disciples to pray when he says, “May your name be hallowed.”

He did this by speaking about his Father's qualities, explaining to people why his name is so important and the wonderful qualities he possesses. And we too can imitate Jesus when, when we go out to preach, we tell people about Jehovah, how good he is, and the purpose he has for all of them.

How can we do what Jesus did? Preaching is our main work, but how we are known in our community, how we are known at work, and by our attitude are also important. We can also glorify and honor Jehovah by telling our neighbors, coworkers, and others that Jehovah is a loving God and has a very good purpose for humanity.

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.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

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.

Like Jesus, we too must glorify and sanctify his name, because Satan directly attacked Jehovah's name and reputation there in Eden, when he said that he was depriving Adam and Eve of good things, that he was a liar, and that Jehovah's way of doing things was not right. We see that this is a direct attack on Jehovah's reputation. We know this is not the case, and we must do everything possible, whenever we have the opportunity, to glorify his name.

Not only did Jehovah's name have to be sanctified, but Jesus also had to vindicate his reputation—that is, clear it of those who had falsely accused him, free him from guilt, and defend him from slander to prove his innocence.

In Job 24, Satan meant that our love for Jehovah is insincere and that if our lives are in danger, we will turn our backs on our God. He also claims that Jehovah doesn't value what we do to please him. We have an opportunity to prove this wrong.

The Lord's Prayer says: "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." The importance of this for us must be a priority. Before asking for bread for this day, before asking for strength for everything, the most important thing comes first: "Hallowed be thy name," and we must fulfill our obligation so that it may be hallowed.

For in the Garden of Eden, Satan slandered Jehovah, saying that he was a liar because he was depriving Adam and Eve of something good, and he also insinuated that Jehovah was not doing things right, thereby directly attacking the reputation and sanctification of his name.

We must differentiate between sanctifying and vindicating. To sanctify is to deeply honor and respect, and to vindicate is to clear a reputation. These are the two things that must be done with Jehovah's name.

Satan claimed that all who serve Jehovah do so only for self-interest. Therefore, when difficulties or danger arise, the person will stop serving Jehovah. Because of this slander, Jehovah's reputation, as well as that of his servants, must be vindicated.

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.

Jesus loved his Father so much that he wanted to do everything possible to sanctify and vindicate Jehovah's name.

Jesus was willing to demonstrate his love for Jehovah and his name by coming to earth and remaining obedient throughout his life. He also remained loyal until his death.

He was willing to come to earth and demonstrate his love for Jehovah by remaining obedient throughout his life. The apostle Paul helps us understand the extent of his obedience. Hebrews 4:15 says that he was tested to the limit, just as we are, but he was without sin; he didn't have to experience all that, but that's how he was able to become a true high priest.

Hebrews 5:7-10 says that he pleaded with God with loud cries and tears. He experienced every kind of pain a human being can experience. And in this way, he remained loyal to the very end, to his death. This is why he has demonstrated how Jehovah's name can be sanctified and vindicated.

Hebrews 12:2 says he endured the cross for the happiness set before him. That happiness included not only being able to help humans, but also being able to vindicate and sanctify Jehovah's name.

He didn't endure or sanctify his Father's name just because he was perfect; he didn't endure for perfection. After all, Adam and Eve were also perfect, but they turned their backs on Jehovah. He endured out of love. So that's what allowed him to endure such an unlawful trial and a gruesome death.

Hebrews 5:8 says that Jesus learned obedience from the things he suffered. It's not that he wasn't obedient to Jehovah when he was in heaven, but that by living in these conditions of suffering, he truly learned what it meant to be obedient to Jehovah. That's what we too can imitate: being obedient even when circumstances are very difficult.

Such was his obedience and willingness to die that Jesus' death opened the possibility for human beings to live forever.

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.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Because no one knew Jehovah better than Jesus. No one had spent so much time with him. So, he was in the best position to defend Jehovah, and he knew full well that none of Satan's accusations against him had any truth to them.

When Jesus said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” it wasn’t because he was disappointed or had lost faith. He knew why he had to die and was willing to do it. Furthermore, he knew that Jehovah must remove all protection from him at that moment, allowing Jesus to demonstrate his faithfulness to the end, no matter how hard his death or what he had to suffer.

Although the Bible doesn't explain why Jesus said these words, it does show that it was prophesied that he would die this way, and Jesus knew it. Perhaps by mentioning this expression, "Why have you forsaken me?" he could help his disciples remember the psalm he was referring to, showing how Jesus was to die and so that his disciples would know that the prophecy was being fulfilled.

Jesus was trying to help his followers focus on why Jehovah allowed him to die that way, so that they would see him not as a criminal, but as their Savior.

From what we've learned about Jesus in the Bible, he was a very intelligent person. So, if what Satan said were true, he certainly wouldn't have gone so far as to give his life. This also shows us that he trusted Jehovah completely.

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.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Jehovah did not allow Jesus to remain in the grave; he resurrected him and gave him a superior position in heaven.

In John 17:4-5, we see how Jesus asks Jehovah to give him back what he had before. He didn't ask for more; he simply asked for the return of the glory he had. However, we see how Jehovah went further: He gave him that superior position, and many years later, Jesus began to rule as king of God's Kingdom.

This gives us the assurance that we may suffer and face persecution for defending Jehovah's name and doing his will, but that Jehovah will reward us, just as he did Jesus, when the time is right. It also gives us the assurance that we will live under God's Kingdom in perfect conditions.

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.

In Revelation 16 it is explained that at Armageddon Jesus will be the one who destroys the enemies of God and will fight against them.

He will throw Satan into the abyss, a symbolic place where he will be imprisoned and will no longer be able to do anything.

He will resurrect the dead and make the whole earth a paradise. He will bring peace to the earth and also help all humans achieve perfection.

We must be willing to continue defending Jehovah's name and also to apply what Jehovah is teaching us. We must also teach others to defend Jehovah's name.

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.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Sin and imperfection will be gone. Humanity will no longer need to ask forgiveness for its sins on the basis of ransom, nor will it need a mediator or priests to approach Jehovah.

As 1 Corinthians 15:26 says, the last enemy, death, will have ceased to exist. The dead will have been raised, and all who live on earth will be perfect.

We see what awaits us, the reward we will receive. That's why it's important to continue vindicating Jehovah's name and remaining faithful to him, even if it means suffering, so that we can obtain this reward.

The idea that after a thousand years we will no longer have to ask Jehovah for forgiveness is shocking, because we are not used to that.

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.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

His reputation will be completely vindicated. He will have proven that he truly loves us, and everyone will know that what Satan said about Jehovah was 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.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

He will once again demonstrate that honoring, deeply respecting, and sanctifying Jehovah's name is of the utmost importance, for he will return the Kingdom to his Father and, as we have read, will once again submit to his rule.

As we can see in the image and as we have read, Jesus is humble, faithful, and has nothing to do with Satan. He will hand over this Kingdom to his Father and submit to his authority. So he is an example for us not only of faithfulness, but also of humility.

Now we understand why Jesus could say, "I have completed the work you gave me to do." The work Jehovah gave Jesus was to sanctify his name and bring it to glory. We have seen how Jesus gave his life for his Father's name. We also see the end: Jehovah's Kingdom here on earth, with Jesus reigning once Jehovah's name has been sanctified.

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.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

It means everything. And we've seen how Jesus was always attached to Jehovah. He was willing to die, he proved it, and then he will return everything to Jehovah, in addition to continuing to obey and be loyal to him.

Jehovah had complete confidence in his Son, who would cleanse, vindicate, and sanctify his name. That's why he gave him such importance and gave him his name. That's one of the things that truly benefits us, because when everything is over, when Jesus hands over his kingdom, we will enjoy peace, happiness, and, above all, eternal life.

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.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Although they knew Jehovah's name, what Jesus did in his ministry—both in what he taught, in the way he lived, and in the example he set—gave the disciples a deeper understanding of who Jehovah was. Thus, he made Jehovah's name known in a new way.

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.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

That he would now be his representative, would speak with his authority, and would be primarily responsible for vindicating and sanctifying his 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.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

To sanctify and vindicate his name, he was willing to die, thereby losing all the protection Jehovah gave him in heaven. He is also willing to surrender Jehovah's Kingdom at the end of the thousand years. The reason is that Jehovah's name means everything to him.

We saw how to sanctify means to honor and hold holy, and to deeply respect Jehovah's name. To vindicate is to clear the reputation of someone who has been falsely accused. In this way, they are freed from guilt and defended against slander. Jesus was willing to die to sanctify and vindicate his Father's name.