Is Jesus Jehovah?
Is Jesus Jehovah?
We continue our study about Jesus being given the name Jehovah or Yahweh.
Heb 1:1-14
In Hebrews chapter one, after saying that Jesus has "obtained a more excellent name" than angels, the writer quotes several Old Testament passages in which God the Father adresses God the Son. One of them is this: "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish but you will remain..." (Heb 1:10).
This is addressed to the Son...
In the above passage we saw that God calls his Son "Lord". However, when we turn back to the place in the Old Testament (Psa 102:25-27) we don't find the word Lord in it. Where did the Hebrew writer get the word Lord from? Did he just insert it by mistake? No. You can find it several times earlier in the Psalm. For example, "You O Lord, shall endure for ever" (Psa 102:12). Psalm 102 is addressed to the Lord and for that reason the Hebrew writer sees fit to include it in his quote. Since the Hebrew writer views the Psalm as God speaking to his Son, he represents the passage as the heavenly Father calling his Son "God" and using the special name of God to address his Son.
We conclude therefore that since God is addressing his Son as “Jehovah”, God must consider his Son to be “Jehovah”, just as God considers himself to be.
Isa 9:6-7
Jesus Christ is given a string of names and titles in this remarkable passage. The name “Jehovah” is not among them. However two names that are among them are names which only “Jehovah” should wear. These are: "Mighty God, Eternal Father" (Isa 9:6). Christ can hold these titles only if he is the Mighty God along with his Father, and is one with the Father, he in the Father and the Father in him (see Jhn 10:38).
We conclude that since Jesus holds title to names that none but “Jehovah” can wear, then he must be “Jehovah” like his heavenly Father. Let us give him all the honour to which he is entitled and be pleased to call him "Lord".