In this post I am going to show how the inspired NT writers quoted or alluded to specific OT texts about Jehovah and applied them to the Lord Jesus, thereby identifying Christ as Jehovah God in the flesh. I will try to keep my comments to a minimum and simply allow the verses to speak for themselves.

FIRST EXAMPLE

JEHOVAH

“The voice of one who calls out, ‘Prepare the way of Yahweh in the wilderness! Make a level highway in the desert for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain. Yahweh’s glory shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it.’” Isaiah 40:3-5

JESUS

“Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight. Every valley will be filled. Every mountain and hill will be brought low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth. All flesh will see God’s salvation.”’… As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ, John answered them all, ‘I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire, whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.’” Luke 1:3-6, 15-17 – cf. Matthew 3:1-3, 11-15; Mark 1:1-8

“Paul said, ‘John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.’” Acts 19:4

“John testified about him. He cried out, saying, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.”’… He said, ‘I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord,” as Isaiah the prophet said.’… John answered them, ‘I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know. He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.’ These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.” I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.’ John testified, saying, ‘I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him. I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me, “On whomever you will see the Spirit descending and remaining on him is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.” I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.’ Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’” John 1:15, 23, 26-36

The Baptist is said to the voice that Isaiah prophesied would be heard in the wilderness, preparing people for the arrival of Israel’s God, Jehovah Almighty. And yet the One whom John prepared for was the Lord Jesus, showing that Christ is the very God that Isaiah said would come to dwell among his people.

SECOND EXAMPLE

JEHOVAH

“The wilderness and the dry land will be glad. The desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose. It will blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing. Lebanon’s glory will be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They will see Yahweh’s glory, the excellence of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make the feeble knees firm. Tell those who have a fearful heart, ‘Be strong! Don’t be afraid! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God’s retribution. He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame man will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing; for waters will break out in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water. Grass with reeds and rushes will be in the habitation of jackals, where they lay. A highway will be there, a road, and it will be called ‘The Holy Way’. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it will be for those who walk in the Way. Wicked fools shall not go there. No lion will be there, nor will any ravenous animal go up on it. They will not be found there; but the redeemed will walk there. Then Yahweh’s ransomed ones will return, and come with singing to Zion; and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” Isaiah 35:1-10

JESUS

“The disciples of John told him about all these things. John, calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, ‘Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?’ When the men had come to him, they said, ‘John the Baptizer has sent us to you, saying, “Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?”’ In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight. Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.’” Luke 7:18-23

THIRD EXAMPLE

JEHOVAH

“Also to you, Lord, belongs loving kindness, for you reward every man according to his work.” Psalm 62:12

“If you say, ‘Behold, we didn’t know this,’ doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?” Proverbs 24:21

“You who tell good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who tell good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength! Lift it up! Don’t be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, ‘Behold, your God!’ Behold, the Lord Yahweh will come as a mighty one, and his arm will rule for him. Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who have their young.” Isaiah 40:9-11

“Who has worked and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Yahweh, the first, and with the last, I am he.” Isaiah 41:4

“This is what Yahweh, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Yahweh of Armies, says: ‘I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God.’” Isaiah 44:6

“Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel my called: I am he. I am the first. I am also the last.” Isaiah 48:12

“Behold, Yahweh has proclaimed to the end of the earth, ‘Say to the daughter of Zion, “Behold, your salvation comes! Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him!”’” Isaiah 62:11

“I, Yahweh, search the mind. I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:10

“At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation.” Daniel 4:34

JESUS

Jesus makes it clear that the Father will not judge anyone since the Son has been entrusted with the judgment of all creation:

“For the Father judges no one, but he has given ALL judgment to the Son,” John 5:22

“The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent, because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31

With that in mind, note carefully what our Lord says in the following passages:

“For the Son of Man will come in the glory of HIS Father with HIS angels, and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds.” Matthew 16:27

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me, saying, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am the first and the last, and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades.’” Revelation 1:17-18

“To the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write: ‘The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these things:’… To the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write: ‘The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like burnished brass, says these things… “and all the assemblies will know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.”’” Revelation 2:8, 18, 23b

“‘Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End… I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.’… He who testifies these things says, ‘Yes, I come quickly.’ Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus.’” Revelation 22:12-13, 16, 20

FOURTH EXAMPLE

JEHOVAH

“Rejoice, you heavens, with him, and let all the angels of God worship him; rejoice you Gentiles, with his people, and let all the sons of God strengthen themselves in him; for he will avenge the blood of his sons, and he will render vengeance, and recompense justice to his enemies, and will reward them that hate him; and the Lord shall purge the land of his people.” Deuteronomy 32:43 LXX

“Hear my prayer, Yahweh! Let my cry come to you… Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment. You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed. But you are the same. Your years will have no end.” Psalm 102:1, 25-27

JESUS

“When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, ‘Let all the angels of God worship him.’… But of the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God (ho Theos), is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom.’… And, ‘You, Lord [the Son], in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands. They will perish, but you continue. They all will grow old like a garment does. You will roll them up like a mantle, and they will be changed; but you are the same. Your years won’t fail.’” Hebrews 1:6, 8, 10-12

Astonishingly, the inspired writer has the Father glorying Christ by ascribing Deuteronomy 32:43 and Psalm 102:25-27, texts which identify Jehovah as the immutable Creator and Sustainer of all creation and whom all the angels must worship, to his beloved Son!

FIFTH EXAMPLE

JEHOVAH

“It will happen that whoever will call on Yahweh’s name shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as Yahweh has said, and among the remnant, those whom Yahweh calls.” Joel 2:32

“It will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Acts 2:21

JESUS

“that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Romans 10:9-13

This practice of calling on the name of Jesus began with Christ’s very first Jewish followers in Jerusalem, of all places!

“Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias!” He said, ‘Behold, it’s me, Lord.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judah for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying, and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.’ But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to YOUR saints at Jerusalem. Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on YOUR name.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear MY name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for MY name’s sake.’ Ananias departed and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized. He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus. Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God. All who heard him were amazed, and said, ‘Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on THIS name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!’” Acts 9:10-21

This became such a widespread practice that it not only ended up uniting both Jews and former Greek idolaters together, but it also became one of the defining characteristics of the Christian faith: 

“to the assembly of God which is at Corinth—those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours:” 1 Corinthians 1:2

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity… Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:19, 21 Authorized King James Version (AV)

SIXTH EXAMPLE

JEHOVAH

“Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens! From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength, because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger.” Psalm 8:1-2

“Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings you perfected praise, because of your enemies; that you might put down the enemy and avenger.” Psalm 8:3 LXX

JESUS

“The lame and the blind came to him in the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children who were crying in the temple and saying, ‘Hosanna to the son of David!’ they were indignant, and said to him, ‘Do you hear what these are saying?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Yes. Did you never read, “Out of the mouth of children and nursing babies, you have perfected praise?”’” Matthew 21:14-16

Christ justifies the praise he was receiving from children by citing a Psalm where infants and sucklings praise Jehovah, thereby identifying himself as that very God of the Psalmist!

SEVENTH EXAMPLE

JEHOVAH

“Yahweh said to Moses, ‘How long will this people despise me? How long will they not believe in me, for all the signs which I have worked among them?’” Numbers 14:11

“In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With two he covered his face. With two he covered his feet. With two he flew. One called to another, and said, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh of Armies! The whole earth is full of his glory!’ The foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. Then I said, ‘Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh of Armies!’… I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, “Here I am. Send me!’ He said, ‘Go, and tell this people, ‘You hear indeed, but don’t understand. You see indeed, but don’t perceive.’ Make the heart of this people fat. Make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed.’” Isaiah 6:1-5, 8-10

JESUS

“‘Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.’ When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: ‘Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’ For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.’ Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.” John 12:36-41 New International Version (NIV)

The Apostle is basically stating that Jesus is the Jehovah whom Isaiah saw seated on his throne, and whom the Israelites at the time of Moses refused to believe in, despite all the signs he had done before their very eyes.

EIGHTH EXAMPLE

JEHOVAH

“Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” Psalm 34:8

JESUS

“if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious: coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious. You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:3-5

Believers come to spiritually taste Jehovah when they put their trust and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Unless noted otherwise, Scriptural references taken from the World English Bible (WEB).

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