Jesus never referred to himself as “Jehovah.” Various translators appear to support that thought; however, we believe that Jesus was the first direct creation of Jehovah, the only begotten son who took human form to ransom the world from sin and death. The translation of the name “Jesus” (or Joshua) signifies salvation, rescuer or the deliverer. Jesus possesses different names as he fulfills that role at different points over the stream of time.

Jesus’ self-proclamations included John 8:58 where he explained, “…Before Abraham was, I am”, referring to his pre-human existence with his father, Jehovah. 

In Matthew 16, when Jesus asked who the disciples thought he was, Simon Peter answered, “… You are Christ, the Son of the living God!”  In John 11:25 and 14:6, Jesus declared “I am the resurrection,” and “the way and the truth and the life, that no one comes to the Father except through me.” He described himself as the “Light of the World” (John 8:12) and “…the true vine, [and my Father is the husbandman]” (John 15:1). When questioned by the chief Priest (Mark 14), he indicated he was the Messiah, the “Son of the Blessed One,” and the “Son of Man,” being at the right hand of God. His words in Revelation 22:16 define him as the “root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”

Quoting Isaiah 42, Matthew 12:18 stated Jesus became God’s “…servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight…” Jesus was “the image of God” according to 2 Corinthians 4:4. In 1 Timothy 2:5, Paul acknowledges Jesus as the “…one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” In 1 Corinthians 15:45, he is the “last Adam,” providing satisfaction for original sin.  

As a result of his sacrifice, Jehovah raised him from the dead and “… exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior…” (Acts 5:31) He is our “…great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God…” (Hebrews 4:14); the son who “learned obedience from what he suffered, and once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him…” (Hebrews 5) According to 1 John 2, Jesus is our “…advocate with the Father.”

The scriptures also refer to Jesus as a Bridegroom (Matthew 9:15); the Blessed and Only Potentate (1 Timothy 6:15); Immanuel [meaning “God with us”] (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23); the Son of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2); the Son of God (Matthew 4:3); Son of the Highest (Luke 1:32); the Lamb of God (John 1:36); the first-born of all creation (Colossians 1:15); the faithful witness and firstborn from the dead (Revelation 1:5); the Cornerstone (Psalm 118:22; Ephesians 2:20); the First and Last (Revelation 1:17); the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22); the heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2); the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2:8); our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7); the Prince of Life (Acts 3:15); the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6); prophet (Luke 24:19; Acts 3:22); redeemer (Job 19:25) and the Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4).

Although Jesus possesses all of these names as the deliverer of Jehovah’s divine plan of salvation, he did not identify himself as the Heavenly Father.

Additional Resources:

Christian Questions Podcast 3-Part Series “Who is God?”
Part I: Piecing together an understanding of the unfathomable character of God
Part II: Honoring God’s name, and how He was described in the Old Testament
Part III: The revolutionary changes Jesus taught us to better understand God