Sunday, January 04, 2026

Jehovah is Jesus Christ

Understanding Jesus Christ as the God of the Old Testament and what that truth means for covenant discipleship


The Last Judgment by J.W. Scott - mural in Washington D.C. temple


By John Fisher (assisted by AI)

One of the most significant doctrinal truths restored in modern times is the clear understanding that Jesus Christ is Jehovah, the God who spoke and acted throughout the Old Testament. This knowledge reshapes how we read scripture, understand God’s dealings with humanity, and view our own covenant relationship with Him. Far from being distant or abstract, the God of the Old Testament is the same loving Redeemer who walked the roads of Galilee and invites us today to “hear Him.”

President Dallin H. Oaks summarized this doctrine succinctly, teaching that when scripture records words spoken by “God” or “the Lord,” those words are “almost always the words of Jehovah, our risen Lord, Jesus Christ” (Oaks, 2023).

Jesus Christ as Jehovah

President Oaks explained:

“The Father introduced His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior and Redeemer and gave us the command to ‘hear Him.’ From this direction we conclude that the scriptural records of words spoken by ‘God’ or the ‘Lord’ are almost always the words of Jehovah, our risen Lord, Jesus Christ.”
(Oaks, 2023, p. 102)

This teaching provides a unifying lens for scripture study. The God who covenanted with Abraham, delivered Israel from Egypt, and spoke through prophets was Jesus Christ acting under the direction of the Father.

This truth is powerfully illustrated in the New Testament. When Jewish leaders challenged Jesus’ authority, He declared, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). This statement provoked outrage because Jesus was directly invoking the divine name revealed to Moses.

In Exodus, when Moses asked whom he should say had sent him, God replied, “I AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:14). Later the Lord clarified, “I am the Lord, and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob” (Exodus 6:3). By using the phrase “I am,” Jesus unmistakably identified Himself as Jehovah—the covenant God of Israel.

Why This Doctrine Matters

Knowing that Jesus Christ is Jehovah makes the Old Testament deeply personal. The same Savior who invites the weary to come unto Him (see Matthew 11:28) is the God who led Israel through the wilderness, showed mercy again and again, and patiently taught His people through covenants.

This understanding strengthens faith, especially when encountering difficult or complex Old Testament passages. Rather than seeing two different Gods, we see one consistent divine character—perfectly just, infinitely merciful, and unwaveringly committed to the salvation of His children.

Restoring “Plain and Precious” Truths

The Lord foresaw that essential truths about His identity and covenant relationship would be lost over time. Nephi recorded that “many plain and precious things” would be taken from the Bible (1 Nephi 13:26). However, God promised to restore them through additional scripture and revelation.

The Book of Mormon plays a central role in this restoration. According to 2 Nephi 3:12, the Bible and the Book of Mormon “shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines, and establishing peace.” Together, they testify that Jesus Christ is Jehovah and clarify His role across dispensations.

Other restored texts deepen this understanding:

Accounts like Enoch’s Zion (Moses 7:18–19) and Abraham’s vision of the premortal life are “plain and precious” because they reveal the eternal scope of Christ’s ministry and His role as Jehovah before mortality.

Jehovah and Covenant Relationship

The Old Testament is fundamentally a covenant record. The Lord declared to Israel, “Ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me” (Exodus 19:5). That covenant relationship—initiated by Jehovah—continues today.

Understanding Jesus Christ as Jehovah clarifies that He is the covenant-making and covenant-keeping God. Through Him, the “new covenant” promised by Jeremiah—where God’s law is written in our hearts—is fulfilled (Jeremiah 31:31–34).

As we study the Old Testament, important questions naturally arise: Why are covenants essential to my spiritual life? What blessings of love, mercy, and guidance come as I remain faithful to them? The answers consistently lead back to Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Recognizing Jesus Christ as Jehovah transforms how we read the Old Testament. It becomes not merely a historical account, but a living testimony of the Savior’s ongoing relationship with humanity. From burning bush to Sinai, from covenant promises to prophetic warnings, it is Christ who speaks, leads, and redeems.

As we study the Old Testament, restored scripture, and modern prophetic teachings together, we gain a clearer, more unified witness of Jesus Christ—the same yesterday, today, and forever. Knowing Him as Jehovah deepens reverence, strengthens covenant commitment, and anchors faith in the eternal Redeemer.

Reference (APA Style)

Oaks, D. H. (2023, May). The teachings of Jesus Christ. Liahona, 100–105.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2023/05/51oaks?lang=eng

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// posted by John Fisher @ January 04, 2026 0 Comments

Old Testament Testifies of Christ

 How symbols, types, and prophetic narratives in ancient scripture testify of Jesus Christ and invite us to center our faith and daily discipleship on Him

Moses and the Brazen Serpent - Sebastien Bourbon c. 1653-4


By John Fisher (assisted by AI)

From its opening chapters to its prophetic promises, the Old Testament consistently bears witness of Jesus Christ. While His mortal ministry is recorded in the New Testament, the foundation of His mission, identity, and redeeming power is woven throughout the earlier scriptures. As the Savior Himself declared, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). One fruitful way to find spiritual nourishment in the Old Testament is to look for symbols, types, and narratives that point to Christ—the true Bread of Life (John 6:48). These accounts not only prepare the way for His coming but also deepen our understanding of who He is and what He offers to all who follow Him.

Types and Symbols of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament

Manna: The Bread of Life

When the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness, the Lord provided manna from heaven to sustain them daily. The Lord declared, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you” (Exodus 16:4). Each morning the people gathered this miraculous food, described as “a small round thing…like coriander seed” (Exodus 16:14–15), sufficient for their immediate needs.

Jesus later revealed the deeper meaning of this provision: “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger” (John 6:35). Just as manna sustained Israel physically, Christ sustains us spiritually. The daily gathering of manna teaches dependence upon God and reminds us that enduring spiritual life comes only through continual reliance on the Savior.

The Sacrificial Lamb

At the time of the Passover, Israel was commanded to select “a lamb without blemish” (Exodus 12:5) and to apply its blood as a sign of deliverance. This act preserved them from death and marked their liberation from bondage.

John the Baptist later identified Jesus as the fulfillment of this symbol: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The Passover lamb prefigures Christ’s perfect, sinless sacrifice. Through His atoning blood, all who follow Him are delivered from spiritual death and freed from the bondage of sin.

The Brass Serpent

When Israel murmured in the wilderness, fiery serpents afflicted the people. The Lord instructed Moses to raise a brass serpent so that “every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live” (Numbers 21:8). Healing came not through human effort, but through faithful obedience and trust in God’s appointed means.

Jesus explained the symbolism plainly: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up” (John 3:14). This account teaches that salvation comes by looking to Christ with faith. His crucifixion, like the raised serpent, offers healing and life to all who turn to Him.

Jonah: Death and Resurrection

Jonah’s experience in the depths of the sea—spending “three days and three nights in the whale’s belly” (Jonah 1:17)—became a powerful sign of Christ’s future resurrection. Jesus Himself declared, “As Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40).

Jonah’s deliverance foreshadows Christ’s triumph over death. This parallel testifies that Jesus is the promised Redeemer who would conquer the grave and offer resurrection to all mankind.

What These Examples Teach about Jesus Christ

Together, these Old Testament witnesses teach that Jesus Christ is our sustainer, redeemer, healer, and conqueror of death. They show that God’s plan of salvation was established from the beginning and consistently revealed through inspired symbols and prophetic events. Beyond these examples, many readers are familiar with additional references—such as the messianic prophecies of Isaiah, the promised Seed of Abraham, and the righteous King foretold by the prophets—all pointing forward to Christ.

Living the Invitation to Seek Christ

In his message “Jesus Christ Is the Treasure,” Elder Dale G. Renlund encouraged us to “remember and always focus on Jesus Christ.” Studying the Old Testament with this purpose in mind transforms scripture reading from a historical exercise into a deeply personal act of discipleship. As we seek Christ in ancient texts, we become more attuned to recognizing His hand in our own lives—guiding, sustaining, and redeeming us today.

Conclusion

The Old Testament is far more than a record of ancient Israel; it is a powerful testimony of Jesus Christ. Through symbols such as manna, the sacrificial lamb, the brass serpent, and the experience of Jonah, the scriptures consistently point to the Savior’s mission and divine identity. As we study with intent to find Him, we are nourished spiritually and drawn closer to the living Christ. By remembering and focusing on Him—in scripture and in daily life—we discover that He truly is the greatest treasure.

Reference 
Renlund, D. G. (2023, November). Jesus Christ is the treasure. Liahona. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2023/11/57renlund?lang=eng

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// posted by John Fisher @ January 04, 2026 0 Comments

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