It is clear that Jehovah of the Old Testament is Jesus in the New Testament. His very name given by the Angel of the Lord at His birth proves this, JESUS, the combination of Jah (the contraction of Jehovah), and Hoshea, or Joshua, meaning Savior; in other words He is the Savior-God. He Himself claimed to be Jehovah. In speaking to the Scribes and Pharisees, He told them to their utter astonishment that Abraham rejoiced to see His day and was glad. They replied with scorn and unbelief, that He was not fifty years old, how then could He make this claim? His reply was, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM." (John 8:5858Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (John 8:58)).
In this He clearly claimed to be Jehovah of the Old Testament. I AM is the claim of Deity. Jehovah claimed to be I AM (Ex. 3:1414And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (Exodus 3:14)), Jesus claimed to be I AM (John 8:5858Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (John 8:58)). Jehovah, who spoke out of the burning bush, that He had come down to deliver the children of Israel out from the cruel bondage of the Egyptians, is now seen in manhood's form, come down to earth to deliver on a still mightier scale from the cruel bondage of sin, and that at infinite cost to Himself, even at the price of laying down His life in sacrifice at the cross of Calvary.
In considering the names of God in the Old Testament we gave a list of an additional word, or words, being added to the word, Jehovah, showing how God would bless His people with rich blessings. We now present the counterpart of this in the New Testament in connection with our Lord's presentation of Himself in this connection. Several times in the Gospel of John we get our-Lord's assertion of Deity in the two words I AM, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, coupled with phrases, disclosing what blessings God had in mind for man in sending His beloved Son into this world.