⁶ “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.”

Action was the activity of the Lord Jesus Christ, not just verbal teaching. Taking the verse as a whole, we have seen how He manifested God’s name to the “given ones,” that is, the eleven disciples, in teaching about His Father’s character. But He also demonstrated by His actions that His Father is the God who is there, as His name Jehovah (or Yahweh) suggests. Remember, His name means that He will act toward His people in whatever way they need Him to be. This does not make God the image after men’s design, but rather He is a God who actually works in physical, tangible ways to meet our needs, as He determines.

Keeping in mind that in the OT, His name was often combined with other words that emphasized certain aspects of God’s actions or character. For example, in Exodus 15:26, God reveals Himself as Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals. In Jesus, we see God as a healer. Just before He healed the blind man, He was asked about the cause of his blindness. Jesus responded, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. … While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world” (John 9:3, 5). This was an opportunity for Jesus to show that He is the God who heals, thus manifesting the name of God, the One who is there for His people’s need.

When the woman caught in adultery was paraded shamelessly before Him, He deftly dispersed her accusers and was left alone with her. He is the God who brought peace to her, freeing her from the accusations of her adversaries. He is Jehovah Shalom, the God of peace (see Judges 6:23-24).

Twice we find recorded Jesus’ feeding the multitudes, manifesting God’s name, Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides (see Gen 22:14). At His interrogation the secular Roman governor concluded, “I find no fault in Him,” demonstrating that Jesus was the God of righteousness, Jehovah Tsidkenu (see Jer 23:6). His continual instruction and defending His disciples against all kinds of difficulties shows that He is Jehovah Raah, the God who is my shepherd (Psalm 23:1). In His final words to the disciples (although not yet spoken at the time of the Upper Room, Jesus said, “I will be with you until the end of the ages”—He is Jehovah Shammah, the God who is there (see Ezekiel 48:35).

Lord Jesus, You are my healer, my peace, my provider, my righteousness and my shepherd. You are here in my life. You are Yahweh and I praise You.