Exegesis: The transfiguration of Jesus in Mark 9

This paper seeks to expound the passage of Mark 9:2-13 concerning the transfiguration of Jesus and the fulfilment of Malachi 4:5 in John the Baptist as Elijah. The principal point of this text is the revelation of Jesus as the Son of God (v7). The story is paralleled in Matthew 17:1-13 and Luke 9:28-36.

More about God's Name

I have published on the Name of the LORD before, once in an exegesis of Exodus 6:1-7 (God's Name revealed) and once in Hashem: What's in a Name?  This assignment was supposed to be on the names (plural) of God, but as usual I ended up focusing on 'the Name' because this really is it. God has revealed himself to us by one principal Name, and it is the only Name by which we may be saved!

What I really liked about this study was the Christology, the fact that Jesus has been given the Name above all names - not 'Jesus' (Saviour), but the Name of the Father. I've also discussed the important matter of having the Name removed from all our Bibles and replaced with the very bland "the LORD".

The cry of the crowds to Jesus at his final arrival in Jerusalem was a well-recognised Hebrew greeting reserved for the Messiah: בָּרוּךְ הַבָּא בְּשֵׁם יהוה (Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the LORD!) Ironically, though they acknowledged Jesus as YHWH’s Anointed One, they did not grasp the double entendre – he who comes in the Name of YHWH is YHWH.

I hope you enjoy this essay on this literally vital topic.