17:14–16 On the following day (cf. Luke 9:37) as Jesus and the three disciples (Peter, James, and John; cf. 17:1) came down from the mountain, they encountered a scene of confusion not unlike that which greeted Moses on his descent from Mount Sinai (cf. Exod. 32). Mark tells of a great crowd and the scribes arguing with the disciples who had not been on the mountain with Jesus (Mark 9:14–16). A man with an epileptic son comes to Jesus and, falling on his knees, pleads with him for mercy. In calling him Lord the man is making a christological confession. If Jesus were simply another man (cf. GNB, “sir”), why would he seek healing from him?

In ancient days epileptic seizures were commonly connected with the changing phases of the moon. Selēniazomai means “to be moonstruck” (from selēnē, moo…