Jesus and the disciples have been away,
meeting God in the mountains, as Moses did.
They return to the multitude, their followers,
to be met by a plea to heal an epileptic,
which Jesus does, but then explains
why others could not.
As usual the detail of the story varies
between the three Gospel accounts
as each makes its own point
within the general theme.
The description of the affliction differs this time.
There is a different background to the story;
maybe one of violence and destruction;
maybe tells of a brigand fighter
converted to a different view.
Or maybe this is a disturbed spirit
needing peace and security and a cause;
needing the message that Jesus brings
on which to focus his excess energy.
Or maybe this was a form of epilepsy,
for which Jesus recognised the symptoms,
knew of the needed cure and provided healing;
the message of true love overcoming the concerns
that triggered a violent, destructive response to life.
Whatever the truth of the affliction,
(for perhaps it was truly only a visual aid)
a change of attitude and behaviour followed.
The boy was changed in the presence of the crowd,
as an attitude of violence and self-destruction became
one that reflected the ways of God's Kingdom and
further adherents were added to the movement.
The message was again preached that
violence and conflict was self-destructive
pointing people to a new way of peaceful opposition
to the ways of the Roman state and its Jewish collaborators.