Mk 9:31a ... For he was teaching his disciples, and he said to them that, ...

Verse 31 has five phrases containing 26 words. The first two phrases have these 9 narrator words, ... edidasken gar tous mathētas autou, kai elegen autois hoti (He was teaching for the disciples of him, and he said to them that, ...)

The first phrase of 5 narrator words are top down. The first word "edidasken" (He was teaching) is tangent to Jesus. The last 3 words "tous mathētas autou" (the disciples of him) are tangent to the 3 disciples. The 4 narrator words of the second phrase held by the hands of Jesus are bottom up. The disciples will continue their lesson down on the ground in the next diagram.