In Matthew 21:21-22 and 17:20 Jesus tells his disciples that if they have faith (even little faith) and do not doubt, that they will move mountains. I have faith, even if it’s a little faith like the tiny mustard seed, but I cannot move mountains. The disciples proved themselves to be men of great faith. Paul never physically moved a mountain, but if you read 2 Corinthians 11 you will find that Paul’s faith exceeded what most of us would never imagine claiming. His list of beatings and whippings and shipwrecks displays an enormous persevering faith. It seems like most of the disciples became faithful martyrs and John was exiled for the sake of his faith. Not one of them physically moved a mountain – not one inch. There is not one discussion in all of the letters of the New Testament in them even making an attempt to move a mountain or expecting it to happen. In 2000 years of church history, not one Christian with the smallest or greatest amount of faith has ever moved a mountain.
When Jesus makes these statements, we should see them as examples of hyperbole in his speech. On two occasions, Jesus was making a point to his disciples that there are greater works than the physical manifestation of a tree withering or a mountain moving. The problem with us is that we can be easily tempted to think that we must be persuaded by a spectacular sign of our choosing. We can easily be led to be like the unbelieving Jews who “seek a sign” (1 Corinthians 1:22). Unfortunately whole movements within Christianity have made “signs and wonders” a necessity for the proving of faith.
Is there a great work that can be assessed as so significant that Jesus would describe it in terms of a mountain being thrown into the sea? I would say among other things, there is one specific work of God that makes such a wonder pale in significance. Which would you rather choose: to have the miraculous ability to pick up a mountain and throw it into the sea, or to watch a human being dead in sin under the eternal condemnation of God come to regenerating life and reconciliation with the Creator for all eternity? The one-time event of a mountain being relocated seems menial in comparison.
Interestingly, Jesus says prayer is required to do anything, even miracles. Why? Because at the end of the day it is not actually our work. None of us can revitalize a cold dead heart as much as we can throw a mountain. Both are a work of God and considering that he is the God who spoke the entire creation into existence, both are easy for God. If he wills, it happens. The one truth we all must realize in this is that it is only the work of justification that also required God coming into this world, taking on our sin, and experiencing the eternal wrath of God in substitution for us. Anyone rejecting Christ and his glorious sacrifice will be and deserves to be plucked up like a mountain and thrown into a sea. In effect that is what happens whenever the gospel we proclaim is rejected.
Let’s be people, even of little faith, who trust in our God who has both the ability and the desire to save. Let’s live in the strength of his unlimited power displayed so gloriously in the death and resurrection of Jesus our Savior and King.
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