Speaking to this Mountain - Part 1

In the eleventh chapter of Mark's gospel, Jesus had just traveled to the temple in Jerusalem and seen that instead of a house of prayer, the scribes and chief priests had allowed it to become a place of commerce - a den of thieves. Their response to Jesus's correction was to seek out how they might destroy Him. His disciples have seen that the fruitless fig tree He had cursed had withered up from the roots.

In verse 22, Jesus declares to His disciples, "Have faith in God". Seems to me this is not a pleasant offering for them to consider, but a command to own or secure, give themselves to what He was about to say. Have it like you have a large sum of money in your hand or a child's hand as you cross a busy intersection. Have it that way. This is serious business because Jesus does not want His disciples to wind up like the current temple leadership.

Have faith in God (I have heard this otherwise said,"have the faith of God"; "have the God kind of faith"; "have the faith that comes forth from God"; "have this revelation in the knowledge of God"). Whichever of these strikes you the hardest is ok. But we must have it. Have it like oxygen. Having it to believe is essential to receiving the end of our faith, the salvation of our souls.

Now that I have stressed the importance of having this, let's see what Jesus was about to reveal to us. Verse 23 reads, "For assuredly I say to you, who ever says to this mountain, 'be removed and be cast into the sea', and does not doubt it in his heart but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says".

Mountains are not like hills. Hills are easily walked over. Mountains, on the other hand, are in the way, especially while traveling to a destination. Not easily maneuvered around. Today, our roads pierce through, over or around them. Back in the time when the bible was written, mountains presented a significant impediment to travel. Only over or around was available. But Jesus clearly commands us to speak to THIS mountain, a particular high thing. Remember, Jesus had just finished rebuking the activity in the temple. What about the behaviour of the occupants could Jesus have been referring? Certainly disobedience and greed. Unholiness. But I see a deeper root to this mountain- self service vs. selflessness. The scribes and chief priests knew what God had required for the temple. But what they wanted was more important to them than what God had said.

I see this mountain as self service. It is any meditation of our soul which, whether we know it or not, stands against what God is trying to form in us in Christ Jesus! In many cases these uninspired meditations lead to actions equally uninspired. Ask the Father to reveal the inspired truth in this to you. It is most blessed to understand this - the vehicle to selfless kingdom service in Christ Jesus, to walk out the plan that the Father has for us in Christ Jesus, a fruitful branch in Him!

Part 2: Believing and not doubting when we speak to this mountain