Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 33:65 (Autumn 2020)
Article: Faith That Moves Mountains (Mark 11:20–26)
Author: Kenneth W. Yates

JOTGES 33:65 (Autumn 2020) p. 3

Faith That Moves Mountains (Mark 11:20–26)

Kenneth W. Yates

Editor

I. Introduction

In Mark 11:23 Jesus makes an astounding promise to His disciples:

“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.”

Clearly, this statement raises a number of questions. What is the context of this statement? Is it to be taken literally? What does it mean? In the process of answering these questions another issue will surface. Does this promise support the idea that the Church has replaced Israel?

In this article I will attempt to answer these questions.

II. The Context

The Lord’s statement about a faith that can move mountains is found in the broader passage of Mark 11:20–26.1 In turn, these verses are contained in the larger context of 11:12–26. Verses 20–26 form the closing section of an inclusio.

Mark 11:12–14 contains the account of Jesus cursing a fig tree. He comes to the tree expecting to find fruit, but finds none. Verses 20–26 describe what happens the next day and also refer to the fig tree. The disciples see that the tree has been withered at its roots (vv 20–21). Verses 22–26 involve the Lord’s teachings about what the withered fig tree demonstrates to the disciples.

JOTGES 33:65 (Autumn 2020) p. 4

Sandwiched between the events at the fig tree, Mark tells the reader that Jesus cleansed the temple in Jerusalem. The day before, Jesus had come to the temple and looked around (v 11). Based upon the fact that the next day He cleansed the temple out and was not pleased with what He saw, we can safely assume that He did not find what He expected to find. This is supported by the fact that He denounces what He saw going on in the temple (v 17). Like the fig tree, He did not find any acceptable “fruit” in the temple.

The fig tree was destroyed by the word of the Lord. The actions of the Lord in the temple, occurring between the two ...