Submitted by Pastor Brad Dush, Fairfax Methodist Church

At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, “Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.” Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment, the boy was well. Afterward, the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?” “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” ~ Matthew 17:14-20

I have no idea how many times I have read the above text. According to Matthew, it is a powerful moment in the Gospel for many reasons. The miracle of casting a demon out and a lesson around faith for the disciples are arguably the most well-known and explored. Recently, during a Lenten study, the idea of faith the size of a mustard seed being a faith that can move mountains was discussed. I made the point it is not us having faith personally the size of the mustard, but us placing a mustard seed size of faith in the One who can move the mountains. The One who was present when the mountains were created, Jesus Christ! I have preached this for years. However, recent travels have burned a new image around this text.

I have seen mountains in movies and on television. I have seen pictures of mountains, but recently, I laid eyes on the Rocky Mountains personally for the first time in my life. I couldn’t believe how HUGE they are. Everything looks so small from the airplane’s window, but not the mountains. The sight of Pike’s Peak is beautiful and awe-inspiring. Considering this and looking at this text again makes me pause and think about how great God is! And quite frankly, how powerful God is! To think He created all of this. Even more so, the thought of God moving a mountain that size when I place my faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified is beyond words.

It is very humbling to think about. Now, I don’t expect God to pick the physical mountain up and move it for me, but I know the obstacles in my life that keep me from doing God’s will are insignificant when I place them in God’s hands. Especially considering the mountains were formed by Him. I try to do too much on my own and not put it in God’s hands nearly enough. Putting it in God’s hand doesn’t mean we sit down; we must follow behind the Creator. I think too often we attempt to bring the Creator along, but that never works out too well for us. I believe the Bible is the word of God, period. It is wild to think God, through faith in Christ, offers to move the mountain is almost unbelievable, but believe it. Lean in and lean on! I pray you have a blessed Lenten journey this year to the Cross!