Why did Jesus, in Mark 11, say that mountains could be thrown into the sea? Did the apostles ever have a mountain moved into the Mediterranean Sea? Not as far as we know. Jesus was drawing for us a picture of a task or challenge which is so great that it seems—and humanly is—impossible. He had already taught about overcoming the “impossible” through faith (Mark 9:23; 10:23).
The apostles did not move literal mountains because they were not in the earth-moving business. But they were in the world-moving business! They had a world to reach with the Good News, and so do we (Mark 16:15; Acts 17:6).
If anything, our mountain now is larger, for the world population has multiplied often since apostolic times. Consider the ever-growing task of the Great Commission today. Think of the great changes needed in so many individual hearts and communities. Who can deny that there are mountains to be moved? If we are to take on these challenges, we must learn the kind of faith and prayer Jesus teaches us in Mark 11.