The Servant and Faith | Mark 11:22-32
Sermon Summary
We’re walking through the Gospel of Mark, stepping now into the final week of Christ’s earthly life – His Passion Week. Already in Mark 11, Jesus has entered Jerusalem with cheers and cloaks and palm branches, drawing near to the temple where He overturns tables and exposes corruption. The religious authorities want Him gone. Yet through it all, Jesus remains undeterred, forging ahead to fulfill His redemptive mission.
Amid this tension, Jesus turns to His disciples and says, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). That simple charge sets the tone for the remainder of the chapter. Faith is central, and Jesus contrasts the power of true, God-directed faith with the tragedy of false faith that undermines spiritual life.
This passage challenges us to be honest with ourselves: are we living in genuine, fruitful trust that God is who He says He is, able to move “mountains” in our lives? Or do we hide behind excuses, hardness, or fear, unwilling to accept Christ’s authority and grace? Let’s explore these lessons together.
True Faith Gives Power to Prayer
Jesus first assures His disciples that “true faith” is not some mystical force in our own psyche. Rather, it is rooted in God – His character, promises, and power. Whenever Christ commands “Have faith in God,” He’s pointing us away from relying on ourselves or on faith in faith itself. Our faith’s worth is determined by the object it rests on: God’s omnipotent, trustworthy nature.
He gives the striking picture of commanding a mountain to cast itself into the sea. That mountain stands for the impossible: the burdens, crises, or limitations we can’t see a way through. Jesus doesn’t deny that these “mountains” exist. Instead, He insists that, for one whose trust is in God, no mountain is insurmountable. Prayer can move obstacles that seem immovable.
But note: Jesus is not handing us a “blank check” for fulfilling selfish whims. We don’t manipulate God by conjuring up mental energy or using the “right words.” Mark 11:24 declares, “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Sounds like a wide-open promise! Yet genuine faith always surrenders to God’s perfect wisdom. Yes, faith prays with confidence that He can do the seemingly impossible. But it also bows before His lordship, acknowledging that what we want is filtered by what He knows is best.
Therefore, true, God-centered faith acts as the fuse that lights powerful prayer. If God can create galaxies by His word, He’s not intimidated by your most daunting mountain. So ask! He might move it exactly as requested, or He might do something different but greater. Either way, a believing heart finds peace that God’s grace stands over the situation.
Tucked immediately behind this invitation to faith-filled prayer is an important condition: “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone” (Mark 11:25). Why raise forgiveness here? Because an unwillingness to forgive blocks the channel through which God’s blessing and power flow. We, as sinners forgiven at unimaginable cost, must not withhold pardon from others. Resentment in our hearts essentially contradicts the grace we rely on in Christ.
Sometimes the biggest mountain we face is our own bitterness. Are we praying for God to do wonders in our life while refusing to forgive the parent who hurt us, the friend who betrayed us, or the colleague who undermined us? If so, Jesus is saying, “Let it go; show mercy.” True faith expresses itself in a willingness to forgive, because we recognize we’ve been forgiven so much more. Our prayers fall flat if our hearts remain locked in grudges. The God who moves mountains demands that we lay down hatred, for faith’s essence is to trust His mercy for ourselves and extend it to others.
Hence, the first lesson Mark highlights is that true faith in God empowers our prayers, enabling us to face impossible mountains and break chains of bitterness. Is there a mountain in your path? Let faith arise – not faith in your own determination, but in the God who delights to answer prayer as you humbly trust Him.
False Faith Questions God’s Authority
After underscoring the power of real, God-honoring faith, the scene shifts to show its opposite. In Mark 11:27–28, the chief priests, scribes, and elders confront Jesus in the temple. They fume over His overturning of tables, exposing their profiteering. Furious, they demand, “Who do you think you are?” or more precisely: “By what authority are You doing these things?”
It’s a direct challenge to Christ’s lordship. These leaders refuse to submit to Him as Messiah and Son of God. Their hearts remain closed to His identity, even though they have seen or heard of His miracles and teachings. They essentially say, “Who gave You the right to rebuke us and disrupt our system?” This is telling: their question is less about seeking truth and more about protecting their own status.
False faith – or spiritual hypocrisy – often reveals itself in a stubborn refusal to let Jesus be in charge. We might accept Jesus as “Savior” but balk at letting Him direct every aspect of our lives. We like His blessings but resent His commands. But He doesn’t offer half-lordship; He wants the throne of our hearts.
So we must ask: do I sometimes act like these religious leaders, bristling when Jesus challenges my lifestyle, convictions, or use of time and money? Perhaps we’re okay with church on Sundays but recoil if He calls us to forgive someone we despise or to shift career plans. The question “By what authority…?” arises whenever we view Jesus’ claims as burdensome or intrusive. True faith says, “Lord, You are my King; have Your way.” False faith says, “Stay in Your lane, God. Let me keep control.”
False Faith Won’t Examine the Evidence
Facing the leaders’ challenge, Jesus poses His own question about John the Baptist’s baptism. If they admitted John was sent by God, they’d have to concede that John’s testimony about Jesus being the Lamb of God was valid. Then they would owe Christ obedience. But if they claimed John was just an impostor, the public would revolt because people revered John as a genuine prophet. Caught in a dilemma, they dodge, saying, “We don’t know.”
Their reply is not sincere ignorance; it’s a calculated evasion. The evidence for John’s divine calling was strong – the crowds, the righteous life he led, his fearless preaching. These leaders refused to acknowledge it since it would unravel their control. They would rather bury the truth than let it demand changes in their hearts.
False faith flourishes where hearts ignore facts. Today, innumerable lines of evidence – historical, archaeological, personal testimonies, scriptural consistency – point to Christ’s authenticity. But for some, no amount of evidence is “enough,” not because it’s truly lacking, but because accepting it would imply moral surrender. Remember Lee Strobel’s story: once he dared to investigate honestly, he found himself compelled by the overwhelming proof of Jesus’ resurrection. The real barrier was not data but a willingness to say, “Yes, Lord.”
Likewise, many reluctant hearts hide behind skepticism rather than deal with what the truth means for their personal autonomy or comfort. If you’ve found yourself skirting gospel claims or delaying a deeper dive, be warned: to remain “undecided” can mean refusing Jesus’ rightful place. Even believers can slip into ignoring the Holy Spirit’s clear promptings, downplaying convictions that something needs repenting or reordering. We must not be like the scribes, plugging our ears to God’s message, rationalizing our stance to avoid disruption.
False Faith Is Fearful of Man
Finally, these chief priests and elders show another mark of false faith: they fear human opinion more than they fear God. They’d love to dismiss John’s ministry as human invention, but “they feared the crowd,” since the populace honored John as a prophet. Public disapproval threatened their prestige. So they feign ignorance. They tiptoe around truth to avoid losing favor.
Fear of man remains a powerful snare. Think of times we hesitate to share the gospel with a co-worker or classmate, worried about being labeled “extreme” or “naive.” Or instances we compromise principles to fit in with friends or keep a job. Our hearts reveal whether we value God’s approval or people’s applause. A robust trust in Christ sets us free to honor Him first. But when we’re governed by how others see us, we can’t genuinely follow the One who calls us to radical obedience.
Faith in God drives out fear of man. If the King of kings is with me, does it matter if I lose a few friends or get overlooked for a promotion? True faith leans on the Lord’s acceptance, finding security in His unchanging love. By contrast, false faith bows to peer pressure, staying silent or halfhearted to keep worldly respect. As with the religious elite, this cowardice deadens spiritual life, leaving us outwardly religious but inwardly distant from God.
Reflection
It’s stark how Mark 11 shifts from calls of “Hosanna!” to the hard reality of hearts resisting Christ’s authority. In Jesus’ teaching, we see two roads:
True Faith – anchored in God, fueling mountain-moving prayer, willing to forgive others, trusting the evidence of Christ’s power and identity, confident to follow Him no matter who disapproves.
False Faith – questioning the Lord’s right to lead, neglecting the proof all around, cowering before the opinions of people, and clutching control instead of surrendering.
Which road do we walk?
If you’re facing a monumental issue right now and feeling powerless, Jesus says, “Have faith in God.” Not a conjured-up wishfulness, but a firm assurance in the character and promises of our sovereign Father. Bring it to Him in prayer, expecting that if it aligns with His wise will, that mountain can be uprooted. Yet even if He leads you a different route, you can rest in His goodness. And check your heart for bitterness: is unforgiveness blocking your prayers? Let grace overflow and let old grudges go.
If you’re unsure of Jesus’ authority, consider the evidence. Don’t dodge or hedge. His life, words, cross, and resurrection stand up to honest scrutiny. The deeper question is whether you’re ready to let Him be King, or if you’d rather stay in control. True faith admits we cannot save ourselves – that Jesus alone has the authority to rescue and rule us.
Finally, if you find yourself paralyzed by what others think, ask God for boldness. Jesus endured far worse scorn for your sake, loving you to the cross. True faith is set free from the fear of man, content with God’s smile even if the world scoffs.
Mark 11 displays a Savior who demands real, undivided allegiance. Will you embrace that call? Whether in prayers for impossible needs, decisions of obedience, or stances that make you unpopular, cling to faith in God. He is fully worthy of your trust – the One who bestows forgiveness on us and calls us to forgive in return, the One who can handle any mountain in our path, and the One whose authority, properly acknowledged, leads not to bondage but to true freedom and life.
