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| The Mustard Seed Miracle - the Moving of Mokattam Mountain |
'And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him.' Hebrews 11:6
Every year, on 27th November, the Coptic Church in Egypt celebrates the Mustard Seed Miracle - the moving of Mokattam Mountain. The miracle took place between 975 and 979 AD during the papacy of Pope Abram Ebn-Zaraa, the 62nd Patriarch of the Egyptian Coptic Church. Yaqub Ibn Yusuf Ibn Killis, a Muslim convert from Judaism went to the Caliph reminding him of what Jesus had said and recorded in Matthew 17:20 "Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
They both contrived a plan to expose the church and find an excuse to persecute the Christians by challenging them to a test of their faith, to move Mokattam Mountain located at the outskirts of Cairo.
When the patriarch received the challenge, he conveyed the congregation to the Church of St Mary to prayer and fasting, supplicating God. On the third day, the virgin Mary appeared to Patriarch Abram and told him of a holy man named Simon the Tanner, at whose hands the miracle will be effected. The entourage led by Simon met with the Caliph El-Muizz and all the government officials and nobles at the foot of the mountain.
The Coptic Christians knelt to pray at the foot of the mountain. Every time the congregation said, 'Kyria-Layson' Lord have mercy and lifting up their bowed heads, the mountain would be lifted up. When they bowed down, the mountain was lowered down.
The Caliph and his men, stood in awe and trepidation at the sight. Finally he said, "Great is your God and blessed is His name. You have proved that your faith is the true and living faith." From then on the Coptic Christians were free to worship in Egypt and they built many churches.
How many of us believed that the miracle did take place? Can a mountain be moved. Whatever we believe, the miracle ignited the faith of the Coptic Christians and they strived notwithstanding centuries of persecution.
This week the Coptic Church will be celebrating this miracle. Many of us are impressed, enamored, by spectacular miracles. BUT the central focus of Jesus' comment is not the miracle to move a mountain but the faith in Him, the faith that provided the miracle of salvation for those who believe. We should draw our attention not to quantity, amount or strength of faith but the object of our faith, the person of Jesus Christ.
So little faith is required, yet it is so hard for many to believe in Jesus.
What is faith? The Bible defines faith as
'Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.' Hebrews 11:1
This was the lesson that Doubting Thomas learned as the resurrected Jesus appeared to him in that upper room. Even a mustard seed size of faith will do but Thomas did not even have that.
Jesus often chided the disciples for their lack of faith. Once a storm broke when they were in a boat. Jesus was asleep and the disciples were afraid that they would drown. They woke Jesus up and he quietened the waters of the Sea of Galilee.
'A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" he got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to His disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" Mark 4:37-40
There will be times when our faith, yes even the foundation of our belief in Jesus Christ will be tested. We will come through these trials brilliantly by the faith of our beliefs. St Peter wrote from his experience,
'So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - although your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world ' 1 Peter 1:6-7
Our faith will anchor our salvation
'You love Him (Jesus) even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.' 1 Peter 1:8-9
Indeed let us celebrate the joy of our salvation, there are '10000 reasons' to worship and rejoice with exceeding great joy. Bless the Lord O my soul.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
O my soul, worship His holy Name.
Sing like never before, O my soul.
I’ll worship Your holy Name.
The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning;
It’s time to sing Your song again.
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me,
Let me be singing when the evening comes.
You’re rich in love and You’re slow to anger,
Your Name is great and Your heart is kind;
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing,
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find.
And on that day when my strength is failing,
The end draws near and my time has come;
Still my soul sings Your praise unending,
Ten thousand years and then forevermore.
Bless the Lord O my soul.
Lionel
Ref 1: The Coptic Cross https://sawwaf.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-mokattam-mountain.html
Ref 2: https://contemplation-lionel.blogspot.com/2010/11/upon-this-rock.html A related article in Contemplation
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