Mountains and fig trees

Jesus cursed a fruitless fig tree that was advertising first harvest fruit but had nothing. Then He cleansed the temple and the next time the disciples saw it, it was withered. I suppose the object lesson wasn't lost on them.

Jesus used the moment to talk about the power of faith. Again.

Passage	Nearest mountain	Possible action
Matt 17:20	The mount of transfiguration	moved
Matt 21:21 and Mark 11:23	Zion: Jerusalem and the temple mount	thrown into the sea

When Jesus said "whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea'", the "this mountain" was right beside them. It had a city and the holy temple on it. I doubt that throwing Jerusalem into the sea would have ever crossed their minds, and here Jesus is implying that even the temple is secondary, even disposable. Jesus used some truly shocking illustrations.