Mount Arbel

​

Location

 

1. Mount Arbel is located on the west side of the Sea of Galilee and is the tallest mountain around the Sea of Galilee.

 

2. It has a spectacular view of the Sea of Galilee, which is about 8 miles (12 km.) wide, and about 13 miles (21 km.) long.

 

3. It rises about 1,200 ft. (365 m.) above the Sea of Galilee.

 

4. It has on its eastern side a cliff that drops right down to the Sea of Galilee basin.

 

5. This cliff has many natural caves that have been used throughout history for battles and protection purposes.

​

Historical Background

 

1. History and tradition locate Mount Arbel as the place where Christ gave the Great Commission mandate to go into all the world and preach the gospel.

 

2. Many theologians believe this is the place because it is the tallest mountain in the area and provides a perfect view of the Sea of Galilee.

 

3. Because Christ spent around 60% to 70% of His ministry time around the Sea of Galilee, Mount Arbel would have provided the perfect backdrop as Christ gave His disciples the powerful Great Commission mandate. From this location, we can easily see the following:

 

• Magdala

• Gennesaret (Ginasor)

• The area where Christ likely called several of His disciples

• Chorazin

• Tabgha - The likely place Christ restored Peter to ministry

• Mount of Beatitudes

• Capernaum

• Bethsaida

• Bethsaida Lookout

• Feeding the 5,000

• Feeding the 4,000

• Kursi

• Horvat Susita

• Where Jesus walked on water and calmed the sea

 

4. The Great Commission was one of the last contacts Christ had with His disciples, which shows the importance of this commandment.

 

5. The cliffs of Mount Arbel have natural caves that have been used as shelters for rebels against Herod the Great, revolts against the Romans, and later periods. The ruins of Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine villages lie below the cliffs and on its southwestern side.

 

Places of Interest (Please See Maps Above)

 

1. Park Entrance

 

2. Lookout location

 

3. Arbel Cliffs

 

4. Magdala

 

5. Sea of Galilee

 

6. Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine villages that lie below the cliffs.

 

7. Ancient Synagogue

 

8. Fortress

 

9. Hiking trail

 

Mount Arbel in the Bible

 

1. Mount Arbel is the believed place where Christ gave the Great Commission.

Matthew 28:16-20: Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 

2. What does the phrase “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” mean?  
Colossians 1:15–17: He [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation [The Greek word for “firstborn” is proto-tikto which would give us the meaning of “pre-eminence,” and that is what we find here in Colossians 1:15. The Greek word for “first created” would be proto-ktizo, and it is not used here]. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him, all things hold together.

 

• Christ is the image of the invisible God. He is God in the flesh so we can understand and know Him better.

• Christ created all things in heaven and on earth.

• He created all thrones, dominions, rulers, authorities, and rules over them.

• He is the head of all things.

• All of creation is held together and sustained by His power.

 

3. During Christ’s ministry on earth, He performed every class of miracle to show He was Lord of every aspect of creation.

 

• Sickness – Christ healed every kind of sickness among countless people.

• Demons and the demonic world – Christ repeatedly cast out demons from many people.

• Weather – Christ calmed the sea and storms.

• Nature – Christ cursed a fig tree, and it died.

• Animals – Christ cast out demons into a herd of swine, He performed the miraculous catches of fish, and He rode into Jerusalem on an untamed donkey.

• Food – Christ fed 5,000 and 4,000 people.

• The authority to forgive sins. Only God has this authority, so Christ showed Himself as being fully God.

• Death – Christ raised numerous people from the dead, and He Himself rose from the dead.

 

4. Every knee in heaven and earth will bow before the authority of Christ.
Philippians 2:9–11: Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

5. Based upon the authority that Christ possesses, He commands us to go and make disciples.
Matthew 28:19–20: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

 

Faith Lesson from Mount Arbel

 

1. All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Christ. Do we truly believe this?

 

2. We are all called to be missionaries.
Acts 1:8: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

 

3. Missionary means “Sent One.” 

 

4. Most missionary work is done locally in our own Jerusalem, as most are not called to foreign missions.

 

5. Just because we are not foreign missionaries does not mean we aren’t a missionary at our local level.

 

6. Making disciples entails evangelizing.

 

7. In supporting foreign missions, there are a few ways we can be involved:

 

• We can be goers.  

• We can be supporters by helping financially.

• We can be encouragers to those in the field.

• We can be helpers when missionaries return from the field and need help back home.

• We can be prayer supporters.

• Am I involved in foreign missions in at least one of the above ways?

 

8. In fulfilling the Great Commission, it’s not just enough to be a good person and hope our life will show others we’re different. We are commanded to go and speak!

 

9. While baptism does not save us, we are to emphasize it and baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Have I been baptized and encourage others to be baptized as well?

 

10. We are to teach others to obey all Christ has commanded. Am I involved in doing this?

 

11. We have the promise that the one who has all authority in heaven and on earth will be with us as we go to evangelize and make disciples. We should realize that:

 

• We are not alone in fulfilling the Great Commission but have Christ present and supernaturally helping us.

• We have all the power and authority necessary in Christ, our helper, so we don’t need to fear any demonic or contrary force.

 

12. Do I realize Christ is with me in every aspect as I strive to fulfill the Great Commission?