Israel: Sea of Gailee (Mount Arbel)

We were told by a friend to be sure to drive up to Mt. Arbel for a fascinating view of the Sea of Galilee. We could see it from our cottage, so we drove just a few minutes down the road and went up. Indeed, the view of the sea was spectacular. I kept searching the mountains around. From which was He praying and saw the disciples struggling? How far into the water did He walk before they saw Him? What would a raging storm look like when it was so calm and peaceful today?

We could see Mt. Hermon. We had just read Psalm 133 with our kids, the dew of Hermon falling down on Mt. Zion. David the Psalmist likely stood here, too.

This land is so fertile, so blessed, so beautiful.

And, in reality, there is not as firm of a conclusion as other sites about where the Sermon on the Mount was given. It could have been any of the mountains surrounding Galilee. It could have been this one. When I glanced out and saw this family sitting on a blanket, amid the rocks and hills, I
thought of the Feeding of the 5000. I thought of what it might have looked like to see families scattered throughout, listening to the Teacher, children playing. This is pretty much exactly as I had pictured it.

From there, CC read the Sermon on the Mount to us as people passed us by.

And then we descended. CC said he wished he had time to explore it more. One of the girls noted, maybe Jesus walked this very path. Indeed.