by Barry Britnell
Synopsis: Mount Arbel overshadows the Sea of Galilee, the Plain of Gennesaret, and the Via Maris, an ancient trade route connecting the north and south. From atop these cliffs, believers are reminded of the universality of God's love.
On the western shore of the Sea of Galilee stands a cliff, known as Mount Arbel, that casts a shadow over the water in the late afternoon. If you have never heard of this mountain, do not feel bad. It is not mentioned in the Bible, yet it is a place that the people of the first century who lived around the lake would have seen daily. Undoubtedly, Jesus and the disciples watched the sun set behind its massive face every afternoon.
The top of this mountain is only 181 meters (594 feet) above sea level. However, since the surface of the Sea of Galilee is 212 meters (700 feet) below sea level, Mount Arbel towers nearly 400 meters (1300 feet) above the surface of the waters.
As the people of the first century walked from lower Galilee to the lake, Mount Arbel would have been in sight most of the way. For the first portion of the journey, the top of the mountain would have been below them. However, as they slowly descended to the lake, the mountain would have risen above them, providing needed shade from the summertime heat.
As one would expect, the view from the top is stunning. Looking toward the east, the entire Sea of Galilee is visible. In all other directions, you can see many of the rolling hills of lower Galilee. On a clear day, you can even see the snow-capped top of Mount Hermon, situated about 60 miles away, rising to an elevation of over 2,800 meters (9,200 feet) high.
I have been fortunate to have been to the top of Mount Arbel many times. Even though I have dozens of pictures from that vantage point, I find myself taking even more. I am always looking for a slightly different angle, or perhaps the sun is shining across the hills in a better way. Every time that I ascend Mount Arbel, a single verse comes to mind:
Jesus went throughout all of the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction (Matt. 9:35).
I find this passage very interesting. Because God loves us, He sent his Son to the earth with an essential task to perform and an important message to tell. To be the most effective and to reach the most people, logic would seemingly dictate that Jesus would have spent a majority of His time in Jerusalem (where the Jewish leadership and many people lived) or in Rome (where the Roman leadership and many people lived).
Yet, that is not what happened. Jesus did not spend most of his time with the elite of this world. He spent time with ordinary people. He spent time with fishermen, tax collectors, farmers, older people, younger people, friends, and neighbors. He spent time with those who were sick, those who were suffering, and those who needed a shoulder on which to cry.
From the top of Mount Arbel, you can easily take a picture of the northern third of the Sea of Galilee. Of all of the places in the entire world for Jesus to spend His time, He spent a majority of His ministry within the frame of this picture. "For God so loved the world that He sent His Son" not to the elite of the world, but to the common man. I appreciate that because I am about as common as they come. Every time I see the view from atop Mount Arbel, I am reminded once again that Jesus came for me.
Image-1 Caption: The early morning sun is reflected off the massive face of Mount Arbel.
Image-2 Caption: Mount Arbel, the Plain of Gennesaret, and some of the hills of lower Galilee.
Image-3 Caption: The northern half of the Sea of Galilee, as seen from the top of Mount Arbel. Most of the Galilean ministry of Jesus was spent within the frame of this picture.