WALKING WITH PG 79 MOUNTAIN THE DOWN OF SEA THE OVERLOOKING 7 PART — ATOP MOUNT , ARBEL, —ATOP MOUNT

shore, towers over the over towers Arbel Mount shore, Beside the ’s western western Galilee’s of Sea the Beside fertile Plain of Gennesaret. of Plain fertile Mount Arbel Mount +

DOWN THE MOUNTAIN PG 80 WALKING WITH JESUS PG 81 Ararat Ararat on land to ark the bringing by family Noah’s delivering flood, aglobal with world sinful the judged God sin, Adam’s after Centuries 2:10). (Genesis flowed rivers four which from Iraq modern-day Eden of Garden the in Eve and Adam with dwelled God creation, At God. with encounters powerful places where people have experienced From the beginning, mountains have been ARBEL MOUNT in eastern Turkey (Genesis 8:4). (Genesis Turkey eastern in teaching, read Matthew 28:16-20. Matthew read teaching, ANCHOR TEXT: , an elevated place in in place elevated , an Before diving in to this this to in diving Before Mount Mount deserves (1 John 4:10). Out of sheer grace grace sheer of Out 4:10). John (1 deserves sin our that judgment the bearing sacrifice, atoning an as place our in cross the on died Jesus , outside hill elevated an Zion Mount to Son His delivered He when fulfillment ultimate its to promise this brought God but Moriah, on life ’s in promise this fulfill God did only Not 22:14). (Genesis Himself sacrifice the provide to promised God true the sacrifices, demanded gods false While idols. all from different is God true one the that learned On Mount Moriah Mount 2,000 years later. There, on on There, later. years 2,000 in , Abraham Abraham Canaan, in faced the idol-worshiping prophets of of prophets idol-worshiping the faced on fire down called God Sea, Mediterranean the by northwestern in later, years hundred Six Him. with relationship aloving into Israel of people the inviting before, ever than vividly more will His and character His revealed Lord the Here, 31:18). (Exodus Moses to law His delivered God that Arabia, and Egypt Sinai Mount on was it Jesus, before years 1,500 About need. us of all sacrifice the provided God love, and , in the peninsula between between peninsula the , in Mount as Elijah as

radiance (Matthew 17:1-2). Then, the 17:1-2). the (Matthew Then, radiance heavenly with through shone glory divine John—His and James, Peter, of presence the in transfigured was Jesus Here, Valley. Tabor Mount at power God’s of revelation another see we and ministry, Jesus’ to forward Fast Lord “The question: no with left were people The power. true His manifest to Elijah used Lord the God, from away Israel drawing were prophets false the While 18:19). Kings (1 Asherah and —he is God” (18:39). God” is —he by southern Galilee’s Jezreel Jezreel Galilee’s southern by Lord —he is God! The The God! is —he

DOWN THE MOUNTAIN PG 82 Father’s voice echoed down from Heaven: “This is my Son whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him” (17:5). God made it crystal clear: Jesus was no mere man, but the eternal, only-begotten Son of God, sent into the world to save sinners (John 1:14). On another hill in Galilee, today called the Mount of , Jesus gave His on the Mount (:1). Here, He spoke clearly about His Father, the God who is compassionate, loving, and gracious.

In light of all these mountaintop moments, it’s no surprise that Jesus told His disciples during the Last Supper that they should meet Him in Galilee after His death and resurrection (Matthew 26:32). After Christ was raised, Mary Magdalene and Mary Salome encountered an who PG 83 confirmed Jesus’ words, telling them PG 84 to meet Christ on a Galilean mountain (Matthew 28:1-5).

This mountain was likely Mount Arbel, the WALKING WITH JESUS

most prominent ridge overlooking the Sea DOWN THE MOUNTAIN of Galilee. After Jesus’ redeeming work was accomplished—the sacrifice which God supplied—and after He conquered death itself through His glorious resurrection, Jesus wanted His followers to know with certainty what their lives would look like from that moment on. More than 500 people gathered on the mountain that day to hear what Christ had to say (1 Corinthians 15:6).

Jesus began with these words: “All authority + in heaven and on earth has been given Mount Arbel to me” (Matthew 28:18). His resurrection It is estimated that 80% of Jesus’ ministry proved He was the Messiah, the promised took place within view of this mountain. King of kings and Savior of the world. Now, Jesus was instructing His disciples on what they should do with His power. WALKING WITH JESUS PG 85 children of God. Baptism isn’t just getting getting just isn’t Baptism God. of children transformed and forgiven, adopted, redeemed, the as identity anew into Gospel the of message the with them baptizing we’re Jesus, in trust their placed have who people baptize we When 28:19). (Matthew Spirit” Holy the of and Son the of and Father the of name the in them baptizing nations, all of disciples “make to them told Jesus Christ? about people tell to went they when do disciples these should What them. within work at power His by but cleverness, or strength own their by disciples—not make to turn their was It grace. saving His of message the with others reach to acommission and acall disciples His giving was Now, Jesus glory. God’s for people love to how and God love to how them showing them, with praying them, teaching followers: these into life His poured relationally and intentionally had Jesus faith. in Christ to turns who everyone for salvation of news good the Gospel, the of light in live to like looked it what disciples His showed Jesus years, For three 2:6). John (1 walked Jesus as walk to need would they Jesus, of followers be to claimed they if that Christians instruct later would day, that mountain the on people the of one John, apostle The (28:19). nations” all of disciples “make said, Jesus go,” you “As lives. everyday their about going friends and neighbors below, where they would encounter their plains the into down back head would they Soon forever. last to going wasn’t moment powerful this knew mountain the on go.”Everyone you “as or “going” as actively poreuthéntes “go,” as translated here word The 28:19). (Matthew go…” “Therefore, continued, Jesus , can be translated more more translated be , can His name. His in disciples make to seek we as moment every of whole the us, with be will He and them, with be would He Spirit. Holy the of gift the through presence His of promise the but mountain, the on clarity them give just didn’t Jesus 28:20). (Matthew age” the of end very the to always, you with I am surely “And side: their at be always would He that was know to them wanted He What do. to disciples His calling was He what knew Jesus eyes!” My in “Look or “Behold!” word the with concluded He ahead, were that challenges and valleys the enter and mountain the descend to about were disciples Jesus’ as so, And presence. His on relying and power His in trusting by way Jesus’ live only We can 1:6). (Philippians day by day us sustain and us, carry us, help will He that us promises He truth—the revealed truth of God’s Word— His to according walk to us invites Jesus as just But power. own our in it do trying we’re if especially hard, be can Obedience (11:30). light” is burden my and easy is yoke my “For said, also Christ breath, same the with But truth. His to according walk and 11:29) you” (Matthew upon yoke my “Take to command Jesus’ seriously takes Faith 2:17). (James obeys that afaith is Jesus in faith Real 28:20). you” (Matthew commanded Ihave everything obey to them “teaching by disciples make to them told Jesus view, in identity new this With are. we who of center the at stands Christ Now over. are lives old our that declaring also are we water, the of out up coming and down going By 6:3-4). (Romans resurrection and death Jesus’ of grace the in participation apowerful it’s water, the into dunked idoú , meaning

BY TRUSTING AND IN HIS POWER WE CAN ONLY CAN WE JESUS’ LIVE WAY RELYING ON HIS PRESENCE.

DOWN THE MOUNTAIN PG 86 DIVE DEEPER

1 Mountains are mentioned more than 3 Read Matthew 28:16–20. Jesus talked 500 times in Scripture and are often to the disciples on a mountain, but He poetic symbols of God’s presence. How commanded them to make disciples as

GOLAN HEIGHTS would you describe some mountaintop they went back home in the valley. What Bethsaida experiences you’ve had in your life? does disciple-making look like in the ‘valleys’ of life? 2 Has someone ever discipled you, pouring into your life intentionally and 4 We’ve been given Jesus' authority to spread relationally to help you follow Jesus? the Kingdom of God. What’s holding you What did that relationship look like, and back from living out Jesus’ command to how has God used that person in your life? make disciples? What next step can you take to relationally and intentionally make disciples? EXTRA INFO Magdala Sea of Some significant mountains in the Bible: • Garden of Eden: Adam and Eve live in harmony with God in this elevated garden PG 87 Mt. Arbel Galilee before they fall into sin (Genesis 2:10; Ezekiel 28:13-14). PG 88 ◦ • Mount Ararat: God brings Noah’s ark to rest atop the mountains of eastern Turkey (Genesis 8:4). ◦ • Mount Moriah: Abraham is spared from sacrificing his son Isaac because God provides the sacrifice Himself on this mountain in Canaan (Genesis 22:14). •  (Horeb): After God delivers them out of slavery in Egypt, Moses and the encounter Him at this wilderness mountain and receive His law (Exodus 31:18). WALKING WITH JESUS Later, Elijah encounters God here as he is running from Queen Jezebel (1 Kings 19:8). DOWN THE MOUNTAIN ◦ • : The Israelites recite God’s promises and warnings here before they enter the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 11:29). ◦ • Mount Ebal: God leads Moses up this mountain to see the Promised Land shortly before his death (Deuteronomy 34:1). ◦ • : God uses and (Judges 4:14) to save the tribes of Israel from attacks by the Canaanites. Later, Jesus is transfigured here (Matthew 17:1-2). ◦ • Mount Zion (Jerusalem): King David conquers this city in the central mountains of Canaan and claims it as the capital of Israel (2 Samuel 5:7). Solomon builds God’s temple here (1 Kings 6:1), later rebuilt by Ezra and Nehemiah (Ezra 1:2; Nehemiah 2:17), and again by Herod (John 2:20). Outside the city, Jesus is crucified, buried, and resurrected for our salvation. ◦ • Mount Carmel: The prophet Elijah defeats 450 false prophets on this mountain in northwestern Israel as God brings down fire to reveal His power (1 Kings 18:19). ◦ • : Jesus gives His near the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 5:1). • Mount of Olives: Just east of the walls of Jerusalem, Jesus gives the Olivet Discourse, teaching about His second coming (Mark 13:3). Later, Jesus comes to the Garden of Gethsemane on the slopes of this mountain to pray to His Father before His arrest (Matthew 26:36). • The New Jerusalem: Our final dwelling place with Jesus, when He returns to make all things new, is described both as a mountain (Hebrews 12:22) and a city (Revelation 21:10).