Alex's notes on Mount Beatitudes: On our first day out we traveled about six miles north to the traditional site on the Sea of Galilee, believed to be the location or setting for the Gospel story of the Sermon on the Mount or the Beatitudes as they are known. A Church was built on this location by the Italians in 1937. The Church is positioned on the top of the hill overlooking the Sea, but is probably not the actual place of Christ’s teaching. For one, he probably taught from the bottom of the hill, talking up to the crowds above. Think about any arena or amphitheater. The stage is at the bottom, and the crowd is seated above.

The grounds of the Mount Beatitudes Church looking across the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights in the distance.

The altar of the church. The church of course is the Mount Beatitudes church.

A view of the Sea of Galilee with Tiberius, the old Roman city in the distance. This view is looking south from Mount Beatitudes.

The base of Mount Beatitudes with the church at the top of the hill to the right. This is a likely place that Jesus would have taught crowds here in this natural amphitheater. I have suggested three locations around Mount Beatitudes and Jesus likely taught in all three. The first location at the beginning of the gallery is the best location for large crowds.