In Jesus’ day, Bethsaida was a fishing village on the north shores of the Sea of Galilee, according to John’s Gospel account. But, for almost 1700 years it’s location was lost. Only recently has its exact location been established. The problem was that people were looking where the Bible said it was.

Today, Bethsaida is located almost two miles from the current shoreline, east of the Jordan River, in the Golan Heights. Modern archeologists solved the mystery. Situated near the northern end of the Great African Rift, an earthquake in 363 A.D. moved the shoreline of the lake about 2 miles south. It also redirected the course of the Jordan. The site of ‘modern-day’ Bethsaida was once situated right on the shores of the Sea of Galilee exactly where the Bible said it had been located. Archeology has never disproved a claim of the Bible. In fact, the more we learn from archeology, the more we discover how little we really know.

Peter, Phillip and Andrew made their home here, according to the Gospel of John. Some of the events linked to Jesus and the Bethsaida area include:

Jesus’ walking on the water (Mark 6:45-51)
Jesus’ cured a blind man (Mark 8:22-25)
The feeding of five thousand (Luke 9:12-17)

In Matthew 11:21-24, Jesus cursed Bethsaida, Chorazin, and Capernaum.

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon (pagan cities), which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the Day of Judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted in heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom, which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the Day of Judgment, than for you.”

Chronologically, the cursing of these cities in the Galilee occurred just before a major turning point in the ministry of Jesus. Pointing at Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom, Jesus contrasted how the gentiles of these pagan cities would have repented of their sin with the continued pharisaic response to Jesus and His ministry. In Matthew 12 Jesus heals a man who was blind and mute. This particular miracle was known to be one of the identifying signs of the Messiah that all of Israel had been waiting for. When it occurred, the religious leaders accused Jesus of working the miracles by the power of Satan, rather than bowing down in worship to the Son of God. Until this moment, Jesus had been offering Himself to Israel alone as the Messiah, the King. With their blasphemy, Jesus turned His back on the nation of Israel as a whole. The national rejection of Jesus as their Messiah caused Jesus to redirect His attention to individuals in Israel and open the door of the Gospel to all the gentile nations.

Today, the invitation is open to all mankind. What Jesus wanted from Israel, He now desires of each of us who are believers. He commands us to proclaim that He is the King of our life. He commands us to tell others about the miracles we experience. He commands us to be a witness to His power and His forgiveness. He loves us so much He gave His life for us.