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Just a few miles from Dan is an area known today as Banias, the biblical area of Caesarea Philippi. Located at the base of Mt. Hermon, this region is the location of one of the largest springs feeding the Jordan River. Throughout the years, the abundance of water made the spot beautiful and lush, and thus a popular place for pagan worship. Along with Baal and the Greek god Pan, many other deities of false gods were worshiped here.
Next to a very large cave, are a series of hewn niches carved right into the side of the hill. The niches were used to place statues of various false deities that were worshipped, and the cave is where the Greeks believed Pan, the god of nature and shepherds, lived. Daily offerings were thrown into the cave to appease Pan. When the Romans arrived they heard the people refer to the cave as the "gates of hell" which led them to declare and believe that it was indeed the very entrance to hell itself. In 20 B.C., Herod built a big marble Temple here dedicating it to Augustus Caesar. The property was given to His son Philip and the area became known as Caesarea Philippi, or Caesar's city.
With all of this false worship and idolatry as scenery, Jesus brings His disciples here for a time of rest, relaxation and devotional challenge. He asks the disciples a very important question: "Who do men say that I, the Son of God, am?" I believe it is a question that God is still asking everyone today. Their answers were interesting as they mentioned John the Baptist (great teacher), Elijah (miracle worker), and Jeremiah (powerful prophet). The opinions of man aren't much different today as people see Jesus as just another great teacher, or another man who worked miracles, or a powerful spokesperson - but certainly not God in human flesh!
The follow-up by Jesus is direct, "But who do YOU say that I am?" Peter jumps up to declare, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!" Peter was right and so encouraged to have heard from heaven. Unfortunately, it didn't take long for Peter to speak nonsense which was rebuked by Jesus as speaking Satan's words. Such is the life of humans, desperately needing the wisdom of God in our lives!
It is with this powerful backdrop that Jesus teaches on discipleship and the wholehearted commitment it requires. He teaches us how He will build His church and that even the gates of hell (perhaps He was pointing to the big cave when He said this) would not prevail against the church. It's here that we learn sometimes our thoughts are inspired by God and sometimes they are not. It's here where we learn to follow Jesus closely - not veering off to the left or to the right.
Matthew 16:17-19
Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
In Love,
Pastor Ed
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Aurora, CO 80013