Page 46 - Life of Christ w videos

more closely with His twelve, preparing them for His departure, and in isolating Himself from the
unbelieving crowds.

Jesus took the twelve to Tyre on the far west coast of Israel. There were very few Jews living in
Phoenecia, so He left the masses behind. There He met a Greek woman born in Syria. She begged Jesus
to drive a demon out of her daughter. Because of her great faith in who He was, He healed the
daughter.

Again, to avoid the crowds, Jesus led his disciples on a long journey around the Sea of Galilee into the
Gentile region of the Decapolis. Great crowds of Gentiles came to see Him and brought their sick and
lame. This probably was a result of the demoniac’s preaching. Matthew says the people were amazed
and remained for three days without food. Jesus responded in compassion and fed 4,000 from seven
loaves of bread and a few small fish.

At this point in His ministry, Jesus began to tell those He healed to remain silent about it to others. His
healings were now out of personal compassion rather than a demonstration of His deity.

Jesus then crossed the Sea to Magadan, a small city on the northwest side of the Sea of Galilee. Here
He encountered some Pharisees who asked for a sign to validate His message, but Jesus refused. He had
already presented to them plenty of signs and they rejected each one. Jesus knew that if He did not
depart from Galilee, they would find a way to kill Him there.

Jesus Finds Solitude with His Apostles Far North in Galilee (Mark 8:22-26; Matthew 16:13-20; Mark
8:27-30 and Luke 9:18-21; Matthew 16:21-28; Mark 8:31 and Luke 9:22-27)

Having made several attempts to get alone with His disciples, Jesus decided to take them north to the
region of Caesarea-Philippi, a very remote place in the foothills of Mount Hermon and a place that Jews
would never go.

That place was Caesarea-Philippi. According to the Greek historian Polybius, by the time of the Seleucid
king Antiochus III (around 200 BC), the site was called “Panion,” after the Greek god Pan. When the
Romans conquered the area, this land was given to Herod the Great in 20 BC. Herod subsequently build
a great temple there in honor of the emperor Augustus Caesar. According to the Jewish historian
Josephus, this district was bequeathed to Herod’s son Philip when he succeeded his father in 4 BC.

Current temple site of Caesarea Philippi – Gates to Hades Artist rendering of what it looked like when Jesus visited.
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