Page 47 - Life of Christ w videos

Philip enlarged the city and renamed it “Caesarea” in honor of Caesar. “Philippi” was added to the name
to distinguish it from Caesarea Maritima, the great Mediterranean coastal city.

It was at this place that Jesus announced His coming death in Jerusalem. It was at the end of His earthly
ministry and the beginning of his disciples’ ministry. It is a mystery why Jesus chose this place to reveal
who He was to His disciples, so far north of the Sea of Galilee, yet there are some interesting clues.
Caesarea Philippi was the location the Cave of Pan, the place of the pagan Gate of Hades. It was in this
area that the first king of Israel (Jeroboam) led the northern kingdom of Israel into idolatry. This was also
the same place where the Greeks and Romans received revelations from the god Pan, who was
mentioned in classical writings as a "seer" or fortune teller and a giver of revelations.

Standing in front of all the temples created to honor false gods, Jesus turned to His disciples and asked
them who the multitudes thought He was. They responded that some thought He was John the Baptist,
some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Then Jesus asked them who they thought He
was and Peter answered, "You are the Christ the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:15-16). Jesus
blessed Peter and revealed to them "Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hades shall
not prevail against it”.

It is interesting that at that very moment, the disciples were standing before a large cave which seemed
to have no bottom. The pagans called the cave “the gates of Hades” since they thought that it was the
entrance to the underworld. Caesarea Philippi represented the worst evils of culture; it was filled with
idols, shrines, and immoral worship practices. In preparing them for His departure, Jesus assured his
disciples that the “gates of Hades” would not be able to stand against the power of God’s people. Jesus
defeated Satan through His suffering, death, and resurrection. Therefore, his people could overcome
Satan and have victory over evil places represented by Caesarea Philippi. Today we must continue to
confront satanic forces in our culture.

Peter’s declaration was exactly what Jesus was trying to help the disciples to understand. His claim to
be the Messiah, the Son of God finally seemed to pave its way into the hearts and minds of the disciples.
They were beginning to understand who He was. Now it was time to understand why He came.

Matthew 16: 21-28 tells us that from that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go
to Jerusalem and suffer under the religious leaders, and that He must be killed and on the third day be
raised to life. The immediate response of the disciples was to reject this future plan.

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