This was a strange place for a Hebrew Rabbi to take his Jewish students.
Caesarea Philippi is at the far north – of the land of Israel. It was originally named Paneas, after the Greek god – Pan, the god of music. You may remember seeing his image as the goat/boy – standing on his hind feet – playing the flute.
This far “northern region” was known as “the Panion” — the region of Pan.
In 198 BCE, the Greeks of the Middle East – defeated the Greeks of Egypt at the Battle of Panian. It was then, that a monument to Pan was actually placed in the city.
Eventually the city became home to many different gods and goddesses. It held a whole pantheon of the gods.
This passage is actually a highlight, a mountain top, an epic event in all four of the gospels accounts…
Each of the gospels in its own way – has been building towards this climax – towards this crescendo. It represents a highpoint in the scriptures.
Up to this point, the disciples have misunderstood the “true identity” of Jesus – but in this one, single, climatic moment – at least one of the disciples will begin to understand Jesus’ true identity.
And that one disciple just happens to be none other, than Simon Peter.
Which makes all kinds of sense… Peter is the leader of this rag-tag-apostolic-band. Peter is the chief spokesman. Peter will actually head up the church in Jerusalem. Peter is a part of the inner circle or that group of three: Peter, James and John…
Peter is the one who sinks in a storm, he is the rock of faith, he is the one who constantly sticks his foot in his mouth, the denier of Jesus and the one who is given the keys of the kingdom. There are 93 references to Peter’s name in the first gospels. His name is usually at the heart of a lot of gospel stories. This is just another case in point.
Peter “gets it” in “one moment of time”…and in a couple verses later, he will once more stick his foot – back – into his mouth again. Peter is so very human…so very much like us.
So what we have here is a group of dusty travelers on a Middle Eastern road, dressed in robes and sandals as they find themselves trudging the ancient region of Caesarea Philippi.
They are a group of men filled with hope. They have both seen and witnessed all kinds of miracles and heard all manner of teachings. They are simple men, ordinary men, fishermen and tax collectors and other sinners who have “captured a vision,” that maybe – just maybe God’s intention is to love and not to judge or to condemn. God is about healing, not retribution, he is about forgiveness and not punishment. God is different then, we have been led to believe.
Their leader has crossed the boundaries of race and class and gender and caste. And he has done so repeatedly. He has even healed those whom he and others have called dogs. He is seemingly open to all peoples. He acts like a servant to all mankind. And he calls on all his students to be servants, as well.
Their leader has taught them again and again that evil will not win out. Evil will lose. Good will ultimately win out.
He has taught them that the powers of death, darkness and damnation are not as strong as the powers of God nor will those evil powers win the battle.
God is victorious. God is always victorious. Just as God is always good.
The powers of death and evil may be all around them and us, but these powers cannot compare to the power of our God. As a matter of fact, there is nothing that can compare to the power of God and to his goodness. There is no greater power in heaven or on earth!
Jesus taught them that the light always shines on in the darkness. The darkness cannot overcome the light, ever.
He attempted to teach them that when evil comes with a vengeance in the dark we are to be present as the light.
When evil comes showering despair – we are to spread hope.
When evil comes cowering behind the gates of death, we are to remind others – that our God is a God of life and living.
He told them not to back down. Stand firm. Hold their ground. Cling to the rock, that is our God. Have faith.
The forces of wickedness and evil should tremble whenever we approach. We come marching with hope and comfort. We come with positivity to their negativity. We walk in truth. We walk with our God. We come bringing mercy and grace…because our God is a merciful God filled with grace.
We are always to represent him – whose name we bear. He taught them to remember always, that our God will prevail, no matter where you are. Our God will prevail! Even in the midst of a place like Caesarea Philippi…and if there, anywhere!