CAESAREA PHILIPPI

Caesarea Philippi (Banias) sits on the lower slopes of Mt. Hermon in the north of Israel. The site marks the northern most point of Jesus' travels (Matt 16:13; Mark 8:27).

At Caesarea Philippi, one can see the huge red cliff with its conies and the cave where many have gathered through the centuries to worship various gods including Pan. Perhaps Jesus was standing in front of this very rock face when He proclaimed, "Upon this rock I will build my church."

Caesares Philippi is located at the head waters of the Jordan river.

Psalm 104:18
18: The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.

Matthew 16:13-20
13: When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14: And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15: He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16: And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17: And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19: And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
20: Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Mark 8:27-38
27: And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?
28: And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.
29: And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
30: And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.
31: And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32: And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
33: But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
34: And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35: For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
36: For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37: Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38: Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Caesarea Philippi - Rock of my salvation

There are two prominent features in my mind at Caesarea Philippi. The headwaters of the Jordan are tranquil and clear here. The rocky escarpment and cave dominate the area and tower over the stream. Christ chose to use the rock and the cave in His illustration in Matthew 16:18. So to I have included references to the Lord as the rock of the Christian.

II Samuel 22:1-4, 47

1: And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
2: And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
3: The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
4: I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
47: The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.

Psalm 62:1-8

1: Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
2: He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
3: How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.
4: They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
5: My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
6: He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
7: In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8: Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.