Caesarea Philippi was, historically, a center for the worship of false gods. The ancients that came before Christ worshipped the god "Pan." In a cliff above the city, people built shrines and temples to him. The city stood at the base of this cliff. Out of a cave there, water flowed.
The pagans of Jesus’ day commonly believed that their fertility gods lived in the underworld during the winter and returned to earth each spring. They saw water as a symbol of the underworld and thought that their gods traveled to and from that world through caves. To the pagan mind, then, the cave and spring water at Caesarea Philippi created a gate to the underworld. They believed that their city was literally at the gates of the underworld—the gates of hell. In order to entice the return of their god, Pan, each year, the people of Caesarea Philippi engaged in horrible deeds, including prostitution and sexual interaction between humans and goats. Devout Jews would have avoided any contact with the despicable acts committed there. That's why when Jesus took the disciples there, it was a bold act.
Jesus would have been a huge contrast to the false hopes of the pagans there who trusted in dead gods. There is a rich biblical context and lesson to all of this when viewed in the light of what the disciples were possibly even witnessing. This story is also found in Matthew 16:13-20 and in Luke 9:18-20. Jesus first confirms His identity with the disciples. Other Jews thought he was a prophet, Elijah, Moses, or whatever they chose to believe. But none of these figures had the power of Jesus. And what was Jesus' power to accomplish?
In Jesus' day, gates were defensive structures. Thus, the “gates of hell” were to be under attack. Where demonic forces rule the roost, Christ and His followers were to “attack,” taking over and building His church.
Christ's disciples are not to hide from evil. They are to storm the gates of hell!
After Luke’s account, He spoke to them about being ashamed of Jesus (Luke 9:26). He knew that as the disciples attacked evil, they would be mocked, ridiculed, and persecuted (even killed). No matter how fierce the opposition, Christ’s followers were to stay on the attack and never hide their faith.
Following Jesus is not an easy life, per se, filled with worldly rewards, but it comes with eternal reward, the only prosperity that matters.We cannot avoid sinful culture, or run from it and hide. Schools and churches need to be staging areas, training followers to storm the gates of hell (go on offense) rather than hide away from the world (go on defense). We are called to confront evil, not avoid it.
For consideration...
- Do I really trust Jesus with my life? Do I live as if He is truly the Messiah? Who is He to me? The Messiah of Scripture, or a messiah of my own making?
- Do I trust that He has truly enabled and empowered and equipped me to do as He calls? Do I live defensively, or am I “storming the gates of hell” as God directs?
- To those who will not acknowledge Jesus as Messiah, the One, should I cease going to them with this information?
Father, You sent Your Son Jesus to be the world's Messiah. Your Spirit reveals to me that He is the true Savior, my Messiah, the Messiah for eternity. May I trust Him as such. May I trust that You are enabling me to follow Him, to storm the gates of hell as you direct. I submit myself to you. I submit my time today to You. May I die, so I can live only in Christ, completely healed, with a new heart and full of Your Spirit, with the nature, mind, and Spirit of Jesus--a completely new person! Please! Fling laboring harvesters into Your harvest field today... begin with me!
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