Israel Reflections - #6, Caesarea

On one of Jesus' journeys with his disciples they left Capernaum and walked about 20 km north to the northern borders of Israel - an area referred to as Caesarea Philippi.  To the Romans it was called "Banias", or "Panias" and had a shrine erected to the greek god, Pan.

Historically it was the headquarters of one of Herod's sons Philip, who in about 14 a.d. made it a capitol city for the region he was to take control of.  He called it Caesarea in honor of Caesar Augustus, the Roman Emperor at the time of Philip's rule.  Later it was passed on the another Herod, Agrippa, who made more improvements to it and made it is regional place of rule.

When Jesus arrived with his disciples he took the opportunity to ask a question:  Matthew 16:13-18 
¹³  Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
¹⁴  And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
¹⁵  He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
¹⁶  Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
¹⁷  And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
¹⁸  And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Scripture doesn't give us a reason for the question, but this place was the furthest place from Jerusalem and the closest place in Israel to the Gentile territories.  It was also a center for worship of the Greek god Pan, and so identified more with Roman religion that the Jewish faith of Jesus and his disciples.  Perhaps this is why Jesus asked the question.  The fact that Jesus says, "Upon your confession Peter I will build my church" speaks loudly of the future.

Today, this area is an archaeological spot in the Golan Heights, just a few miles from Jordan and Lebanon.  We made our visit and discovered the springs that feed from the mountain side.  Truly a beautiful location.

We walked much of the grounds, probably two or so miles winding in and out of the river way which got narrower in spots and caused the stream to turn into a rushing torrent of water.

The ruins of the Palace have been partially excavated.  

Noticeably on the drive were a number of underground bunkers.  

This part of Israel was often attacked by various national armies in Israel's early days.  

Israel fought their first war in 1948 as they sought to establish their nation against the Egyptians in the south and the Lebanese/Syrian armies to the north.

This was reduplicated in 1967 when in the famous six day war, Israel defeated all of them which is where they claimed the territories from Jordan that they still hold in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, including Hebron, Bethlehem, and Nablus (ancient Shechem).  

Another conflict in 1973 called the Yom Kippur War led to peace talks in 1978 brokered by the U.S. at Camp David.  

It's safe to say that it never really led to any kind of permanent solution.  This tension has not subsided and there are Arab Muslims who continue to seek ways to fight a guerrilla war against what is referred to as Israel's "occupation".  

The rule of the Romans in the first century became the background for Jesus' coming...and the beginning of the church.  "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it..." is what Jesus said.  

After spending some time in Israel passing through checkpoints to leave one area and enter another one, one can understand how this area often experiences the "gates of hell" attacks.  It is the church and the message of the cross and the hope of the Gospel that is the answer.

Peace