Section 82
Peter's identification of Jesus as the Christ and first prophecy of the church
Near Caesarea Philippi
Matthew 16:13-20
Mark 8:27-30
Luke 9:18-21
13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14They said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others say that you are Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
27Then Jesus went on to the villages of Caesarea Philippi along with his disciples. On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28They answered, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others say that you are one of the prophets.” 29He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”
18Once when Jesus was praying in private and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19They answered, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others say that one of the ancient prophets has risen.” 20Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”
20Then he commanded his disciples to tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.
30And Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
21Jesus then warned them and instructed them to tell this to no one,
Notes
Caesarea Philippi
Near the city of Dan in its setting of a lush paradise is place filled with beautiful ponds and lush woods. This area is fed by a tributary of the Jordan River, the Banias (the Arabic pronunciation of Paneas). This gem of a site is set against the russet cliffs of Mount Hermon. In antiquity, the large rock hewn cave and the nearby niches contained statues of Pan, the Greek god of hunters, flocks and shepherds. The excavations near the cave have revealed foundations of large buildings, possibly a temple to Augustus Caesar mentioned by Josephus. Archaeologists are currently excavating the market area to the right of the road that was used to enter the pools and caves of Panias or, as it was known in the time of Christ, Caesarea Philippi.
It was at Caesarea Philippi that the disciples understood Jesus’ true identity. Here He taught His disciples for the first time that His mission was to go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and be raised up on the third day. This week long teaching session was capped by an event witnessed only by Peter, James and John: the transfiguration. It was here that Jesus put together for His disciples the twin truths of His humility and His glory.