When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?””
Matthew 16:13 NLT
Jesus’ interaction with the disciples at Caesarea Philippi is recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but the classic and most complete account is found in Matthew’s Gospel.
Mark’s and Luke’s accounts offer a few details, though, that give us a more full picture.
Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?””
Mark 8:27 NLT
One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone. Only his disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do people say I am?””
Luke 9:18 NLT
If we only read Matthew, we might be left wondering or guessing why Jesus would take the Twelve on the 26 mile journey from Capernaum to Caesarea Philippi, a wicked pagan territory.
Luke gives us the reason. Jesus was taking the Twelve on a prayer retreat. Jesus’ popularity and the disciples’ impact throughout Galilee made it difficult for them to go anywhere and be alone in Galilee. Going to a place where Jesus hadn’t been, and where no Jew was supposed to or would want to go, would pretty much guarantee that Jesus had alone time with the Twelve. Time to teach. Time to process. Time to rest. Time to pray.
Mark tells us that Jesus and the Twelve traveled through the villages surrounding Caesarea Philippi. I wonder if Jesus did any ministry in these villages. Did He preach the gospel? Did He heal anyone, or cast out any demons? This was certainly a region overcome with demonic influence.
I’ve always pictured Jesus standing in Caesarea Philippi, overlooking the pagan temple there, initiating this conversation with the disciples about His identity and the gates of hell. Mark, though, seems to indicate that the conversation began as they were walking along the road. Did this conversation last a total of 5 minutes, what it takes to read the account in Matthew? Probably not. We’re probably given the cliff notes of the conversation. Did it happen over the course of a couple hours, walking through the villages, seeing all the pagan people trapped in the lies of their false religion? Did the conversation culminate at the pagan temple, built at the foot of the rock whose large crevice from which a stream of water flowed and was thus called “the gates of hell.”
Had Jesus intended this conversation to happen, and that’s why He led the Twelve to Caesarea Philippi? I believe it was intentional. Jesus took them there on purpose to have this conversation, and they were praying along the way because the spiritual warfare would be intense. The warfare would be intense in Caesarea Philippi… and the warfare would only increase from there all the way to the cross!
Jesus had a mission to accomplish. Jesus was moving forward purposefully. Any time we’re living on mission, moving forward purposefully, we need to know that the reality of warfare cannot be excused, overlooked, or taken lightly.
For the faithful disciple, spiritual warfare is a reality we must expect, prepare for, and not take lightly.
Warfare is real.
But so is victory!
The gates of hell will not prevail!
Jesus’ mission will prevail! Jesus’ gospel will advance! Jesus’ church will be built!
This blogpost originally appeared at: Prevailing With Christ! – Sonlife is based upon Sonlife’s study, Knowing Him / A 50 Day Study in the Life of Christ / Day 37