Have you thought about why Jesus chose
Caesarea Philippi-Banias

to reveal who he is?

Towards the end of his time in Galilee
Jesus took his disciples

to a very unusual place near 
Caesarea Philippi.

It was a place of pagan worship and
and was the location of the god 'Pan'

who according to Greek mythology
was known as the god of nature,

the wild, shepherds and flocks
and the companion of nymphs.

It was quite possible that Jesus was
standing here, what was called

at that time 'The Gate of Hell',

as some believed that this cavernous
opening literally was the door

to the underworld.

In the immensity of the stones nearby
Jesus asked

Who do people say I am? 
Who do you say I am?

Peter says, You are the Christ, the
Son of the Living God.

Jesus replies, 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. Matthew 16:18-19.

Amid the natural strongholds, the
revelation by Peter

that Jesus was the Messiah, the 
Son of God

and Jesus commissioning Peter to lead
His church

This event and location was a powerful
encounter

in which we know Jesus claimed victory.

All around us is the cry to worship 
other gods

and the question always exists,
Who are you going to worship?