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Have you thought about why Jesus chose
Caesarea Philippi to reveal who he is?
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Towards the end of his time in Galilee
Jesus took his disciples
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to a place near Caesarea Philippi.
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It was a place of pagan worship and
and was the location of the god 'Pan'
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who according to Greek mythology
was known as the god of nature,
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the wild, shepherds and flocks
and the companion of nymphs.
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It was quite possible that Jesus was
standing here, what was called
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at that time 'The Gate of Hell',
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as some believed that this cavernous
opening literally was the door
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to the underworld.
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In the immensity of the stones nearby
Jesus asked
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Who do people say I am?
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Who do you say I am?
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Peter says, You are the Christ, the
Son of the Living God.
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Jesus replies, And I tell you,
you are Peter
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and on this rock I will build my Church
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and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it.
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Matthew 16:18-19.
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Amid the natural strongholds, the
revelation by Peter
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that Jesus was the Messiah, the
Son of God
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and Jesus commissioning Peter to lead
His church
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This event and location was a powerful
encounter
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in which we know Jesus claimed victory.
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All around us is the cry to worship
other gods
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and the question always exists,
Who are you going to worship?
