CAESAREA PHILIPPI
27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”
28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”
29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”
30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. Mark 8:27-30
In order to have a better appreciation of the significance of this event, we need to take in the whole scenario. Why Caesarea Philippi? Why could He not have asked the same question at the lakeside or in Judea or anywhere else in Israel?
Caesarea Philippi represented the worst that humans could sink to in terms of false beliefs and foul behaviour. A temple to Caesar, a shrine to false gods and a “worship” system that linked their religion to the worst of crude and animal behaviour, and all in full view of these Jewish men who would have been deeply offended by what they saw.
In this atmosphere of hell itself, Jesus forced them to evaluate Him and reach a verdict. And they did, represented by their mouthpiece, Peter. How could they ever miss the contrast between what they were seeing and what they had seen for the past few months or years of their lives? What had they seen and heard? An unfolding demonstration of the Father and an invitation to respond to His call to return, reconnect and reciprocate the love that He was pouring out upon them in a new realm of government called the kingdom of God.
What Jesus was offering them was so powerful that it would ultimately overcome even the most depraved, debauched and self-destructive behaviour that man could ever stoop to. So great and so powerful is the love of the Father that it can change and restore the very worst of human beings. What is the key? Unwavering confidence in Jesus as the Son of God. “Who is it that over comes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 John 5:5.
What is the significance of this confession? We have no hope of overcoming the power and influence of the ungodly world system outside of union with the Lord Jesus Christ and the power of His life in us that enables us to die to ourselves and live in Him alone. This is the only life that can represent the life of God that the world wants to see.