Jesus and other gods

Photo by Miriam Snider.

I've never been to Caesarea Philippi. Miriam has been there, and the pictures she brought back are intriguing to me. I learned that this region has always been known to have beautiful forests, awe-inspiring rock formations, and deep, mysterious springs of water that flow to become the headwaters of the river Jordan.

At one time the city was called Paneas, named after the Greek god Pan, the god of forests who had the appearance of half-goat, half-man. This was the location of a temple dedicated to the worship of Pan, one of many temples clustered around the large rock formations. In the first century, with all the temples standing, it would have been a breathtaking sight for people to see, a blend of natural beauty and carefully constructed buildings.

Another of these temples stood next to where they worshiped the god Pan, a temple dedicated to the worship the Roman emperor Augustus, who though he lived in Rome, was seen to be divine. Some referred to Caesar Augustus as “son of a god.” People could worship Augustus himself, and worship the myths of the empire for which he stood. In fact, the region itself was renamed Caesarea Philippi because in the year 2 BCE, this region was given to one of Herod the Great’s sons named Philip. And he renamed the city with two words: “Caesarea,” a tribute to the Roman emperor, and “Philippi,”a tribute to himself. 

Biblical scholars often wonder why Jesus chose to take his disciples to this region in Matthew 16. This was outside of Galilee, an area with a mostly Gentile (non Jewish) population. Some suggest that Jesus wanted to be far away from the watching eyes of the religious authorities: the scribes, religious lawyers, and Pharisees who were suspicious of him. Matthew does not tell us why Jesus chose this location. But this was the place in which Jesus asked his disciples a key question:

¹³ Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ ¹⁴ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ¹⁵ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ ¹⁷ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. (Matthew 16:13-17)

The disciples of Jesus would have likely known about the various ways people worshiped local gods, the Roman emperor, and religious power and control. Jesus, however, is instructing them to place their complete trust in him. He is the one truly worthy of their worship and service.

Idols, political power, and religious power are not just ancient categories of devotion. They still influence people today. They all promise a certain level of security, freedom from anxiety, and a sense of control. Perhaps we can all be tempted to worship and serve lesser gods. 

But none of these three worship options cannot sustain the soul.

Jesus can. 

Jesus brings grace and healing.

Jesus brings never failing love and compassion.

Jesus brings deepening formation and growth. 

Jesus brings forgiveness and restoration.

Jesus brings justice and mercy to the oppressed.

Jesus brings resurrection and new life. He is the sure foundation. 

Who is Jesus? He is the One who can be trusted.