Title: You are the Rock
April 28, 2007 (Sat) Tel Aviv Church Galilee Retreat
Text: Matthew 16:13-20
1. Introduction to the place
This is where we stand in Caesarea Philippi, the place of confession. This river in front of us is called the Helmon River, and it can be said that it is one of the three major rivers that make up the Jordan River along with the Dan and Senil Rivers. The three rivers descend and join at about Lake Hula and enter the Sea of Galilee.
As we can see, it is a beautiful place with lush forests and clear water all year round. There is a reason why this place is called Caesarea Philippi. On the Mediterranean coast, there is a place called Caesarea. Occasionally, people who come to the Holy Land know that Caesarea in the Mediterranean is Caesarea Philippi, and look at the Mediterranean Sea and receive grace by saying, 'You have made a profession of faith in such a wonderful place!'
But it's not there. The confusion arises because of the similar names. Caesarea, located on the Mediterranean Sea, is a planned city in the sense of declaring allegiance to the Roman emperor, Octavian, later called Augustus, and Caesar Augustus in the Bible, whom Herod the Great (Herod at the time of Jesus' birth) appointed him king of the Jews. where it was created and dedicated. That is why the name was given to Caesarea (Emperor), meaning that it was a city dedicated to Caesarea.
And Caesarea Philippi here was also Caesarea at first, and it is also a city built by Herod the Great in memory of the Roman emperor Augustus (Octavian). Then, after Herod the Great's death, his territory was divided among his sons, and it was Herod Philip who was assigned to rule northern Galilee and the present-day Golan Heights. From 4 BC to 38 AD, he reigned as tetrarch in northern Galilee, and the place he made the capital of his territory was Caesarea Philippi. He enlarged and rebuilt the city built by his father Herod the Great, and then, to distinguish the name from Caesarea on the Mediterranean Sea, he named it after his original name, Caesarea. That's why it was called "Caesarea Philippi" or "Caesarea Philippi". Translated, it means Caesarea of Philip.
And the modern name of this place is 'Banias'. Originally, it was 'Panias', but Arabs didn't pronounce 'p' well, so it became 'Banias'. So, what does Panias or Banias mean? It is related to the 'pansin' in the Greek and Roman gods. Panshin is the god who presides over the forest. There is a lot of water in this area and the forest is thick, and it is said that Pan is the god who rules the forest.
The Panshinjeon was right under the cliff. Now only those remains remain.
2. Meaning of Confession of Faith
1) Where is the confession of faith?
What we need to think about here is why the Lord required a profession of faith here. I wondered if he had to come all the way here to ask for a confession of faith, not from Jerusalem or Galilee. Usually, this event is seen as a kind of retreat or evangelistic tour with the disciples.
It is of great significance that Jesus demanded a confession of faith here. This is Caesarea Philippi, a pagan city in Rome and the place where idol worship called Pansin was worshiped. In other words, in the field of secular culture and idolatry in the Gentiles, Jesus demanded a confession of faith.
In other words, this means that confession of faith takes place in the world, not just in the worship service on Sunday, in the church building, or in the prayer hall. In the field of idolatry and secular culture, our confession of faith must be made in the field in which we live. Confession of faith must be confessed with our mouths, but must be made with our lives. Our belief is that we must maintain a clean and pure faith, a life and values that live in the world but are unstained by the world. In a world where material things have become idols, we must always think about what we should protect in a self-centered, hedonistic, and greedy secular culture.
'Who do you say I am?' I have to have constant questions. And we must answer clearly. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
This answer has two meanings.
It is a confession that Christ is my only and most precious value, and the second is the will to live a victorious life by believing in the Son of the living God. Confirmation through the answer must always be among us. When we confess that Christ is our only and precious value, we can be freed from the temptations of material things. When we have faith in the Son of the living God, we can live a victorious life in the world.
Ultimately, this confession of faith is the ability to lead our lives to victory. I hope that you will be victorious with this confession of faith in your daily life.
2) What is the foundation of the church?
This confession of faith is understood by the Roman Catholic Church as the papacy. He saw Peter as the first pope, and it meant that he would build the church on Peter, that is, on the pope. However, this is an incorrect interpretation. No matter how much Peter is, man cannot be the foundation of the church.
The foundation of the Church is Christ, and a profession of faith in Him.
Without a firm confession of faith in Jesus, it is not a church.
A whole church and a healthy church must have this firm confession of faith.
What is the foundation of our church? This is the faith that confesses, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." On top of that our church was built.
So, what should our church do the most? It is to exalt Jesus Christ. It is also to make known to the world the love of Jesus Christ and the grace of salvation. Together, it is to fulfill the kingdom and will of Jesus Christ.
It is Jesus Christ who is the owner of the church and established the church. The church is the body of the Lord.
The Lord loves and blesses our church. you are with us So, this is what we need to work harder on. It is a firm confession of faith in Jesus Christ and love and devotion to Him. At that time, the kingdom and will of Jesus Christ will be accomplished on this earth through our church.