Augustus Caesar divided Herod's kingdom, giving one half to Archelaus while dividing the other half into two, going to Antipas and Philip. Jesus is going where Tetriarc Philip is the non-Davidic king. Philip married his neice, who was his ex-wife's daughter. Philip married Salome. Salome appears in the Bible in connection with the execution of John the Baptist.
Mark 8:27-9:1
27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi.
And on the way
he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”
28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”
29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”
30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.
The Division of Herod's Kingdom:
Territory under Herod Antipas
Territory under Herod Philip II
Autonomous cities (Decapolis)
33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.
36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
9 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
Recapping:
We combine Mark's Gospel who wrote down what Peter remembered. Peter answered the same questions over and over and Mark's Gospel records what the First Century asked the most about Jesus.
John, on Patmos Island, was asked if the other Gospel's were accurate and John did agree. John said so many things happened around Jesus, that seeing the day - might differ in opinions. This is what I see and understand - this is my understanding.
Matthew 16:13-
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, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
18 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.
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Consider all that would encompass the Church of Jesus Christ. For Millenniums.
Jesus tells us:
A wholesome walk through the most beautiful parts of Israel. Discussing, of course, Jesus is God's Messiah. A moment of realization and truth.
Walking into the corrupted Kingdom of Herod. Philip the Tetrarch. The City of Caesarea Philippi is dedicated to Hellenistic worship. The amazing truth of Jesus Christ living - becomes - Jesus died and victorious - the Church of Jesus Christ. Throughout two millennium's people have spoken and wondered what Jesus would have thought of the power of the Pope and Antipope. Crusades. The Dogma. The Victims and Politics.
We find Peter is corrupt in the eyes of God.
Looking at Mark and Matthew's Gospels we find nothing would surprise Jesus. The Beauty. The Fellowship. The Worship. The external difficulties. The internal difficulties.
In these passages we would find:
John 2:24
Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people
1 Kings 8:39
Be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and act, and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart--for You alone know the hearts of all men--
Acts 1:24
And they prayed, "Lord, You know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen
2 Timothy 1:9
He saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began
Proverbs 8:30-31
Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, 31rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.
Jesus has placed the beginning in the midst of complexities. Because Jesus is God. And is the exact nature of God. God understands mankind and builds His Goodness regardless of the ideas and plots of mankind. It's amazing.
Father God and Jesus push away today, tomorrow, yesterday and plan for the Goodness of God.
If God is able to deal with the Temple bowing to Herod. God is able to deal with the Empire of Rome. God is able to deal with the local king. God is able to deal with Herodians sitting on David's Throne. God is able to feed the multitudes who arrived to be "Fed." God is able to deal past the Sons of Thunder. God deals past the 72 Disciples. God deals past Judas. God moves on past the man at the Pool of Bethsaida for 38 years. God Plan continues beyond John the Baptist. And to the fulfillment of Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit in all of mankind.
God gives us the Light of the world. We will Trust God.
Abba, our Father,
Today is Lent, the preparation for Easter. I will Trust You. It's far easier to see when we Trust You. Thank You, Father, for Your Willing Blessings.
As God of All Things, You bend far down to Love us as Your Own. You call us Beloved.
We will Trust You with the Ones we Love.
We will Trust all of our cares as wide and high as the Nation - to be in Your Capacities. Asking Your Blessing on our Nation Trusting in You.
We will look at the Day You have given and Bless You for what You provide. We are blessing seekers. As all the Children of God pray across all of Your Creation, asking "more Heaven on earth and Your Good Will be done."
May we be so blessed to see Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace among those with whom You are pleased.
Thanking You for Your Creation. Your Mercy. Establishing us as the Blessed of God in the New Covenant. Believing You as God Almighty, Father to the Savior Jesus, saving the world, taking care of the multitudes, the millenniums of people, the nations asking You for Your Steadfast Love. Your Good and Pure Heart, Father God.
In Jesus we are Blessed. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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