Panias, Caesarea Philippi, and Banias

My birthplace is called Nagercoil, meaning “cobra temple” (naga “snake” and coil “temple”). True to its name, we have a Hindu temple in the middle of the town with cobras. The worshippers offer them milk and eggs and receive their blessings. Many cities have names that mean something to that culture and context.

Panias was a city in the modern-day Golan Heights (at the base of Mt. Hermon of the OT) with a temple dedicated to the Greek god of Pan. In Greek mythology, he was a shepherd who loved music and was a companion of the nymphs. He had the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a goat, like fauns or satyrs. Panias became a battleground city between the generals of Alexander the Great – Ptolemies who ruled Egypt and Seleucids who ruled Babylon. Eventually, the Romans and Herodians occupied Panias and built seven temples, one for each of the following: Caesar Augustus, Pan, Nymphs, Zeus, Nemesis, Sacred Goats, and Dancing Goats. Herod the Great changed the name from Panias to Caesarea in honor of Caesar. His son, Herod Philip, renamed it Caesarea Philippi after him. In modern days, it is called Banias, as several in that region have difficulty pronouncing “P.”

In this historically significant city with temples for Greek and Roman gods and rulers, Jesus asked his disciples,

“Whom do people say that I am to be?” (Mark 8:27)

They replied that some thought Jesus was John the Baptist redivivus (a Roman concept where people like Nero would reincarnate or come to life), while others thought he was Elijah or one of the prophets (8:28). Herod Antipas promoted the thought that Jesus was John the Baptist redivivus (6:14). The Hebrews, however, thought he was [like] Elijah or a prophet of the OT. Unlike the Romans, they believed in resurrection, where dead people came to life. Some, however, believed in the spirit of one of these saints coming and empowering someone else.

Jesus wanted to know what the disciples thought. Peter answered,

“You are Christ.” (8:29)

Being a Hebrew, he knew YHWH’s promise to David that one from his lineage would be a ruler of the Israelites, the anointed one, the Messiah, and the Christ (2 Sam 7:14). Peter knew Jesus was that rule of the Israelites.

Panias – the place of gods – was the perfect setting to declare Jesus’s identity. Was he a god similar to Caesar, Pan, Zeus, or a Dancing Goat? Or, was he the king of Israel, unlike Caesar and Herod, who were Gentile rulers of the people? Peter chose “our Hebrew king,” i.e., “Christ,” as Jesus’s description.

Jesus warned (epitimao) them not to tell others his identity (8:30), as it included something so different than the Israelites thought: their Messiah had to suffer much, be betrayed by the elders, high priests, and scribes, killed, and resurrected on the third day before he could be a full-fledged Messiah (8:31). Peter wouldn’t have this; he wanted a Davidic Messiah. He rebuked (epitimao) Jesus. Seeing that all the disciples were wondering what Jesus’s response would be, Jesus rebuked (epitimao) Peter saying, “Get behind me, Satan. You are not thinking the thoughts of God but of people” (8:32–33). Jesus could rebuke them, but Peter couldn’t rebuke him; after all, he was his king! Yet, Peter tried.

Peter knew Jesus’s identity but didn’t want to act upon it. Instead, he wanted Jesus to do Peter’s will. He didn’t want Jesus to suffer.

Knowing a truth requires one to act upon it. Jesus alone is the true king, God’s son, and we surrender to him.