“Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church” (Matthew 16:18)
At the base of Mount Hermon lies Caesarea Philippi, known today as Banias — a place that in the time of Jesus was considered the very epicenter of pagan worship in the region. It was most famously associated with the Greek god Pan, the half-goat, half-man deity of wildness, chaos, and fear. The word “panic” even derives from his name.
Jesus didn’t bring His disciples here by accident. He led them intentionally to the darkest spiritual stronghold of the area — a place filled with shrines, carved idols, and a cave the pagans called “the Gates of Hades.”
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)
“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18)
In this very setting — before idols of fear and superstition — Jesus proclaimed His identity and the unstoppable mission of the Church. The contrast is stunning: the Rock of Truth standing against the rocks of idolatry.
Archaeological highlights at Banias include:
- The grotto of Pan, a cavern long considered the entrance to the underworld
- Remains of Roman temples and niches for idol worship
- An ancient courtyard of sacrifice once stained with offerings to false gods
Here, at a site where fear once ruled, Jesus declared victory over death, deception, and darkness — establishing His Church as a beacon of unshakable truth.
