Upon This Rock - Location Matters

Before embarking on his final journey to Jerusalem, where he would lay down his life as a redemption for the world’s sins, Jesus took his disciples to Caesarea Philippi. This location, formerly known as Bashan in the Old Testament and Mt. Hermon, held great significance for Jesus. It was not an arbitrary or spur-of-the-moment decision. He was heading straight to the epicenter. Here, Jesus declared, “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). Jesus was going to Ground Zero.

During my upbringing in the church, the preachers often emphasized the significance of Peter’s revelation of Jesus’ identity. They would passionately exclaim into the microphone, “God granted Peter the keys to the kingdom, and Jesus proclaimed, ‘Upon this rock, I will build my church and the gates of Hell…’” This would elicit enthusiastic responses from the congregation, including screaming, dancing, and jumping.

Imagine how excited they would be if they knew there was more to the story. When I discovered the rest, tears of joy streamed down my face. You see, nothing Jesus does is random or unplanned. He is purposeful and intentional in all that He does. He specifically visited Caesarea Philippi; a place known as the Gates of Hell in the spiritual realm. A quick search will reveal this truth. He entered Satan’s territory to make a powerful statement.

“Ground Zero” typically refers to a location devastated by disaster or attack. Similarly, Jesus ventured into what could be considered Satan’s territory to engage in a spiritual battle and reclaim what rightfully belongs to Him.

Can you see any connection between Peter’s acknowledgment of Jesus as the Christ at Caesarea Philippi, Baal worship, the Nephilim, Mt. Hermon, and Bashan?

What is the significance of Bashan?

Genesis 6:1-4 reads, “When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years. The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.” 

The book of Enoch was discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls and other Old Testament books that are included in the Bible today.  Some believe that the book of Enoch should be included in scripture.  Enoch 6:1-2 adds additional context to Genesis 6:1-4.   “And it came to pass, when the sons of men had increased, that in those days there were born to them fair and beautiful daughters. And the Angels, Heaven’s sons, saw and desired them. And they said to one another: ‘Come, let us choose for ourselves wives, from the children of men, and let us beget, for ourselves, children.’” (Genesis 6:1-4), (Numbers 13:33) Again, the result of this union was giants. 

Enoch 7: 1-2 reads, “And they took wives for themselves, and everyone chose for himself one each. And they began to go into them and were promiscuous with them. And they taught them charms and spells and showed them the cutting of roots and trees.  And they became pregnant and bore large giants. And their height was three thousand cubits.” (Genesis 6:1-4), (Numbers 13:30-33), (Deuteronomy 2:10-12), (Deuteronomy 2:19-21), (Deuteronomy 3:11), (2 Samuel 21:16), (2 Samuel 21:18-22)

Psalm 22, containing several prophecies Jesus fulfilled when he died, also states, “Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round” (Psalm 22:12). This may be an allusion to Jesus’ enemies, both on a physical and spiritual level, who gathered to watch him die at Golgotha.  Yet, Jesus triumphs over dead, hell and the grave at Calvary.