He asks this question at a place called Caesarea Philippi.
I was very excited to be there today! I have taught on this text many times and to be in the area and maybe the exact spot was very cool and insightful.
For example, when Jesus says, "and on this rock I will build my church," (V. 18) it is very interesting that the place where we were today has a huge face of solid rock.
When Jesus says "and the gates of death or Hades will not overcome it" (V. 18), it is
interesting that this place today had a huge spring coming right out of the rock. It was believed in that day that the spring was the entrance to the "netherworld" or "the place of the dead" from which no one can return.The water was seemingly coming right out of the rock. It was coming from a spring which flows at a rate of 29 gallons per second! That is a lot of water...from the side of the rock!!
We also went to the head of the Jordan river which is also a spring. Very cool figuratively and literately. Today was in the mid- 90's but the water was refreshingly cool!
Reporting live from Israel,
Jamie
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