Where something is said has a massive impact on the meaning.

Herod the Tetrarch is getting nervous about the reports about Jesus. Luke 9:7-9

Jesus decides it’s time to get out of Galilee for a bit to let things simmer down.

In Greek culture the Ecclesia are the “called out ones” who would develop new law and policy for their community. Roman rule latched into that and used the same idea, but it was implementing the rule of Caesar into their local community.

Where did Jesus say this?

This far northern area of Israel never let go of pagan worship. It is city dedicated to the worship of the Greek god Pan.

Pan is the prefix that means “all.” He was the god of nature, music, and the god of fear and seduction. Terror and ecstasy were considered the most pure human experience possible. One of his divine powers was stirring up seductive lust.

He could emit a sound that was so soul terrifying that it induced PANic.

There was a cave in Panaous-Caesarea Philippi that was thought to be where Pan and his minions went ever winter. It was called “the gates of hell.” Every Spring a horrific multi-day festival called PANdemonium to wake Pan and call him back into the world. The most depraved things happened during this festival combining ecstasy and terror.

Jesus asks the most important question that any of us are going to wrestle with in this place. “Who do you say that I am?”

What is the rock that Jesus says he will build His church that is referenced here? Not only Peter’s confession, but very literally in the location they were standing; the darkest most depraved place they could think of.

Jesus says he is going to make his own ecclesia in this place. They are gonna work the culture of the Kingdom of God in this dark dark place. It’s going to be so strong and robust that even the gates of hell- the place where these horrible festivals take place- will not prevail. It is an offensive statement. We are not meant to hunker down and wait till Jesus returns. We are meant to run into the hard and dark places and build God’s Kingdom.