Caesarea Philippi

While exploring around in the Northeast of Israel, we visited Caesarea Philippi although on the map it's shown as Banias.  It's a little to the East of the town of Dan.  Caesarea Philippi is at the foot of Mt Hebron and is one of the sources of the Jordan River.

It's also the location of an ancient temple of the god Pan.  "Good greif", you ask, "why are you visiting the temple of the god pan?"

The grotto

A close up of the grotto of the god Pan

Well, a wonderful thing happened here.  This is where Jesus was identified by Peter as the Son of God and the Messiah.  Now that makes it worth visiting.   Can you imagine standing in the place where the Holy Spirit revealed to Peter who Jesus was?  WOW!

Caesarea Philippi was established by Philip the Tetrarch who was the son of Herod the Great.   Not much is left of the area except for the remnants of the temple.

This picture of the plants has no special meaning.  It's just pretty so I wanted to include it.



I thought this tree was pretty cool too.

I did a short, less than one minute video of the water around the temple area. It is quite beautiful.  There are little waterways all around the walking area.

I think it is special that one can stand in an area that people set up to an idol yet experience a place where the Holy Spirit was at work.  There are so many incredible places in Israel.  God truly made it a promised land.  It still is.  The people, the places.  So much points to God and to Jesus the Messiah!