Psalm 88; 1 Macc. 1:41-63; Rev. 19:11-16; Matt. 16:13-20
What a terrible time in Jerusalem. Antiochus Epiphanes declared that everyone give up their particular customs and beliefs so that all would be one. There is clearly a movement today to create this same reality in the belief that religion is the problem in the world. If we all forsake our particular beliefs and practices then the world will be a better place is itself a religious belief that has no basis in reality. Possessing the book of the Law became a capital offense as possessing the Scriptures would become so during the persecutions of the Diocletian in the early 4th century. Those persecutions gave rise to a group called the Donatists, so-called because those who gave over (Greek word for this is dona from which we get donate) their holy books would be spared from death. Here we see atrocities related both to the temple and to those who continued to practice their Jewish faith. At the end of the passage we see that all did not give in to the edict and continued to be faithful to the Lord no matter the risk. Hopefully we will never see such times.
Caesarea Philippi was a place that would have made Epiphanes proud, a place where nothing was worshiped and all was equally respected. There were niches in a wall near what was known as Pan’s grotto where pagan worship was offered and those niches contained figures of various deities in antiquity. Here Peter makes his confession of Jesus as uniquely the Son of God, the Messiah, the one who is to come into the world. Who would have thought that Jesus’ response to this confession would be divisive among His followers centuries later and would divide the church between Roman Christians and the rest of the world for thousands of years. The foundation of the church is Jesus. Peter’s role is simply to point to Jesus, not be the foundation.
John sees the figure from the first chapter of the Revelation, blazing eyes, many crowns, etc. and now this figure, Jesus, is on a horse and is prepared for battle but it is not a military campaign. His Name is known only to Himself. Think back to Genesis 32 and the man of God fighting with Jacob, the man will not give his name because to give your name is to cede a certain amount of power. He will execute righteousness and judgment on rebellious nations but the sword He wields is coming from His mouth, it is by His mighty word that He will rule and judge. He is indeed, as Peter confessed, the Messiah and now He comes in judgment to rule the earth. Let us walk in faith no matter the cost.
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