Caesarea Philippi was an inland city located approximately twenty-five miles north of the Sea of Galilee. This was the site of worship for a nature god known as Pan and the home of a temple dedicated to Augustus Caesar. That Jesus’s identity as Messiah was announced here demonstrates that Jesus’s kingdom is superior to Caesar’s and that he is likewise superior to all idols and mythical gods.

The cult center was devoted to the god Pan, the half-man half-goat god of fright (or “panic”). The site features a cave grotto and carved niches for the statues of deities. Beginning in the third century BC, worshipers cast sacrifices into the cave as offerings to Pan.

Antiquities of the Jews 18.62–63

3. (63) Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works—a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure.

Here, in v. 14, Matthew indicates that some believe Jesus to be Elijah—a legitimate claim given the similarities between their ministries. However, the significance of this comparison, primarily in ch. 17, is eschatological. According to Mal 4:5, the coming of Elijah would precede the great and terrible Day of Yahweh (final judgment). Jesus came preaching about the dawning of the kingdom, which—according to Jewish and early Christian eschatology—comes after the judgment. The portrayal of John as Elijah signals that Mal 4:5 already has been fulfilled (see Matt 11:14). Therefore, the judgment is near, and the kingdom of heaven inaugurated by the Messiah will soon arrive in fullness (compare 4:14).

You may ignore Him, but that’s doing something with Him. You may adore him: that’s doing something with him. You may crown Him, you may crucify Him, you may accept Him, you may reject Him, you may believe Him, you may doubt Him, but you will do something with Jesus, isn’t that right? You will do something with Jesus.

Jeremiah A prophet of judgment and repentance who was strongly opposed by the religious leaders of his day.

You may ignore Him, but that’s doing something with Him. You may adore him: that’s doing something with him. You may crown Him, you may crucify Him, you may accept Him, you may reject Him, you may believe Him, you may doubt Him, but you will do something with Jesus, isn’t that right? You will do something with Jesus.