Cæsarea Philippi and Mount Hermon

This post will be about our stop in Ceasarea Phillipi.  This spot is significant because it was the scene of Peter’s testimony of the Lord’s Messiahship and divine Sonship.

When Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? (Matthew 16:13)

This small town is near the source of the Jordan River and at the foot of Mount Hermon way up north in Israel. In fact, it is the northern most point of our Lord’s journeyings. It is also an important site due to the Savior teaching about him being the Living Water and doing so at a place where the waters of the Jordan originate. The river that flows from here to the Dead Sea gives life to all the communities along its path. As you look at the picture below, imagine idols filling the small niches in the stone. It gives more meaning to the question, “Whom do men say that I am?”

While at this site, we hiked some trails near the Hermon Spring which emerges at the foot of Mount Hermon whose peak is 9400 feet high.  As we hiked, we enjoyed the vegetation, the small animals along the path, and the peaceful surroundings.  We also explored the ruins of what used to be a temple to the Greek God, Pan.

Later we drove to the ski resort located at the top of Mount Hermon and viewed the crest not all that far above us.  (Just over the crest is the border with Lebonon.) We contemplated taking the ski lift to the top, but they were closing it down for the day.

A view of Mount Hermon from the ski resort