“The Getaway” by Karen Roth

Shocking news brought twelve disciples hurrying back to Capernaum to find Jesus. They had been sent out to minister in groups of twos but returned when they heard of the horrific death of the imprisoned John the Baptist. His beheading was so unexpected, and grievous. “When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself.” (MT 14)

The multitudes heard Jesus had departed and followed Him. They were disturbed that a great prophet of God should die like this. If this happened to someone like John the Baptist, who walked in the power and anointing of God—what would happen next? “When Jesus went out (in a boat on the Sea of Galilee), He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them and healed their sick.”

Concerned by the late hour, one of the disciples suggested Jesus dismiss the crowds so they could find food for their dinner. Jesus asked, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?… for He knew what He would do.” If the people were afraid that God had abandoned them—then the scale of the miracle totally convinced them that God was still there with them. Jesus miraculously fed 5000 people.

That night Jesus sent His disciples ahead to Bethsaida on the other side of the lake while “He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray… In the middle of the night, Jesus walked across the water—but when the disciples saw Him, “they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear… But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.’ And Simon Peter answered Him and said, “If it is you, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, ‘Come.’” …and Peter walked on water—again proving God is in Control of His Creation.

GETAWAY TO CAESAREA PHILIPPI

Although Jesus had wanted to get away earlier to mourn the loss of John the Baptist, the large throngs of grieving people made it more of a Ministry Road Trip.  In the towns Jesus entered, people brought everyone who was afflicted—the numbers gathering had grown to multitudes. He and His disciples comforted the mourners, healed all who came to Him, and miraculously fed 4000 people—further proving/reaffirming God was still Almighty with signs and wonders.

Jesus’ ultimate destination was a GETAWAY to Caesarea Philippi… a tourist city in northern Israel at the foot of snow-capped Mt. Hermon. The melting snow produced luscious vegetation. Mt. Hermon has three peaks at the top, and is the highest mountain in Israel, measuring over 9000 feet. It’s known as God’s mountain and the fountainhead of the Jordan River that flows down to the Sea of Galilee. It has hosted pagan temples to the Syrian gods, to the Greek gods, and the home of Caesar. Over the centuries, fourteen temples of grandeur would be built by numerous empires.

Gates of Hades

Mt. Hermon has a rocky cliff with shrines carved to pagan gods and statues depicting pagan worship in unspeakably awful ways. A huge Cave called the ‘Gates of Hades’ is said to be the door of the underworld that the Baal’s used to enter and exit Earth. The bizarre rights, human sacrifice, and filthy morals caused the Jewish Rabbis to say that no respectable Jew would ever visit Caesarea Philippi—it was Sin-City.

WHY VISIT SIN-CITY?

The stark disparity between the splendor and depravity of the sophisticated Caesarea Philippi must have been quite a contrast to a carpenter’s son and his fisherman buddies from Galilee. Jesus stood up before the twelve, with the ‘Gates of Hades’ as a backdrop. He asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” The disciples answered: John the Baptist, Jeremiah, or one of the great prophets. Jesus rephrased His question. “Who do ‘you’ say that I am?”  Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered Peter, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

“And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros—a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra—a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church—(Ecclesia), and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it]. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind—that is, declare to be improper and unlawful—on earth must be already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth—declare lawful—must be what is already loosed in heaven.” MT 16:3-19 AMP  

The GETAWAY focused on who Jesus really is, emphasizing that He is MORE POWERFUL than any pagan god or demonic force of evil.

Dressed as a common working man, Jesus shines with more dazzling light than any glitz of rich society. On the brilliant illumination of Who He is—“the Christ, the Son of the Living God” Jesus built His Ecclesia. This decree is even more significant because it is the only time Jesus ever used the word ‘Ecclesia.’

GREEK INFLUENCE

The Greek word ‘ecclesia’ is defined as: the called-out ones, a gathering of those summoned, an assembly or congregation. The preposition ecc means—’out of,’ and the verb ‘kaleo’ means ‘to call.’

The governmental assembly (ecclesia) that convened in Athens (centuries before the New Testament was written), consisted of elected officials with diplomatic authority to govern and rule judiciously. The Ecclesia represented a civil body of selected/called/elected people summoned for a distinct purpose.

The Athenian Ecclesia had final control over policy, including the right to hear appeals in public court, take part in the election/confirmation of chief judges or officials, declare military strategy/war, and to confer special honors. Those summoned did not initiate new business, but rather, being summoned—they had open discussion, voted, and a majority determined the result.

ROMAN INFLUENCE      

Rome conquered Greece and adopted the loanword ‘Ecclesia’—‘a kind of people parliament.’ They made ‘Ecclesia’ Roman by embracing it as a military term and added ‘discipleship.’ It is the principle of ‘discipleship’ that transformed conquered nations into the Roman Empire.

Their military ‘discipled’ nations through a four-prong approach: education, government, family, and culture. They setup Military Outposts and through the operation of the ‘Ecclesia,’ they transformed the Empire to look like, think like, act like, and function like Rome. When the Ecclesia was strong—the Roman Empire was strong.

If we follow the ‘rule of first mention,’ we can better understand or clarify the application/operation of ‘ecclesia.’ Jesus and the disciples were familiar with the Roman (Latin) meaning of ‘Ecclesia.’  He chose ‘Ecclesia’ to reveal HOW His disciples would function in His Kingdom. There is a remarkable similarity in the Latin meaning of ‘ecclesia’ to the way Jesus discipled twelve men and commissioned them as warriors to change the world. Through establishing the ecclesia/government, we likewise manifest the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

“In that day the Lord of hosts will be for a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the remnant of His people, for a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and for strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.” ~IS 28:5-6

One of the great delusions of the enemy of Christ was to convince the ‘Ecclesia’ that there is a separation from being a devout Christian and the rule of God in government. The delusion was presented to Christians as a truth to falsely indoctrinate Christians to believe they can only rule in Church, implying God’s rule had no jurisdiction in governing our States or Nations.

The enemy of Christ wants to nullify our purpose. We are no threat to corrupt government if we stay hidden in our churches. We only come under attack if we function as God’s Mighty Warriors—the Ecclesia. If God filled us with His HOLY SPIRIT, He also called/summoned/ commissioned us as ‘ecclesia’ with His purpose ‘to reign and rule with Him on Earth as it is in Heaven!’

Jesus specifically chose the GETAWAY location in the WORST place on Earth. The ‘Gates of Hades’ or ‘the Bottomless Pit’ likewise portrays why the battle is still raging at our GATES. We miss the revelation of ‘THE GETAWAY’ in Christ Jesus if we fear what’s happening now means we lost. The present situation is exactly why the “Keys of the Kingdom of God” were given to us.

We’ve been given AUTHORITY to STOP demonic delusions/corruption/infiltration of darkness in the Earth. Holy Spirit filled ‘Ecclesia’ governs all aspects of life. Holy Spirit disciples us to look like, act like, think like the Kingdom of God in our homes, schools, workplaces, and government.

OUR ‘GETAWAY’ IN CHRIST JESUS

As God’s Mighty Warriors, we ‘turn back the battle at our gates”—empowered with spiritual weapons to destroy all strongholds in opposition to God. Our prayer invades the atmosphere of the enemy camp with the Word of God—and “I’m gonna see a victory, for the battle belongs to the Lord!”

What happens in the world may be unsettling/corrupt, but it is only the BACKDROP for the BRILLIANCE of His RISEN CHRIST! God summoned His ‘ecclesia’ and gave us Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven to lock the door on the darkness/depravity of evil. We participate with Him as He manifests the glory/beauty of His greatest works through Holy Spirit in us!

Our GETAWAY place in Christ Jesus opened the spiritual realm of supernatural power that outshines/overcomes the darkest evil. Holy Spirit in us is God’s RISEN CHRIST. We are in a GETAWAY moment in time. We hear the Angel of the LORD speak:

“Arise, Be Strong…the LORD is IN-TO-WIN!”

______________________________________________________________________

Karen Roth is the wife of Dr. Roger Roth Sr., and a ministry son of Dr. Mark Hanby. They are the set ministry of a local church in Northeastern Wisconsin; and oversee the Bloodline Network Newsletter. They consider it an honor to work with Dr. Hanby for many years, helping to oversee the ministry of Papa Mark’s extended family—”The Father’s Heart.”

      Any questions or comments please contact us at rogerandkaren@live.com