Jesus Thrown Off A Cliff: The Story And Its Significance

The Story of Jesus Thrown Off a Cliff

The story of Jesus being thrown off a cliff can be found in the Gospel of Luke, in chapter 4, verses 16-30. It tells the story of Jesus returning to his hometown of Nazareth and visiting the synagogue on the Sabbath day. He was asked to read the Scriptures and he chose to read from the book of Isaiah, where it says:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

After he finished reading, he sat down and told the people that the Scripture had been fulfilled in their hearing. At first, the people were amazed by his words, but then they began to question him, asking if he was really the son of Joseph. Jesus knew what they were thinking and he said:

“Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

These words angered the people and they drove him out of the synagogue and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

The Significance of the Story

The story of Jesus being thrown off a cliff is significant for a number of reasons. Firstly, it shows the rejection that Jesus faced from his own hometown and people, despite the fact that he was there to bring good news and freedom to them. This rejection foreshadows the greater rejection that he would face from the religious leaders and the people of Israel.

Secondly, it highlights the fact that Jesus’ message was not just for the Jews, but for all people. He used the examples of the widow from Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian to show that God’s grace and healing were not limited to the people of Israel, but were available to all who would believe.

Finally, the story reveals the power of God to protect and save his chosen one. Jesus passed through the midst of the angry crowd and went on his way unharmed, demonstrating that he was in control of his own destiny and that God was with him every step of the way.

Lessons We Can Learn from the Story

There are several lessons that we can learn from the story of Jesus being thrown off a cliff. Firstly, we need to be aware of the dangers of familiarity and complacency. The people of Nazareth were so familiar with Jesus that they failed to see him for who he really was. We need to guard against the same kind of complacency in our own lives, and be open to the ways that God is working in and through us.

Secondly, we need to be aware of the danger of prejudice and exclusivism. The people of Nazareth thought that they had a monopoly on God’s grace and blessings, but Jesus showed them that God’s love and mercy were available to all people, regardless of their nationality or background. We need to be open to the diversity of God’s creation and be willing to reach out to those who are different from us.

Finally, we need to be aware of the power and protection of God. Just as Jesus was protected from harm by God’s hand, we too can trust in God’s protection and provision in our own lives. We can take comfort in the fact that God is with us, even in the midst of difficult and challenging circumstances.

Conclusion

The story of Jesus being thrown off a cliff is a powerful reminder of the rejection, diversity, and protection that are all part of the Christian faith. As we reflect on this story, may we be encouraged to guard against complacency and prejudice, and to trust in God’s power and protection in our own lives.