Religious impressions...I
New Testament and capital punishment.
One of many things, which strike me after many many years is Jesus is not against death penalty. Maybe I exagurrated a bit, but there is one clue which might put a bit of light on this subject, and we can find it in Gospel according to st. Luke:
“And one of the malefactors that were hanged railed on him, saying, Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us. 23:40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, Dost thou not even fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 23:42 And he said, Jesus, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom. 23:43 And he said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise”*
The thing which surprised me the most and was almost like lightning strike [seriously, hovewer it sounds ridicilous, I was going to sleep and this thought came to my mind...”just like that” some might say...], Jesus is not saying anything like “oh no, your punishment is so unfair” or “what a great misery that you are here with me, hanging on the cross”. He does not argue nor disagree with “good” malefactor at all. Being Son of God, he transcend every breath and every being he exactly know why those two are hanging on the cross. And the most important thing is, he does not disagree with that...as far as we know anyway. Entire situation is amazing so to speak: two malefactors who gets their punishment and Son of God between them. Here's whats happen: this “bad” malefactor [although I have no idea whatsoever why, because “malefactor” consider within itself malice and cruelty], anyway the one who's not “converted” wants to save himself, his life, he thinks he can cheat his own death [he was not forced to do any of those things which crucifixon was considered as a punishment] and unfortunetely for him [or fortunately as we might say] he did not succed. Other one, on the other hand, admits misery of his own life and here's whats happen – Jesus, who share their fate hanging on the cross forgives him and He is doing a thing more: He invites him to Paradise. In this case, the greatest humility gets greatest reward.
Whet it comes to death penalty as capital punishment, Jesus does not contest its justice. In some way, He does not contest its injustice, because He take it for himself even if He did not deserve it. He took it with every consequence of this action, all for Himself ! He takes injustice punishment for guilt He did not commit, and at least He knows that punishment is not adequate to things He has done. Can it be, that capital punishment is required, even if its sometimes sign of injustice ? I cannot be certain, but I'm pretty sure, that entire history is not only about converting malefactor.
* Any quotation is taken from http://ebible.org/asv/Luke.htm
