AIZAWL THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

JUSTICE PEACE AND OVERCOMING VIOLENCE

Topic: The Cross of Christ: Peace in and through suffering violence?

1.1. INTRODUCTION

The Cross of Christ is a profound paradox, the instrument of torture and execution
becomes a symbol of peace and redemption. Peace is not the absence of suffering; but rather
the presence of love and forgiveness. This paper will study the meaning of the cross and also
highlight how peace is attained through it.

2.1. WHAT IS THE CROSS/CRUCIFIXION?

The act of nailing or binding a living victim or sometimes a dead person to a cross or
stake (stauros or skolops) or a tree (xylon) is called crucifixion.1 In the New Testament, the
verb stauroó is mostly used to denote crucifixion, which figuratively means “to destroy,
mortify.”

The Romans frequently employed the sadistically cruel and utterly shameful death by
crucifixion to uphold civil authority and preserve law and order against troublesome
criminals, slaves, and rebels. A host of wretched miscreants had perished on it. Many a poor
victim, too, who deserved a better fate, had suffered on it. It had come to be generally
considered as the very emblem of defeated crime, and disgraceful punishment: a synonym for
all that was at once powerless and execrable. 2 If this is to be, why did Jesus Christ suffer on
the Cross? Was he a criminal or was he a slave or rebel? The accusers try to find his fault but
fail; even Herod and Pilate fail (Cf. Mt. 27:23; Mk. 15:14; Lk. 23:14-15). But, it was God’s
plan that Jesus would suffer on the cross,3 this suffering of violence and shedding of blood
was how peace was formed. (See Colossians 1:20)

So, the question that arises again is, ‘If God planned that Jesus would suffer on the
cross, does this mean that God is the author of the crucifixion?’

1
Gerald G. O’Collins, “Crucifixion,” in The Anchor Bible Dictionary. Volume 1. A-C, et., al., eds.,
David Noel Freedman (Broadway, New York: Doubleday, 1992.
2
William R. Alger, History of the Cross of Christ (Cambridge and Boston: James Munroe and
Company, 1851), 17.
3
Cf. Luke 22:22; John 18:11.

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2.1.1. Is God the author of the Crucifixion?

If God is the author of the Cross, then is God a cosmic abuser, a vengeful Father
punishing his son for an offense that he didn’t commit?

But what is to be known is Christ’s own voluntary laying down of his life. What is
also important is that God is triune; and the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all of one
essence. And because they all are of one essence, they all agree in terms of motivation for the
cross. So, it would be wrong to suggest that Jesus Christ would be subjected to a punishment
for which he was unwilling.

Another question that arose is this – why does Christ need to die on the Cross?

3.1. HOW PEACE IS ATTAINED?

The only way in which peace can be attained between God and human beings is
forgiveness. But, forgiveness in the Bible carries a great cause (See Lev. 4 and Numbers 5:5-
10). In order for God to forgive the sinner, God’s justice must be satisfied (See Rom 3:25-
26), therefore the suffering of Jesus paid a penalty that would satisfy the wrath of an infinite
God so that peace can be attained.

3.1.1. Wrath Satisfied

In America, the popular hymnal “In Christ Alone” stirs up a debate regarding the
second verse, which is “On that Cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied.” Rev.
Chris Joiner of Presbyterian Church in Franklin says, “That lyric comes close to saying that
God killed Jesus. The Cross is not an instrument of God’s wrath.” The people who argue for
change wanted the line to change as “God’s love was magnified.” 4 This means that Christ’s
death on the Cross highlights the love of God.

This is the dilemma in the present context; there is a God of wrath on the one hand
and a God of love on the other.

3.1.2. Love vs Wrath

There are all sorts of attributes of God, and one of the most popular which the Church
does not talk about anymore is “the Simplicity of God.” (God is without parts. The being of

4
Bob Smeitana, “Presbyterians’ decision to drop hymn stirs debate,” USA Today (USA), 5 Aug 2013,
accessed 4 March 2025, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/05/presbyterians-decision-to-
drop-hymn-stirs-debate/2618833/#:~:text=The%20issue%20was%20the%20word,6%20to%20drop%20the
%20hymn.

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God is identical to the attributes of God). 5 This means that whatever God has, God is!
Therefore, the love and wrath of God are not in opposition to one another rather one explains
the other.

In human society, when a judge who claims that he/she is loving releases a criminal
who kills many infants. Society would say that a judge who allows a wicked criminal to walk
would profoundly be unloving to the victims. Therefore, to fail to punish evil is an unloving
act (Love and Justice are linked). So, the justice of God demands a punishment of the sinner. 6

This punishment of the sinner defines God’s wrath, but what is important to
remember is that God’s wrath is not like human wrath. Human being’s wrath is primarily
self-centered, cohesive, and unrighteous. But, God’s wrath is pure, and God’s wrath is the
result of His love for that which is right (Romans 12:9). This shows that love and wrath are
going together.

The New Testament presented the greatest display of wrath ever before human
beings; far greater than Sodom and Gomorrah, and far greater than the flood. It was when
God poured out His wrath on His Son, there on that rugged Cross for everyone who would
believe; so that in exchange they could attain peace.

4.1. CONCLUDING COMMENTS

Much of the preaching during Good Friday focuses mainly on the death of Christ and
his suffering on the cross. But, what is not mostly mentioned is – “From what has God saved
human beings?” The simple answer is – God saves us from Himself; 1 Thessalonians 1: 10
writes it very clearly, “Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.” Romans 5:9 also
writes, “Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be
saved through him from the wrath of God.” This salvation act of God through the suffering of
violence offers peace, the peace between God and human beings. The suffering of the Cross
of Christ is a violence that is to be experienced by every human being, but Christ in return
suffered for human beings so that they could attain peace.

5
Chris Morrison, “Making Divine Simplicity Simple: Rediscovering Who and What God is,”
WordPress, accessed 5 March 2025, https://cmmorrison.files.wordpress.com.
6
Cf. Nahum 1:2-3