Križ Isusov u Novom Zavjetu kao izraz prihvaćanja nasilne smrti
The Cross of Jesus in the New Testament as a Symbol of Accepting his Violent Death

Summary/Abstract: This is an exegetical and theological essay on the cross of Jesus in New Testament writings considered as acceptance of his violent death and an integral part of his mission. Jewish religious leaders handed Jesus over to the Roman occupying power to be sentenced to death because they believed he was a dangerous false teacher of faith and a self-styled prophet who was seducing their people. The author sees the hymn of Phil 2:6-11 as the oldest written testimony explaining the shocking death of Jesus on the cross. St. Paul took this hymn from the Jerusalem community of the first Christians using Greek in their liturgy, only three years after his encounter with the risen Christ on his journey to Damascus in about AD 36. The author of the Third Gospel in presenting the death of Jesus appreciated the Greek culture of his audience at the time and therefore pointed out that Jesus on his cross was not primarily the Suffering Servant of God according to ls 53 (vicarious death, as in Paul) but the contested Righteous Man (dikaios) open to God and his fellow humans while suffering a violent death on the cross. St. Luke illustrates this through three sayings of Jesus from the cross that are unique to Luke’s account. )n John’s Gospel Jesus’s death on the cross is a physical and spiritual elevation of the Son of God (hysphotēnai dei - John 3:14; 8:28; 12:32). In John, by saying „tetelestai – it is finished“ (John 19:32) Jesus accepts his violent death and dies aware that he has fulfilled his life’s mission. According to John 19:37 and Revelation 1:7 Christians are baptized men and women who look with repentance, faith and hope to the Pierced One.

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