The Cross of Jesus in the New Testament as symbol of accepting his violent death

Ovo je egzegetsko-teološki prilog o križu Isusovu sa stajališta prihvaćanja nasilne smrti kao sastavnog dijela poslanja. Židovski vjerski poglavari izručili su Isusa rimskoj okupacijskoj vlasti na pogubljenje zato što su ga smatrali opasnim krivim učiteljem i lažnim prorokom koji zavodi narod. Najstarije pisano tumačenje šokantne Isusove smrti na križu autor vidi u himnu Fil 2,6-11 koji je Pavao naučio od jeruzalemskih kršćana tri godine nakon svojega susreta s uskrslim Kristom. U Lukinu prikazu muke Isusove autor vidi Lukino uvažavanje grčke kulture kod njegovih povijesnih naslovnika pa zato Isus na križu nije patnički Sluga Jahvin iz Izaije (kao kod Pavla), nego osporavani pravednik koji s križa ostaje otvoren za Boga i bližnje, što se osobito vidi iz triju „riječi“ s križa koje donosi samo Luka. Kod Ivana je križ „uzdignuće“ fizičko i duhovno jer izrekom: „Dovršeno je.“ (ne svršeno!) - Isus pokazuje da prihvaća nasilnu smrt na križu kao sastavni dio svojega poslanja. Prema Iv 19,37 i Otk 1,7 kršćani su oni koji upiru pogled kajanja, vjere i nade u Probodenoga.This is an exegetical and theological essay on the cross of Jesus in New Testament writings considered as acceptance of his violent death and integral part of his mission. Jewish religious leaders have handed over Jesus to Roman occupying power for death sentence because they thought he was a dangerous false teacher of faith and self-styled prophet seducing their people. This author sees the hymn of Phil 2:6-11 as oldest written testimony explaining the shocking death of Jesus on the cross. This hymn St. Paul took over from Jerusalem community of 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 historical audience and therefore he pointed out that Jesus on his cross was not primarily the Suffering Servant of God according to Is 53 (vicarious death, as in Paul) but the contested Righteous Man (dikaios) open for God and his fellow humans while suffering a violent death on the cross. This illustrates St. Luke through three sayings of Jesus from the cross which are Lucan Sondergut. In 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 19:30) Jesus accepted his violent death and died 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 into the Pierced one