As Christians, the cross undoubtedly frames our understanding of divine justice. Christopher Marshall writes, “The logic of the cross actually confounds the principle of retributive justice, for salvation is achieved not by the offender compensating for his crimes by suffering, but by the victim, the one offended against, suffering vicariously on behalf of the offended—a radical inversion of the lex talionis [the law of retaliation, whereby a punishment resembles the offense committed in kind and degree].”
