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Jesus on Death Row: The Trial of Jesus and American Capital Punishment
What does the most infamous criminal proceeding in history--the trial of Jesus of Nazareth--have to tell us about capital punishment in the United States? Jesus Christ was a prisoner on death row. If that statement surprises you, consider this of all the roles that Jesus played--preacher, teacher, healer, mentor, friend--none features as prominently in the gospels as this one, a criminal indicted and convicted of a capital offense. Now consider another the arrest, trial, and execution of Jesus bear remarkable similarities to the American criminal justice system, especially in capital cases. From the use of paid informants to the conflicting testimony of witnesses to the denial of clemency, the elements in the story of Jesus' trial mirror the most common components in capital cases today. Finally, consider a How might we see capital punishment in this country differently if we realized that the system used t
157 pages, Hardcover
First published January 31, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 19, 2014
Osler draws interesting parallels - really substantive ones - between the trial and execution of Jesus as presented in the gospels and the modern American capital punishment system.
He's at his best when addressing the reader as a Christian. That is to say, Osler isn't preachy, and he doesn't have a political agenda. He asks, without making (this reader, anyway) defensive, to examine the meaning of the gospels - is it happenstance that the narrative has God the Father yield up his innocent son to be executed by the state?
Or are Christians supposed to infer something from that?
Would the story be the cornerstone of a religion if Jesus had been killed by an extralegal gang? If the mob had lynched him? Or is it significant that it was a legal process that rushed to judgment, convicted him, and executed him?
They are questions I hadn't considered before, among others, and although it's a quick read (about 140 pages), it'll leaving me thinking about it for a long time.
He's at his best when addressing the reader as a Christian. That is to say, Osler isn't preachy, and he doesn't have a political agenda. He asks, without making (this reader, anyway) defensive, to examine the meaning of the gospels - is it happenstance that the narrative has God the Father yield up his innocent son to be executed by the state?
Or are Christians supposed to infer something from that?
Would the story be the cornerstone of a religion if Jesus had been killed by an extralegal gang? If the mob had lynched him? Or is it significant that it was a legal process that rushed to judgment, convicted him, and executed him?
They are questions I hadn't considered before, among others, and although it's a quick read (about 140 pages), it'll leaving me thinking about it for a long time.
April 1, 2009
The author provides a convincing argument that our modern criminal justice system is not too different from the criminal justice system that put Jesus to death. If anything, the book helped me see our system in a new light and opened my eyes to some of the more unjust parts. A nice unexpected side-effect that I hadn't anticipated, was a renewed appreciation for the life of Jesus Christ and his unflappable perfection, charity, and goodness in the face of gross injustice, hatred, and abuse.
March 2, 2017
The story of Christianity is the story of Jesus Christ – his birth, his life, his trials, his death, his message, and his resurrection.
In "Jesus on Death Row", Mark Osler walks us through the biblical story of Jesus's trial, conviction, and execution; and compares it to the criminal justice system in the United States of today.
Osler draws upon the 4 Gospels for the details of Jesus's trial; and upon his own experience as a prosecutor (he is now a law professor) for analogous stories in today's legal system.
The similarities are often striking.
Many practices of Jesus's time persist today. Prosecutors still rely on paid informants to bolster their case as the Pharisees famously paid 30 silver coins to Judas Iscariot; the appeal process of today, although slower, is not unlike the process that Jesus went through as he was brought before the Jewish Elders, Pontius Pilate, and Herod; Arrests today are often made when a suspect is vulnerable and unprotected, which is how Jesus was arrested at night in the garden.
There are differences, of course. Crucifixion was an extremely painful way to die and would not pass today's ban against cruel and unusual punishment.
Osler discusses the last meal of prisoners, which is probably the death row event with which average people can most easily identify. He notes that Jesus's last supper the night before his execution was well documented in the gospels and is a key event in Christian history.
"Jesus on Death Row" leaves the reader with a sense of uneasiness about the death penalty, which is a final and irrevocable sentence - particularly as we see it applied to Jesus Christ, who was guilty of no violent crime. This undercurrent isn't surprising as Professor Osler spends part of his time fighting for the rights of inmates on death row.
I found the book fascinating. I've read the Gospels, but not with an eye toward the legal aspects and how they compare with today's law. "Jesus on Death Row" gave me a new perspective on an old and familiar topic.
In "Jesus on Death Row", Mark Osler walks us through the biblical story of Jesus's trial, conviction, and execution; and compares it to the criminal justice system in the United States of today.
Osler draws upon the 4 Gospels for the details of Jesus's trial; and upon his own experience as a prosecutor (he is now a law professor) for analogous stories in today's legal system.
The similarities are often striking.
Many practices of Jesus's time persist today. Prosecutors still rely on paid informants to bolster their case as the Pharisees famously paid 30 silver coins to Judas Iscariot; the appeal process of today, although slower, is not unlike the process that Jesus went through as he was brought before the Jewish Elders, Pontius Pilate, and Herod; Arrests today are often made when a suspect is vulnerable and unprotected, which is how Jesus was arrested at night in the garden.
There are differences, of course. Crucifixion was an extremely painful way to die and would not pass today's ban against cruel and unusual punishment.
Osler discusses the last meal of prisoners, which is probably the death row event with which average people can most easily identify. He notes that Jesus's last supper the night before his execution was well documented in the gospels and is a key event in Christian history.
"Jesus on Death Row" leaves the reader with a sense of uneasiness about the death penalty, which is a final and irrevocable sentence - particularly as we see it applied to Jesus Christ, who was guilty of no violent crime. This undercurrent isn't surprising as Professor Osler spends part of his time fighting for the rights of inmates on death row.
I found the book fascinating. I've read the Gospels, but not with an eye toward the legal aspects and how they compare with today's law. "Jesus on Death Row" gave me a new perspective on an old and familiar topic.
June 7, 2010
And yet another book I rate a three... I have to break out of the three ratings. Maybe I need to be more choosy about my books?
This book was interesting but I will probably forget most of what I read. The author (also a lawyer) takes a look at the trial and punishment of Christ and compares it to the capital punishment system in the United States. It was a very interesting and enlightening comparison but I'm not sure what I'm supposed to DO with the information.
Throughout the book, it was pretty clear which side of the debate Osler was going to side with. However, until the last page, he didn't make his position obvious. The final chapter of the book encourages the reader to take time to really think about his/her stance on capital punishment. This is especially true for Christians as His trial really does mirror our system (according to my scant knowledge and this book).
This book was interesting but I will probably forget most of what I read. The author (also a lawyer) takes a look at the trial and punishment of Christ and compares it to the capital punishment system in the United States. It was a very interesting and enlightening comparison but I'm not sure what I'm supposed to DO with the information.
Throughout the book, it was pretty clear which side of the debate Osler was going to side with. However, until the last page, he didn't make his position obvious. The final chapter of the book encourages the reader to take time to really think about his/her stance on capital punishment. This is especially true for Christians as His trial really does mirror our system (according to my scant knowledge and this book).
September 13, 2016
Prof Osler compares the story of Jesus' last days -- his prosecution, arrest, trial, condemnation and execution -- to the modern day American justice system and in particular to the practice of executions.
If you are a Christian then this short book should certainly resonate with you even as it may well challenge your views on the death penalty.
If you aren't a Christian you'll still find this incredibly interesting, and still wonder about the use of the death penalty. Many death penalty supporters describe themselves as Christians and this book might make you wonder why that is.
One complaint about the book: it suffers considerable redundancy. This didn't bother me so much as to affect my bottom line recommendation but it is noticeable.
If you are a Christian then this short book should certainly resonate with you even as it may well challenge your views on the death penalty.
If you aren't a Christian you'll still find this incredibly interesting, and still wonder about the use of the death penalty. Many death penalty supporters describe themselves as Christians and this book might make you wonder why that is.
One complaint about the book: it suffers considerable redundancy. This didn't bother me so much as to affect my bottom line recommendation but it is noticeable.
October 6, 2015
The author spoke at a local function on the book. The premise was fascinating. I was familiar with the story of Jesus's arrest, trial and execution. Osler is a lawyer and drew parallels to modern law practices inn capital cases. Executions are not common so most of us are distant from such events. However, Christians identify personally with Jesus. Representing the shortcomings of Jesus's trial and drawing parallels to modern practice was effective in making it personal. --
March 8, 2011
Fascinating comparison of Jesus' ordeal during the Passion week and the current legal proceedings from arrest to Death Row. I thoughtfully read the comparison of Judas to a paid informant. The author, Mark Osler, makes the idea of capital punishment a troubling one.
April 30, 2014
Really interesting comparison/perspective. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was even more confused by Christians who support capital punishment after reading it
June 16, 2016
An interesting book for anyone interested in criminal procedure or law and literature.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews