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Therein lay the moral dilemma associated with the death penalty.

States with the death penalty believe in the ancient religious adage “an eye for an eye, a life for a life.”

God is the creator of that vengeance.

Jesus, on the other hand, instructs us to “turn the other cheek;” to have compassion for humanity, no matter how horrific the individual sin.

This past week the State of Texas executed 48-year-old Larry Swearingen for the 1998 murder of 19-year-old Melissa Trotter, most probably in a forest located 70 miles north of Houston.

In a statement released through the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Melissa’s family, who attended and witnessed Swearingen’s execution, stated: “Today, justice was served. The process has been overwhelming. We want to praise God for getting us through this horrific ordeal. We feel we can now move forward and start the healing process.”

God would agree, welcoming the praise given to him by the Trotter family. The Almighty’s demand for a “life for a life” vengeance had been fulfilled with Swearingen’s execution.

But Jesus, sitting at God’s right hand, was saddened by the brutal ritual of another state-sanctioned killing. He wept at its callousness, its inhumanity.

“Father,” Jesus said turning his worn, weary eyes up at his Creator, “why did you send me to live among your children, to teach them about the power of love, forgiveness, and compassion you cannot even give them?”

“Son,” God replied, sternly looking down at his own blood creation, “I commanded to all my creations through my divined prophet Moses that ‘thou shall not kill.’ Vengeance must be had for anyone of my creation who violates that sacred commandment.”

“By killing the killer, Father?” Jesus asks.

“A life for a life is the only just vengeance,” God replied, almost patronizingly.

“I love you, Father – I truly do,” Jesus said, a tear of sorrow coursing its way down a hallow cheek. “But I cannot obey your command for vengeance. I promised your children, and I was crucified on a cross for delivering that promise, that our flock should love each other; that we should respect all life, regardless of its sin. You created Larry Swearingen, Father – you are responsible for him being on the face of the very Earth you created.”

“You are right, my Son,” God replied. “But with his creation I bestowed upon him a free will to decide right from wrong. He chose wrong when he took another’s life. My vengeance demanded his life being taken in response for that wrong.”

“But where is his place in our Kingdom, Father?” Jesus asked. “You sent me to Earth to deliver your promise: if any soul repents the moment before death for their sin, they will be forgiven and rewarded with a place in our Kingdom? Do wrong, repent, and glory be to God! Is that what we are all about, Father?”

“Listen to me, Son,” God commanded. “I created Lucifer, the most angelic of all my angels. I made him good but gave him the free will to choose between right and wrong. He chose wrong, and I threw him out of our Kingdom and cast him into eternal hell.”

Jesus paused, staring unwavering into the angry eyes of God before answering.

“There is no forgiveness, Father. All wrongdoers, no matter how minor the wrong, must suffer the fate of Lucifer. You have made a Creation for which there is no forgiveness, no salvation from sin. Now I understand why you, and I, and the few angels you have chosen, are the only ones in our Kingdom.”

“Do not question my power ….”

“I am a lie, Father,” Jesus said, interrupting his Father. “I promised every human being a place in our Kingdom. I told them that you so loved the world, you gave your only begotten son for those who believe in you that they would not perish but would have everlasting life. That is a lie, Father – your commands for vengeance foreclose all hope for everlasting life—and that is why we are here, alone together in a Kingdom of false promise.”

Silence separated Father from Son.

“Don’t you understand, Father – that to forgive humankind, you must first forgive yourself for creating a life for them poisoned by the temptation of Evil. Father, why would you even do such a thing?”