Photo by Dan Lampariello. Reuters
Like you, my heart was grieved at the tragedy of last week’s Boston Marathon bombing. What would cause a person to want to destroy another human being? What a senseless tragedy!
On the day the bombing suspects were apprehended, I watched television coverage on and off for much of the day. By evening, one of the suspects had been killed, while the other was on the lam in Boston. The efforts of law enforcement to nab the bombers were nothing short of outstanding, and they are heroes.
Near the end of the evening, after the younger suspect had been found alive, I listened to one of the evening news programs. The program host is an outspoken man who never minces words about his feelings. Often I agree with him, but not on this night.
(These are not exact quotes.) He stated that the first suspect had been killed and was now in hell. He went on to say that the second suspect, who had just been discovered and who would likely be sentenced to death for his crimes, would shortly join his brother in hell. His final remark was, ‘and we are glad about that.’
First, I understand the emotion behind the host’s words. When something so heinous occurs, the first thoughts that spring forth may be that hell is too good for someone who would do something so evil. I’ve been guilty of thinking this myself in the past.
However, it behooves us to move beyond first emotions. We don’t know, with absolute certainty, that suspect number one is in hell. The thief on the cross had a ‘deathbed’ experience, and Jesus promised he would take his last breath on earth and his first breath in paradise. It is conceivable that Tamerlan Tsarnaev believed in Jesus in his final moments on earth. Only God and Tamerlan know at this moment.
Second, suspect number two, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, is still alive at this moment.
Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18: 14 (NKJV)
The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them. Luke 19: 10 (NCV)
Jesus died on the cross for ANYONE who would believe on Him. ‘Anyone’ means you. ‘Anyone’ means me. ‘Anyone’ means Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
Yes, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev may die as punishment for his crime, but that doesn’t mean he has to go to hell. My prayer is that someone will share the love of Christ with him and he will accept Jesus as his Savior. Dzhokhar’s sin is no worse than my sin. God longs for him to believe.
Finally, we should never be glad when anyone goes to hell. It is a place reserved for Satan and his demons, a place of inexplicable horror and terror. It is a place of complete isolation from the presence and love of God, where there is unending torment and grief. For someone to say they are glad that someone is in hell, tells me they don’t truly understand grace and mercy. For a Christian to say that another deserves hell tells me that they have forgotten it was their own sin that nailed Jesus to the cross.
Yes, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev deserves to be punished for his crimes, which were horrendous. That may very well include the death penalty under US law. But, hell? No! My prayer for him is that he accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior before it is too late.
