The point of the crucifixion is to teach that the response to attack should be love.

These are some of the examples of upside-down thinking in the New Testament, although its gospel is really only the message of love. If the Apostles had not felt guilty, they never could have quoted me as saying, “I come not to bring peace but a sword.” This is clearly the opposite of everything I taught. Nor could they have described my reactions to Judas as they did, if they had really understood me. I could not have said, “Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?” unless I believed in betrayal. The whole message of the crucifixion was simply that I did not. The “punishment” I was said to have called forth upon Judas was a similar mistake. Judas was my brother and a Son of God, as much a part of the Sonship as myself. Was it likely that I would condemn him when I was ready to demonstrate that condemnation is impossible? T-6.I.15:1-9

A Course in Miracles . Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

The teachings of Jesus are often distorted by people who don’t understand them. A Course In Miracles offers a correction of the distortions and misinterpretations. In this passage Jesus tells us that the drama of the crucifixion is intended to demonstrate the power of love in the most extreme of circumstances and yet human beings project their fears and belief in retribution and vengeance onto the circumstances of the situation.

In Unitarian Universalism some of us covenant together to affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in our human relations which is something that Jesus not only taught but demonstrated in the stories about his ministry.

Today it is suggested that when we are inclined to retribution and vengeance we ask ourselves “What would love have me do?”