It's not just a metaphysical conundrum. The work of Christ, which is soteriology, is what I've been reading for the last five years. You have these New Testament statements that connect the crucifixion with the forgiveness of sins. This is weird in a modern context. It's something that is hard to explain partly because there is a surd involved.
Sin is absurd.
The other part of it was trying to find something worth reading on forgiveness. Turns out it's not so clear as that. But you need to know what you mean by punishment and what you mean by forgiveness. There are a couple of good works. There's a scene of reconciliation and forgiveness between two women.