Godforsaken – the Cross, the greatest hope of all

by Stephen Cottrell

9781399805247

In the Gospel of Mark’s account of the Passion narrative, Jesus calls out from the cross ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which is the Aramaic for ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ – the first line of Psalm 22. It’s an anguished expression – traditionally ascribed to King David – of defeat, failure, abandonment and despair. This series of reflections, written for Lent and Holy Week 2023 by the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, ponders the significance of these words.

What does it mean for Jesus to have quoted them, at the very end of his life? What do those words mean for us? This is a beautiful and compelling exploration of the dark, suffering side of the Passion – and how Jesus’ words lead us to the greatest hope of all.

Review by Cornerstone Board Member

This is billed as a book for Lent and Holy Week, but I think it is more suited to a Holy Week study than throughout Lent. It explores the last words of Jesus on the Cross. In this book, Stephen Cottrell explores these words and ‘discovers in them a strange and beautiful hope: the hope that Jesus, in his passion and death, has indeed shared the horrors of our own isolation, desperation and alienation from God and from one another. Moreover, his resurrection only brings hope and meaning to our lives precisely because he has participated in such passion and separation.’

The book is written in such a way that it is difficult to put down. Stephen Cottrell writes from his own experience and those of others. So, while the content is challenging at times, the presentation is very accessible.