by Thomas H. McCall
What it's about
McCall examines the theological implications of Jesus crying out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" on the cross. He refutes the idea that the Father literally turned his back on the Son, arguing instead that the Trinity remained united in the mission to rescue humanity from its own self-imposed abandonment.
Key ideas
- Trinitarian Unity: The Father and Son never suffered a fracture in their relationship, even at the height of the crucifixion.
- The Nature of Forsakenness: Human alienation from God is the result of our rebellion, not a divine change of heart.
- Incarnational Solidarity: The Son enters our state of abandonment to identify with us and bring us back into communion with God.
- Relational Theology: God’s work on the cross is defined by love and eternal connection rather than divine abandonment or cosmic child abuse.
You'll love this book if...
- You want to reconcile traditional atonement theories with the doctrine of the Trinity.
- You are looking for a clear, rigorous explanation of why God would allow the cross to happen without abandoning his Son.
- You enjoy theology that focuses on the relational character of God rather than cold legal mechanics.
Best for
Students of systematic theology and curious believers who want to understand the relationship between the Trinity and the cross.
Books with the same vibe
- The Cross of Christ by John Stott
- The Crucified God by Jürgen Moltmann
- Recovering the Scandal of the Cross by Joel B. Green and Mark D. Baker
