The Wood Between The Worlds: A Poetic Theology of the Cross by Biran Zahnd fulfills the demand of Clark Pinnock who wrote, “Theology ought to be beautiful, because it's subject is so beautiful.” (Clark Pinnock, Flame of Love) In this beautiful reflection on the cross Zahnd situates himself with a metaphor. The Cross is the wood that stands between worlds. It is the center point of all human history. It was what the old world leads to, and what the new world comes from. The Cross, for Zahnd, stands at the middle of human history as the most defining moment. In Zahnd’s 19 chapters, he paints out a beautiful almost memoir like reflection on the cross and its broader impact on society and Christian theology. These chapters, which are all rather short and easily digestible, range on topics from Mariology, Atonement, current American racial tensions, what it means to be beautiful, and much more. The result is a deeply poignant, clever, and well written reflection on the cross that is as encompassing as it is easy to read.
One thing that Zahnd needs to be commended for his ability to write high theology for the church. The Wood Between the Worlds is a truly great theological and devotional piece. It is one of few books that truly captures both the lay and academic mind in a way that clearly seems to harken back to some of the great spiritual writers like C. S. Lewis or Dallas Willard. This is a book that I feel excited to beg pastors, seminarians, academics, and lay people of the church to read.
Now there are some issues with the The Wood Between the Worlds that needs to be addressed. First Zahnd continually comes back to defining his work as a “theopoetic”. The main problem with this is that he never defines what that means in detail. He makes some vague remarks about it at the beginning of his book by describing the work as an attempt to talk about God with more poetic language. Now I am unsure if Zahnd is seeking to purposefully use “easy to understand” language and instead has a deeper understanding of what “theopoetics” is, but regardless his definition is not helpful.
The other concern of this book is a personal one and it stems from Zahnd’s own theology. Zahnd, for better or for worse, by placing the cross at the center of human history as a means of the most perfect reflection or depiction of God seems to be following in the steps of Greg Boyd who in his magnum opus The Crucifixion of the Warrior God seemed to do the same thing as a means of explaining the violence in the Old Testament. The problem with Boyd’s reasoning is that much like Marcion it seemed to unhitch the NT from the OT leaving a broken Cannon. Now Zahnd is not nearly as explicit as Boyd is, and I don’t remember him ever quoting Boyd, but the similarities leave room for questions.
Regardless of my own theological traditions and views and perhaps the under defining of a key term in the book, The Wood Between the Worlds is fantastic. This will easily find itself among the contemporary classics on the Cross such as The Day the Revolution Began by N. T. Wright or The Crucifixion by Fleming Rutledge. I cannot recommend this book enough and I will be honestly and completely surprised if I read another book this year that has captured my imagination for theology and cultural Christianity the way this one has. I still am finding myself a week removed from reading it for the first time ruminating deeply on it as it demands my time even after I finished it. I will certainly return to this one periodically and recommend you do as well.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley, but my opinions and views are my own.

I love Brian Zahnd and his books. Wow, what a book! This was just what I needed; a fresh perspective on atonement and how it really doesn’t fit in Christianity or with how Christ described his father. God is not an angry debutant, looking for opportunities to rain down lightening bolts upon us because we can’t be perfect like him. He seeks communion with us and always works to draw us to him; that is the way of love.

Thanks to NetGalley and InterVarsity Press for an ARC of this book.

"The wood between the worlds" is a phrase instantly recognisable to fans of CS Lewis, from the Magicians Nephew, chronologically first book in the Narnia series. It describes the place in-between which the children reach through magic, on their initial trip to the newly formed Narnia. In this book the 'wood' referred to is the Hoy Rood, the Cross of Christ which stands between the worlds.
This book is a series of delightful poetic meditations on the meaning of the cross, the meditations range widely bringing in theologians, philosophers, authors and a jazz musician. Here we look at atonement theology as a multifaceted jewel to be viewed from different perspectives and enjoyed, rather than a problem to be solved or a body to be dissected. I strongly recommend this book to all who recognise that truth is a living thing, to be apprehended through beauty and the imagination.

The Wood Between the Worlds by Brian Zahnd is a thought provoking lesson on the crucifixion of Christ. Reading this book during the season of Lent was sobering, but also gave me hope. The book is a blend of prose and poetry, and Zahnd share his views on the theology of the cross, His focus is on the shared suffering of Christ, and Christ's response to evil and destruction in the world. Zahnd shows the reader a unique blend of not only how we must understand the teachings and the life of Christ in order to understand His suffering and death, and if we don't grasp those concepts, then why the Cross? Why the Wood Between the Worlds? There would be no significance for Christ, the Son of God, to take on the form of a human, and suffer, die, and be buried, so that He can be resurrected on the third day to atone for ALL of man's sins. The use of "current" movies, such as the Lord of the Rings, and other current events that have occurred in our society to date, are interspersed in the reading, giving content to the meaning of Christ's life and death and the suffering He endured. Although there are some theological sections I did not agree with, overall Zahnd has delivered a great read in The Wood Between the Worlds. One of my favorite quotes was : "Three trillion trees and one became the wood between the worlds. God died upon a tree that by God’s own death a door might be opened to the world on the far side of the wood." [Brian Zahnd] There is beauty in this message. Thank you for NetGalley and InterVarsity Press for the review copy of this thought provoking book. All opinions are my own.

The Wood Between the Worlds
A Poetic Theology of the Cross
by Brian Zahnd
Pub Date 06 Feb 2024
InterVarsity Press,IVP
Christian| Nonfiction \(Adult\)| Religion & Spirituality



Netgalley and InterVarsity Press have provided me with a copy of The Wood Between the Worlds:



The cross is the heart of Scripture


Every aspect of the gospel message points to the cross. The crucifixion of Jesus is literally the crux of the biblical narrative - the pivot around which the story revolves. However, we cannot sum up the significance of the crucifixion in a few words. By doing so, we only insulate ourselves from God's glory. In our ongoing quest to make meaning of the cross, we need to recognize that this conversation will never conclude—that there is always something more to be said.



Brian Zahnd reminds us that the cross has multifaceted meaning and should touch every aspect of our lives. Zahnd shows us that there are infinite ways to behold the cross of Christ as the beautiful form that saves the world as we look through the eyepiece of a kaleidoscope. The Wood Between the Worlds invites us to encounter the cross of Christ again.


I give The Wood Between the World's five out of five stars!

I enjoy Zahnd's writing very much, although this one feels like he's really pushing an agenda rather than in a compelling manner. Still enjoyed his writing and thinking

A great book about the cross and presents multiple aspects of the cross for the reader to ponder. I enjoyed the thorough look at the implications of the cross. This is definitely a book I will go back to and read again. The author does a good job of pulling in content from pop culture and making information relatable while still maintaining it's truth and depth. I highly recommend this book for those who want to learn more about the cross and Christianity.

"The cross of Christ is the wood between the worlds. There is the world that was and the world to come, and in between those two worlds is the wood upon which the Son of God was hung."

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book tells the story of the crucifixion and resurrection through a variety of well-written and well-researched lenses. I loved the emphasis on poetry to convey what prose cannot. Each chapter is an essay on an aspect of the cross, so I found the book easy to read in pockets of free time. I found answers to questions I have long wrestled with and cheered the author on as he clearly stated how some political issues in the US do not align with Christian theology - and why. I appreciated how in each chapter the author went one step further to complete the analysis beyond summarizing the issue; that is a skill I highly value in a writer. I disagreed with a few statements, but overall, I respect the author, I am happy he gave opinions throughout this book, and I look forward to reading more of his work. This book is a great read any time of the year, but especially during Lent.

Thank you NetGalley and InterVarsity Press for this advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Just another book about the cross? I don't think so. Brian Zahnd has delivered a beautiful, thoughtful, artistic exploration of the most important event in the history of the cosmos, Jesus on the cross, the wood between the worlds. Craftfully and carefully weaving between fascinating illustrations, Biblical expositions, personal experiences, and artistic expressions Zahnd brings the reader to the cross to gaze upon its horrific, beautiful, and world-shattering splendor. Highly recommended for anyone, from the skeptic to the mystic, from Christian who has heard the "old old story" for decades to the new Christian still trying to gain an understanding of what the cross truly means; this book is for you. Be prepared, for this book will engage you; this book will move you; this book will change the way you look at the symbol of the cross; this book will change the way you look at the world. The Wood Between the Worlds is a book that needs to be read!

This book is Brian Zahnd at his finest, and any faithful reader of Zahnd’s books will love it. In The Wood Between the Worlds, you are in for a beautiful traverse through a multi-faceted theology of the cross. Atonement theories can try to make sense of the cross, but Zahnd has attempted to press the truth of the cross through “theopoetics.” This offers us a far better perspective, for there are treasures to discover about the cross that I cannot see on my own. I need more guides to unlock the transcendent beauty of the cross. I agree with his analysis, “We do not live in a poetic age. We live in a technical age, a digital age of 1s and 0s…. We don’t want theopoetics. We want an owner’s manual on God.” And in this cultural moment, Zahnd has offered us something far more beautiful: Jesus-centered reflections on the cross that range from expansive to incisive to wildly creative.

Thank you to NetGalley and InterVarsity Press for the ARC.

This is a beautiful book.

The author Brian Zahnd shares in prose (and sometimes poetry) powerful reflections on the cross. Each chapter uncovers more insights on the meaning of and implications of the cross for us today. Zahnd reveals to his readers that the cross continues to have much to teach us, even if we grew up in Sunday school.

This is an important book. For our understanding of the cross has the potential to change our lives, and the world.

The God of the universe chose to suffer and die, revealing to us the depths of God’s love for the world.

And the cross is the wood between the worlds— opening the way for the New Heavens and the New Earth…

I highly recommend this book.

Works best as an appendix to his earlier books Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God and A Farewell to Mars - not quite as innovative or well-crafted, but still giving engaging ideas that push readers to rethink their view of the cross. I don't always agree with Zahnd, but I always enjoy the trip.

These are some helpful mental pictures for why, for Christians, concepts such as forgiveness, peacemaking/nonviolence, justice, solidarity, compassion, and love are rooted in the cross. Highly recommended as a way of seeing through many lenses what the atonement actually accomplished.

I saw the title of Pastor Brian Zahnd’s book, “The Wood Between the Worlds: A Poetic Theology of the Cross” here, and thought, “Hey! I’ve seen that wood between the worlds. It’s a quiet, peaceful magical place in Lewis’ “The Magician’s Nephew,” the first book of his Chronicles of Narnia. His wood had pools that take people to other worlds using rings made from magical substances found there.

Zahnd’s “wood between worlds” is the cross Jesus Christ bore in place of condemned humanity. The pools in his wood take readers on a journey in time before and after Christ’s crucifixion. A 500-mile walk through Northern Spain’s Camino de Santiago inspired Zahnd to enter into that conversation as he contemplated Christ’s crucifixion depicted in hundreds of crucifixes. He and wife Peri saw them like other Christian pilgrims on the way.

Zahnd said the Holy Spirit led him to study each crucifix and not draw quick conclusions. He would look at the ways artists depicted Christ’s cross, “the wood between the worlds,” and meditate on the answers he discovered using words in a theopoetic manner. He imagined a kaleidoscope, which he said means “beautiful forms” in Greek. Every turn of the kaleidoscope presented him with a new and meaningful insight that he hopes will prompt the believer to worship the Savior with each new discovery. Artistic interpretations of the crucifixion of Christ, he said, fall in line with theopoetics in that words are often not enough to explain these insights people receive. The mysteries of that day at Golgotha are better explained in art than written accounts. Here are a few he shared:

The Scapegoat Ritual: Zahnd talked about Old and New Testament use of prophecy concerning Jesus as the Lamb of God. He connected the Jewish Passover lamb with the Jewish scapegoat ritual . Jesus would take the place of a criminal named Jesus Barrabas, Zahnd said. Jesus died in his place; He became a scapegoat, in other worlds, when He died for of all who have sinned. He paid the debt, and ransomed humanity from Death’s grip at Calvary. Zahnd said the mob on scene at Christ’s crucifixion became gripped by “the satan” as they watched the Lord and the two thieves dying. Those viewing experienced a demonic sort of catharsis after the victims’ deaths. (He talked often about “the satan,” not the fallen angel, Lucifer, we know as Satan.) Many realized Christ was the innocent Son of God too late and despair followed.

Similarities Between Crucifixions and Lynching: Zahnd compared Christ’s crucifixion to the lynching of Black men and women in the South during the 19th and 20th centuries in reference to the book, “The Cross and the Lynching Tree” by James H. Cone. Both were public executions of victims who did not receive due process. A mob would make a scapegoat out of the victim, feel the frenzy of rage and hatred and experience a catharsis when the person died. Zahnd tried to connect the past lynchings with recent cases of alleged police brutality we’ve seen in the news, but lynchings and crucifixions were premeditated. I didn’t see it as he did. Zahnd has excellent sources to explain how crucifixion and lynching in the past were similar.

That said – and he didn’t say this, I saw a connection when it comes to mob mentality. People of all races united to speak out against what they believed to be immoral and unjust actions. That’s admirable and appropriate. But some care nothing for the victims and come together to wreak havoc. Whether it’s vengeance or they just a new iPhone, people unite now to loot businesses, destroy their communities, and mar peaceful protests with violence.

Pagan vs Christian Views of God the Father: Zahnd said Christians often misread the crucifixion, viewing Father God as a vengeful deity, inflicting His wrath with violence on His innocent Son. Many believe Christ’s work on the cross paid God’s ransom, not Death’s ransom. But the Trinity is not parts but a whole, he said. The crucifixion of Christ involved the entire Trinity. He wasn’t sacrificed to appease His Father’s wrath; Jesus is the image of God in human flesh. Jesus Christ fulfilled every requirement to save humanity from the wages of sin: Death and Hell.

Symbolism of Two Trees & the Violent Legacy of Cain: The garden of Eden had two trees, The Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, explained here in Genesis. Zahnd said the fruit of the latter tree was poisonous when eaten out of season, which is not how I took that to be in Scripture. I did think it may be from the legal term, “fruit of the poisonous tree,” used to describe when evidence is illegally gathered. Eve offered Adam the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil after listening to the serpent. After eating the forbidden fruit, their eyes were opened and they knew shame for the first time. Sin and death entered God’s perfect creation.

Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain became the first murderer, killing Abel because he, like his parents, didn’t heed God’s warning. (For more, see this commentary from Zondervan Academic about Cain and Abel.) Sin crouched at Cain’s door, and he acted on that temptation, setting a violent course for humanity. Humans still seek vengeance and choose murder (even in their thoughts) when they are wronged, just as Cain their predecessor. Drawing from the language of Scripture, Zahnd said Jesus not only became a better second Adam, but His blood shed on the cross spoke a better word than Abel’s in this verse. His blood redeemed humanity and lifted the curse placed on the daughters of Eve and sons of Adam, erasing the mark of Cain.

Admirers Vs. Followers of Christ: Zahnd wondered how many Christians truly would pick up their crosses, as Christ did, knowing that the Way He went led to suffering and death? Here, he discussed a “theology after Auschwitz,” a timely topic, and retold the stories of Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel (Night) and Christian martyrs, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran minister, whose writings are Christian classics, and Franz Jägerstätter, an Austrian farmer whose life and martyrdom were the subject of the 2019 film, “A Hidden Life.”

In “Night,” Wiesel wrote a terrifying account of his teen years in Auschwitz with the murder of his family members and the death of his innocence. He despaired as he looked into the very face of evil and the corrupted hearts of men and women taken over by Nazism. Both dissidents, Bonhoeffer would die by hanging, while Jägerstätter by guillotine, because their allegiance was to God and not Hitler and Nazism. German Christians deemed Jägerstätter’s refusal unpatriotic. They could not understand why he didn’t just pledge on paper his allegiance to the Nazis. How many of Jesus followers know the Way is narrow, not broad? How many would willingly drink from the same bitter cup Christ drank as He endured suffering all the way to the cross at Golgotha?

The Harrowing of Hell: Zahnd talked about Christ’s death and descent into Hades – the harrowing of Hell – during the three days following His crucifixion. He used the story of Jonah and the whale to give new meaning here. Death couldn’t digest Christ’s body when He died. Some trickery was involved, Zahnd said, and Death had to spew Christ out. He said he has used this scene where Agent K goes after his weapon inside the evil bug. That scene lends a modern interpretation of the story in Jonah, as well as of Death’s failed attempt to hold Christ inside Hades.

Hades is mentioned in the Old and New Testaments as a place where departed spirits went before the crucifixion and resurrection of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. I knew that saints were resurrected with Jesus in a display that showed He had defeated death in this passage. I doesn’t think I ever asked where those departed souls were before, nor where Jesus went during those three days. I asked Pastor Max McCullough who pastored Grace Baptist in Canton, OH, in my growing up years from teen to young adult. I’m very thankful for Facebook in that I found him again. He is a great Bible teacher, so I knew he’d answer in a way I’d understand.

He said Jesus Christ went to Hades and informed those who died before the long-awaited Messiah came to earth about His victory. Pastor Max gave these Scriptures as references: 1 Peter 3:18-19 ESV and 1 Peter 4:6 ESV. While in Hades, Christ preached the Good News that He conquered sin and death. Zahnd talked about one of his favorite art pieces that shows Christ holding Adam and Eve by the wrist called the Anastasis icon of the Resurrection. He alone had the power to pull them from Hades. Zahnd talked about the anastasis here in this blog post. His finished book will have illustrations.

When I read this section, I thought that meant Zahnd believed people today have a second chance. Pastor Max referenced Scripture in his response to clear that up for me. Hebrews 9 explains God’s first covenant with His people and the new covenant. In verse 27, Scripture says “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Those who deny Christ have no part with Him, and when they die, they will face judgment and eternal fire prepared for Satan and his angels (Matthew 25: 33-46; John 5:28-29 ESV).

Finally, early on, I feared Zahnd would focus only on Christ’s crucifixion because he didn’t mention the full Gospel story at first. Most people will agree that Jesus of Nazareth was crucified, but not everyone agrees He rose again and then ascended to Heaven. My thinking had been, “Nothing continues from the cross of Christ if He did not also rise from the dead.” My fears were not justified though; in fact, Zahnd followed the outline I imagined he would, ending with a brief synopsis of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, or what is yet to happen in the future.

That leads me to the audience for this book. People who study the Bible and have an understanding of basic theological terms will enjoy the debate Zahnd delivers in “The Wood Between the Worlds.” He drew on biblical prophecies and stories in a way that were made for the Bible student. He talked about many early theologians, church leaders and philosophers, including the writings of Greek philosopher Plato and Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard.

He also drew from the works from one of my favorite writers, Fyodor Dostoevsky, including “Crime and Punishment” and “The Brothers Karamazov.” His arguments are the stuff of the academic world, in my view, and led me back to doing university level research. He challenged my Biblical knowledge and my own beliefs as a follower of Christ. I’m thinking he wrote for Christians who need a refreshing way to reach out to unbelievers by showing the beauty found in “the cruciform.” Zahnd said theopoetics often speaks more to the hearts of unbelievers.

Thinking of the variety of crucifixes Zahnd saw along the way in Northern Spain made me think of the variety of ways God rescues each of us as the Good Shepherd. Christ’s lowly birth, His life and ministry, His death and resurrection are all worthy of a kaleidoscopic treatment, so Zahnd may have a new book series right there.

The Wood Between the Worlds by Brian Zahnd, is a spectacular and beautiful read on the cross. In the introduction, Zahnd states that the meaning of the cross is kaleidoscopic, with each turn showing a "beautiful form". Many books on the cross and the atonement have all the art of a dissection manual but not this one! Throughout the book, the author draws out the breathtakingly beautiful forms he sees in the cross. What sets this work apart is its departure from technical theological prose in favour of the language of poetry, a style he refers to as 'theopoetics'. Zahnd draws deeply from the metaphors and stories of writers both ancient and modern. Additionally, the author draws inspiration from both ancient and modern art, music, and tradition to broaden the reader's understanding and vision of the cross.

I have enjoyed many of Brian Zahnd's books and it does not disappoint. It is mature, broad, deep and engagingly written. Get this book, read it, and be amazed by the glorious God who has revealed his great love through the cross. It has caused my heart to sing!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC. Brian Zahnd writes with characteristic beauty and poetry whilst packing a theological punch which remains in your heart and soul long after you've finished. Zahnd is one of the best preacher/writers of his generation.

Brian Zahnd's "The Wood Between the Worlds" offers a profound exploration of the cross's pivotal role within Scripture's narrative. In this revolutionary work, Zahnd guides readers to recognize the cross's multifaceted meaning that reaches into every aspect of life. He shatters the mold of traditional cross-focused books, presenting a captivating and prophetic portrait of Jesus' sacrifice that will both challenge and inspire.

Zahnd rejects the notion of the cross as a mere theory to be solved, highlighting its power as a transformative testimony. He speaks as a poet-preacher-prophet of the cross, inviting readers to experience Jesus afresh. Drawing from his contemplative journey, Zahnd dismantles anemic atonement theories, infusing the cross with renewed significance. This volume, penned by one of today's most daring pastors, will reignite the church's curiosity and wonder about the crucifixion. I highly recommend!

This is an exploration of the cross's role in Scripture and our lives. The author reminds us that the cross isn't just a single tidy concept to wrap our heads around; it has many facets of meaning that continually unfold. While the alien cartoon mention felt a little off in terms of how much it was mentioned in the beginning of the book, my guess is it was maybe meant to lighten the mood of such a somber topic and get the point across that many people don't exactly like thinking about it or really comprehend its importance. With an evolving perspective around understanding the cross, this book offers the unique concept of the cross as a portal/connector that can ultimately deepen and enhance all our spiritual relationships.

I gave this book two stars because I couldn't get past the aliens from outer space. I thank NetGalley and InterVarsity Press for a peak inside what looked like a beautiful book.

I devoured thus book. It is so clever, weaving Dostoyevsky with John Lennon, Bob Dylan via the Lord of the Rings. I didn’t get it all but followed the flow of the saving Grace and absolution offered by Jesus sacrificed on the cross. The art work referenced is vivid and the music bold. A real learning journey that was stimulating as well as conducive to a deeper relationship with God.