Savannah Guthrie Reflects on Jesus' Suffering in Easter Message Amid Mom's Disappearance

Today co-anchor questions if Jesus truly experienced the 'wound' of uncertainty during her family's ongoing ordeal.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 5:11am

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Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie shared a candid Easter message, questioning whether Jesus truly experienced the depth of suffering she feels amid her mother Nancy Guthrie's ongoing disappearance. Guthrie acknowledged the joy of Easter but also the 'moments of deep disappointment with God' and the 'anguished cry of someone who does not know the answers' that she has grappled with since her mother went missing in January. The news anchor pondered if Jesus' own words of feeling forsaken on the cross meant he understood the 'torment of uncertainty' that she now faces.

Why it matters

Guthrie's emotional Easter message resonates with many who have experienced profound loss or uncertainty in their lives, highlighting how even the most devout can struggle with their faith during times of crisis. Her willingness to openly question and share her personal pain during the holiday provides a raw and relatable perspective on the human experience of grief, even for public figures.

The details

In her Easter message delivered virtually at Good Shepherd New York, Guthrie acknowledged the joy of the holiday but also her own 'season of trial' since her 84-year-old mother Nancy went missing from her Arizona home on January 31. Guthrie wondered aloud if Jesus truly understood the 'uniquely cruel injury of not knowing' that she now faces, referencing his cries of feeling forsaken on the cross. The news anchor pondered what Jesus was thinking during the time between his death and resurrection, questioning if he too experienced the 'torment of uncertainty' that can make pain feel 'eternal'.

  • Nancy Guthrie went missing from her Arizona home on January 31, 2026.
  • Savannah Guthrie delivered her Easter message on April 5, 2026.

The players

Savannah Guthrie

Co-anchor of the Today show who shared a candid Easter message reflecting on her family's ongoing ordeal since her mother's disappearance.

Nancy Guthrie

Savannah Guthrie's 84-year-old mother who went missing from her Arizona home on January 31, 2026.

Jesus Christ

The central figure of Christianity whose suffering and resurrection Guthrie contemplated in relation to her own experience of loss and uncertainty.

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What they’re saying

“Jesus, in his short life, experienced every single emotion that we humans can feel. But after Jesus died, after he breathed his last, what did he actually know on the cross? He cried out, 'My God, my God. Why have you forsaken me?' That is the anguished cry of someone who does not know the answers.”

— Savannah Guthrie, Today Show Co-Anchor

“Where did his soul and his spirit go in those days in between? And what was he thinking? Did he think his time in the grave would be a day or two, or 1000 years in the grave? Does his agony seem indefinite to him? That torment of uncertainty, the way indefinite pain can feel eternal. Perhaps he did know this feeling after all.”

— Savannah Guthrie, Today Show Co-Anchor

What’s next

Savannah Guthrie is scheduled to return to the Today show on Monday, April 6, 2026 following her Easter message.

The takeaway

Guthrie's willingness to openly question her faith and share her personal pain during the Easter holiday provides a raw and relatable perspective on the human experience of grief, even for public figures. Her message resonates with many who have grappled with profound loss or uncertainty, highlighting how even the most devout can struggle with their beliefs during times of crisis.