Unashamed with the Robertson Family – Episode 1227

Jase Investigates a Santa Claus Crime Scene & Stumbles Into a Bigger Cover-Up

Air Date: December 11, 2025

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode blends lighthearted Christmas storytelling with a deep dive into themes of faith, the resurrection of Jesus, and the transformative power of belief. Jase shares a humorous and moving Christmas tale with his son, using it to draw parallels with the Gospel, while Al and Zach steer the conversation into a Bible study on Jesus’ resurrection and its implications for Christian living. Together, the hosts reflect on how the reality of the resurrection shapes present-day faith, trust, and purpose.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jase’s Christmas Story: Santa Claus Crime Scene

• [00:59] Jase shares a story about taking his neighbor duck hunting in the spirit of "love your neighbor."
• He recounts his son's fascination with a mechanical Santa Claus on a neighbor's ladder—an annual event that brings unbridled joy.
• When Santa malfunctions (stuck on the ladder), his son is devastated, fearing Santa (and Christmas) has “died.”
• Jase creatively consoles his son, saying Santa is only “taking a nap,” drawing a parallel to biblical language about death and resurrection.
• Later, Santa is “back,” allowing Jase to teach about resurrection:

  “He has been raised. The joy of resurrection.” — Jase, [07:42]

• The story becomes an opportunity to discuss using childhood wonder and even disappointment as teaching moments about faith and the Gospel.

2. Faith, Family, and Christmas Imagery

• The hosts discuss whether it’s right to propagate the Santa Claus myth and how spiritual truths can be taught through Christmas traditions.
• Al supports using cultural imagery to gently introduce kids to deeper truth:

  “…able to then teach spiritual truths through imagery is a good thing.” — Al, [08:20]

3. The Gospel & The Big Cover-Up: Resurrection or Deception?

• The conversation transitions to the biblical narrative of the resurrection.
• [13:37] Al reads from Matthew 27:62ff, highlighting how the Jewish leaders tried to cover up Jesus’ resurrection by bribing guards to spread a false story.
• Key insight: Even in the face of overwhelming supernatural events (the angel, the earthquake), people chose deception over faith.

  “Some people never learn because they're still trying the same old tricks of deception and lies…” — Al, [18:23]

4. The Nature of Belief and the Power of Doubt

• Zach discusses how sin distorts thinking:

  “…You can be looking at something so powerful and still in your own, like, futile thinking, justify yourself out of that.” — Zach, [18:26]

• Jase reflects on the guards’ refusal to believe despite their experience, tying it to how often humans dismiss the miraculous.

5. Post-Resurrection Encounters & Human Responses

• Jase and Al discuss how those closest to Jesus (Mary Magdalene, Thomas, Peter) all struggle to grasp the resurrection.
• Focus on Luke 24 and John 20—how eyewitnesses initially respond with disbelief, joy, amazement, and ultimately, faith.

  “A ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” — Jesus (quoted by Jase), [24:03]

• Al breaks down the Greek words for "see/look" in John 20:
  • Blepo: to glance
  • Thero: to theorize, observe intently
  • Iden: to understand deeply—“he saw and believed.” — Al, [47:16]-[49:49]

6. Kingdom Theology & Christian Purpose

• [27:32] Jase discusses the present reality of the Kingdom—how believing in the resurrection should transform our lives now, not just in the future.
  • Cites the parable of the 10 minas (Luke 19), drawing a parallel between burying faith and failing to live it out.

  “You either crown him as king… or you kill him, you leave him dead. Those are the only two angles…” — Jase, [34:48]

• They emphasize that faith produces action and purpose, not passivity.

7. The Ongoing Process of Trust and Growth

• Zach explores the concept of belief as ongoing trust, not a one-time rational assent:

  “It's much more of a relational reality that we grow into over time… it's a repetition of ‘I'm choosing to trust…’” — Zach, [41:00]

8. Old Testament Foundations & Connecting the Dots

• Jase and Al highlight how the resurrection of Jesus is foreshadowed and rooted in Hebrew Scriptures.
• The inability of the disciples to "see" the resurrection at first is likened to the way we, too, miss the deep impact of God's promises.

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:59 | Jase’s Santa story: joy, disappointment, and resurrection lesson | | 06:33 | Santa “resurrected” — spiritual teaching for his child | | 08:05 | The value of using Christmas imagery for spiritual truths | | 13:37-18:23| Reading and discussing Matthew 27: the chief priests’ cover-up of the resurrection | | 18:26 | Sin's effect on our thinking: rationalizing away the miraculous | | 24:03 | Luke 24 & the disciples’ struggle to believe - Jesus' post-resurrection appearance | | 27:32 | Present reality of the Kingdom; parable of the 10 minas (Luke 19) | | 39:40 | True belief as trust and practical engagement, not just intellectual agreement | | 47:14 | John 20:1-10 – Mary Magdalene and the disciples at the empty tomb | | 53:31 | Living in light of the resurrection: more than future hope, present transformation |

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “No one likes a dead Santa Claus and no one likes a dead king… If you're following someone who's dead, that's a dead end.”
  — Jase, [08:58]

• “Instead, they just swallowed the lie, took the money, and then spread the lie, which is… Man, it's terrible.”
  — Al, [20:11]

• “They didn't believe because of joy and amazement… They were just in awe.”
  — Jase, [24:03]

• “You either crown him as king… or you kill him, you leave him dead. Those are the only two angles…”
  — Jase, [34:48]

• “The belief that we're talking about, it's actually more akin to the word trust. I'm trusting in this revelation from God, trusting in Christ. I'm putting my trust in him.”
  — Zach, [39:40]

Key Takeaways

• Everyday disappointments and family moments are ripe for teaching deep spiritual truths, especially during the holidays.
• The resurrection is not just a historical fact to be believed, but a present reality that transforms lives now.
• Faith is a growing, relational trust, not a one-time cognitive decision.
• The cover-up of the resurrection points to the universal human tendency to rationalize away inconvenient truth—even miracle—out of fear, pride, or self-preservation.
• Christians today are called to live as active participants in the Kingdom, not as passive recipients—producing fruit, not burying their faith.

Summary Table

| Theme | Key Quote / Idea | Reference / Timestamp | |---------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------| | Jase’s Santa story | “He has been raised. The joy of resurrection.” | 07:42 | | Imagery for faith | “…teach spiritual truths through imagery is a good thing.” | 08:20 | | Resurrection cover-up | “…still trying the same old tricks of deception…” | 18:23 | | Doubt and human response | “They didn't believe because of joy and amazement…” | 24:03 | | Meaning of true belief | “It's much more of a relational reality…” | 41:00 | | Living in the resurrection| Transforming present, not just future reality | 53:31 |

Final Thoughts

This episode is rich in relatable stories and profound insights, seamlessly weaving personal Christmas anecdotes with deep scriptural analysis. For listeners seeking encouragement, practical theology, or simply a laugh during the Christmas season, the Robertsons offer both hearty storytelling and spiritual substance—always pointing back to the enduring hope found in the resurrection of King Jesus.