Unashamed with the Robertson Family

Episode 1234 | Jase’s Road-Trip Breakdown Begins With Just One Innocent Question
Date: December 22, 2025
Hosts: Al and Jase Robertson (with mentions of Zach and “Nurse Man”)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jase recounts how a simple question during a road trip sparked a deep, winding Bible study on participating in the divine nature, the meaning and history of anointing, and the connection between illness, prayer, and the Holy Spirit in the Christian life. The conversation moves skillfully from stories of faith, family traditions, and personal anecdotes to scripture, tying together Old and New Testament threads and landing on practical applications for modern believers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Illness, Prayer, and Anointing—James 5 as a Starting Point

• [01:02] Jase opens by reflecting on Zach’s illness and refers to James 5:13-15, where those who are sick are urged to call the elders to pray and anoint them with oil.
  • “Is any of you sick? ... He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.”
• The discussion launches into whether there’s a sin connection (“Maybe there's some sin going on that old Zachary needs to come clean on”—Al, [02:41]), which is treated in a light, joking manner.

2. A Road-Trip Bible Study on Participating in the Divine Nature

• [03:36] Jase shares about a memorable eight-hour Bible study during a Kansas trip, which started from a friend’s (the “Nurse Man”) question on 2 Peter 1:4:
  • “So that through them you may participate in the divine nature.”
• Jase compares giving a three-hour answer to the friend’s original one-minute response.
• The group reflects on the challenges (and rewards) of answering deep, spontaneous questions about faith.

3. Scripture Deep Dive – Linking John and 1st John

• [08:01] The main question: What does “participating in the divine nature” mean?
  Jase connects the theme back to John 17 and then to 1 John, which deals with the Holy Spirit and the challenges of false teaching (Gnosticism).
• [13:19] Jase emphasizes how John’s gospel presents the Holy Spirit’s indwelling as central to understanding divine participation.
• [16:39] He recalls Jesus’ post-resurrection “peace” greetings in John 20 and how this threads together with the epistle’s language about anointing and truth.

4. Historical and Theological Overview of Anointing

• [19:55] Jase embarks on a mini-lecture about anointing, referencing The Bible Project series and drawing lines from Old Testament rituals to Jesus as the Anointed One (Messiah).
  • Anointing in the Old Testament marked priests (presence of God), kings (power of God), prophets (purpose of God).
• Jase explains:
  • “When you see Jesus Christ, that’s not his name… that's a title. That means 'the anointed one.'” ([19:55])
  • Anointing’s symbolism: from people, to places (Jacob anointing rocks at Bethel, the tabernacle), representing points where heaven and earth meet.

5. Jesus’ Anointing, Baptism, and the Spirit

• [28:05] Jase and Al discuss how, rather than oil, Jesus was anointed with the Spirit at baptism, echoing the Old Testament acts but fulfilling their meaning.
  • “Well, Jesus was never anointed with oil... Well, he went to his baptism… and now the Spirit comes on him and in him to do this kind of ministry, which is a preview… of what’s going to happen to us...” (Jase, [28:05])

6. Practical Application: Anointing, Healing, and the Church

• [33:06] Al describes how their church practices anointing with oil and prayer even today:
  • “If someone requests to be anointed with oil and to have prayer of our leadership of our church, we do it… we’ve seen amazing things happen as a result.”

7. Deep Symbolism and the Process of Anointing

• [45:46] Jase unpacks Old Testament symbolism:
  • Anointing oil was a mix of extracts from bitter or tough plants (“these were like extractions from them once they were crushed”), symbolizing the process of suffering, preparation, and eventual joy.
  • This foreshadows Jesus as the ultimate “crushed” one—suffering as part of redemption, echoed in believers’ trials.

8. The Power of Forgiveness — The New Covenant’s Anointed Community

• [48:55] Discussion on the New Testament motif—believers as God's "portal" between heaven and earth, empowered to forgive and bring peace.
  • Notable quote:
    • “You are representing God himself and you’re qualified. You have the Holy Spirit.” (Jase, [49:28])

9. Personal Stories & Testimonies—The Living Reality of Anointing

• [40:05] Al recounts physically anointing his home and writing scriptures on the studs during construction, emphasizing that sacred spaces and actions still have resonance and power.
• [41:25] Testimony of ministry and transformation in that home—a “place God lives in.”

10. Forgiveness, Healing, and Participating in the Divine

• [52:03] Al draws on the contrast between David's Psalms before and after his fall to illustrate the ongoing human need for spiritual renewal and the multi-faceted role of anointing (as healing, restoration, setting apart, and empowering).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I don’t know if I’ve ever had an eight-hour Bible study on the road… but it actually made the time pass.” – Jase, [03:36]
• “Questions are the way to go, to dig deep. I mean, Jesus was the master of it, right?” – Al, [10:55]
• “God, through Jesus and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, has invited us in to participate in the divine nature and experience this love that they had before the beginning of time.” – Jase, [17:53]
• “When you see Jesus Christ, that's not his name… that means 'the anointed one.' That’s a title.” – Jase, [19:55]
• “If someone requests to be anointed with oil and to have prayer… we do it. We’ve seen amazing things happen as a result.” – Al, [33:06]
• “You are representing God Himself and you’re qualified. You have the Holy Spirit.” – Jase, [49:28]
• “Once you see this [thread of anointing in Scripture], you’ll never unsee it.” – Jase, [53:26]
• Closing Prayer for Zach, Kim, and Al:
  “We are blessed to… talk about Your word and the power of it. … It’s very inspirational to think that Your Spirit lives in us, which then allows us to participate in Your nature…” – Al, [55:09]

Important Timestamps

• [01:02] James 5, illness, and prayer for Zach
• [03:36] The eight-hour road-trip Bible study begins
• [08:01] What does it mean to “participate in the divine nature”?
• [16:39] John 14-17 and the promise of the Spirit
• [19:55] Historic and biblical context of anointing
• [28:05] Jesus’ anointing, the baptism and the Spirit
• [33:06] Modern practice of anointing in church
• [40:05] Al’s story of anointing his home
• [45:46] Symbolism of anointing oil and personal suffering
• [48:55] The role of forgiveness: representing God on earth
• [52:03] David’s Psalms, renewal, and the ongoing human struggle
• [55:09] Concluding prayer and wrap-up

Final Thoughts

This episode is a rich, layered study on the spiritual depth behind what might at first seem like minor biblical details—anointing, oil, the act of praying for the sick. Through personal stories, careful scripture reading, and theological reflection, the Robertsons invite listeners to see themselves as participants in God’s ongoing story, empowered by the Holy Spirit to bridge heaven and earth in practical, meaningful ways.

If you’re looking to deepen your understanding of biblical anointing, the Holy Spirit’s role, and the practical outworking of faith in everyday life, this episode is especially powerful and accessible.