Unashamed with the Robertson Family

Ep 1237 | Jase Tries to Be Phil for a Day & Learns How Much His Dad Carried for Decades
Date: December 30, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Robertson clan dives deep into the themes of restoration, faith, and the greater purpose of humanity through both their lived experiences and an in-depth study of John 21. The central narrative is a combination of personal stories—like Jase’s stint in Phil’s shoes wrangling beavers—and a rich, multi-layered Bible discussion focusing on Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances, with particular emphasis on what it means to be restored, renewed, and called to God’s work. Along the way, they draw connections between biblical stories and their own family and Louisiana life, providing a thought-provoking, lively, and humorous look at Christian doctrine.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Unashamed Nation and Family Updates (01:06–08:55)

• The team welcomes guests from Pennsylvania, narrating stories of cross-country deer hunts and gifts of local specialties—illustrating how their audience “gets” the unique blend of faith and Southern culture at the heart of the show.
• Discussion shifts to the PhD diet, clarifying it stands for “performance health and diet,” not a degree—as previously assumed by several.
• Celebrations of weight loss victories pepper the conversation with humor:
  • Allen: “I lost a chunky middle schooler, 75 pounds.” (03:03)
  • Jason: “Probably about 38 [pounds].” (03:15)
• Jase recounts a physically taxing beaver-dam-busting excursion reminiscent of Phil's days, noting how beavers’ engineering marvels testify to God’s creative power.

2. Lessons from Beaver Wars: “Evidence of God” (04:05–08:31)

• Allen details the ongoing battle with beavers, describing their construction as “an infrastructure like we do with wire and concrete.” (05:38)
• Philosophical riffs on the ingenuity and persistence of beavers naturally segue to meditations on God as the ultimate Creator and the wonders of His design.

3. Transition to John 21: Restoration & the Greater Biblical Arc (10:26–12:13)

• The conversation signals a shift from seasonal updates to the study of John 21, noting they are arriving at the “caboose” of their series on the Gospel of John.
• The group references the Emmaus Road episode (Luke 24) and how these “Jedi tricks” of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances offer deep insight into the new creation.

4. The Theological Weight of "Restoration Plus" (12:14–24:05)

• Allen: Challenges the adequacy of “restoration” – “Restoration really is not a big enough word.” (12:21)
• Explores the biblical transition from innocence in Eden to the irreversible triumph over sin in the New Heavens and New Earth:
  • Jason (17:26): “... the difference is Eden was not consummated. So when you think about your body... the body that was sown, perishable, was raised imperishable.”
• Allen: Highlights Jesus’ defeat not just of sin, but the powers behind it (Colossians 2, Hebrews 2, Ephesians 3) (20:08–22:09).

5. Post-Resurrection Appearances: Restoring Hearts and Leaders (22:24–27:04)

• Detailed discussion of how Jesus’ interactions with Peter, Thomas, and others show that His restoration is not “rehabilitation,” but a promotion to greater responsibility and purpose.
• The Emmaus road narrative is dissected for its revelation:
  • Zach (23:08): “We had hoped that he was going to restore Israel ... their faiths were downcast.”
  • Allen: “Did not our hearts burn within us while he opened the Scriptures to us?” (24:02)
• Jason (25:43): “Luke 24 is a very important passage because what it shows us is that we really should read the Bible through the lens of Jesus.”

6. Creation, Work, and the True Meaning of “Rest” (30:00–41:22)

• Allen & Zach: The biblical motif of seven, rest, and work is unpacked:
  • “When he said he ‘put’ him in the garden, it’s a synonym for rest.” (30:00)
  • Work is not the curse; it’s to be in God’s presence and participate in His good creation.
• Jason (43:01): “The word is to rest would be more when he rests him in the garden ... to abide, to be present.”
• The difference between toiling for survival (post-Fall) and working in God-ordained rest is likened to children sorting Halloween candy for joy, not survival (40:49).

7. From Genesis to John 21: “Better Than Before” (47:05–55:43)

• John 21 is introduced as the “Restoration of Peter”—but the panel agrees this is “restoration plus,” not a return to status quo, but a launching point for greater service.
• Callbacks abound:
  • The miraculous catch of fish mirrors Peter’s initial call (Luke 5).
  • Jesus’ breakfast of fish over coals echoes Peter’s denial “around a fire of burning coals.”
  • The net does not tear this time, symbolizing the completeness and fruitfulness of the post-resurrection commission.
  • Jason (54:33): “For all humans out there, the possibility to have breakfast with someone who was dead should light your fire.”
  • Allen (55:28): “One of the themes of the Bible is heaven and earth coming back together ... you see that through a human, the son of God, Jesus, offering hope to humanity.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Allen, on Beaver Dams & God’s Design (05:38):
  “They go cut poles, put those down first. Then they start adding mud ... it becomes an infrastructure like we do with wire and concrete. Give it a couple days and it becomes a wall. I mean, it looks like just land with a bunch of sticks ... that’s the evidence of God.”

• Jason, on Restoration vs. Glorification (15:42):
  “As I matured, I started to focus ... on sanctification, which is kind of an idea of restoration ... but now in my later years ... on what’s called consummation or glorification ... The body that was sown, perishable, was raised imperishable.”

• Zach, on Resurrection Hope (54:33):
  “For all humans out there, the possibility to have breakfast with someone who was dead should light your fire.”

• Allen, on Christ-Centered Scripture Reading (35:28):
  “I would argue that you can’t truly find coherence in the scripture as a whole, in any part of it, unless you’re seeing Christ in it. Christ is the fulfillment of all of it.”

Key Timestamps

• 01:06–08:55: Opening stories, diet discussion, beaver dam life lessons
• 10:26–12:13: Transition to Gospel of John wrap-up, the motif of resurrection appearances
• 12:14–24:05: Restoration vs. the consummation of creation—“restoration plus”
• 22:24–27:04: Restoration encounters post-resurrection; Emmaus road discussion
• 30:00–41:22: “Rest” and “Work” in Genesis and their symbolic significance
• 47:05–55:43: John 21, the restoration of Peter, callbacks to Luke 5 and earlier Gospel themes

Closing Thought

The episode deftly blends Louisiana storytelling, practical Christian living, and robust biblical theology. By tracing the thread from Genesis to John 21, the Robertsons help listeners see that God’s work in restoration is not just making things “like new”—it’s a glorifying upgrade, a consummation of His ultimate design. As they say: it’s “restoration plus,” and it’s an invitation to join Jesus in the ongoing, ever-bettering work of faith, hope, and love.