2026 The Mission (Hope in the Resurrection): Pastor Jared Gundran

·17 min·1 clip

What if your faith is futile and you're still in your sins because Christ was not raised from the dead?

The episode opens with a reading from 1 Corinthians 15:17-20, setting up the high-stakes question of what if Christ was not raised. Pastor Jared Gundran introduces a quote from church historian Jaroslav Pelikan: 'If Christ is risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is not risen, nothing else matters.' He connects this to Paul's argument that everything in Christianity hinges on the resurrection. The first major section details the bleak implications if Christ is not risen. Faith becomes futile, akin to a placebo that offers temporary comfort but cannot truly save or transform. Hope dies, meaning forgiveness, purpose in suffering, and life after death are illusions. Christian sacrifice and endurance, exemplified by a faithful believer, a struggling single mother, or an honest student, would be tragically pointless. Death would have the final say, rendering all human striving ultimately meaningless. The episode then turns at verse 20 with the declaration 'but in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead.' This fact changes everything. Faith becomes fruitful because it connects believers to a living Savior who listens, forgives, and helps. Hope becomes a 'living hope,' not fragile optimism but a deep confidence anchored in Christ's life, which remains steadfast even through grief and suffering. The resurrection means Jesus, not sin, suffering, evil, or death, gets the final word. Pastor Jared applies this to the Filipino context, acknowledging real pain but asserting that hopelessness does not have to prevail. He returns to Pelikan's quote, concluding that since Christ is risen, nothing in the world has ultimate weight, enabling a life fully surrendered to the risen Lord. The episode ends with a prayer of gratitude and a benediction.

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