In this lecture, Don Carson explains the central role of Jesus's death and resurrection in Christian theology, stressing that understanding these events is key to grasping the gospel. Carson contrasts Jesus's death with that of other figures and highlights the unique nature of the canonical Gospels, particularly focusing on the ironies of Jesus's ultimate sacrifice. Carson emphasizes the importance of Jesus's resurrection and forgiveness of sins as foundational to Christian belief and reconciliation to God.

He teaches the following:

• Why understanding the gospel requires grasping the significance of Jesus's death and resurrection
• The ironies in Matthew 27, a passage that records Jesus’s death
• How Jesus's followers experienced a transformation of moral categories
• The difference between historical accounts and cultural perceptions
• The importance of internal moral imperatives in Jesus's life and teachings
• An argument for Jesus’s resurrection as a factual historical event
• Why Jesus's sacrifice is the only way to be reconciled to God