‘What do you think of Jesus?’ Wesley Huff defended the faith brilliantly on Joe Rogan

Earlier this week, Christian apologist, Wesley Huff, appeared on ’The Joe Rogan Experience’ and defended the truth of Christianity. The video has already had three million views on YouTube alone. 

As well as being one of the world’s biggest podcasters, Joe Rogan is well-known as a comedian and TV personality. Over the 15 years of his podcast’s existence, Rogan has been critical of the claims of Christianity including questioning its historical reliability, mocking Christian beliefs, and even engaging in erroneous argumentation. However, more recently Rogan has toned down his rhetoric and appears to have become more open to listening to the claims of Christianity.

Who is Wesley Huff?

In the past few months, Wesley Huff has risen to prominence as an apologist, using platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. Huff works for Apologetics Canada and is also an elder in his local church. He is a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto’s Wycliffe College, specialising in the study of early Christian manuscripts.

Huff’s popularity soared towards the end of 2024 when he was invited onto the ‘Elevating Beyond’ podcast hosted by Mark Minard to have a conversation with Billy Carson. Carson claimed to be one of the world’s foremost experts in ancient writings, which seemed odd to Huff since this was his area of expertise and he had never heard of Carson. Huff began refuting some of Carson’s claims on his YouTube channel before having the opportunity to speak with Carson directly.

The conversation (watch it here) caught the attention of many, including Joe Rogan. According to Rogan, the debate between Carson and Huff caused him to watch hours of Huff’s material - including Huff’s responses to several of Rogan’s claims about Christianity. Eventually, Rogan invited Huff onto his show.

What can Christians learn?

Huff said many good things during the three-hour-long episode, which many Christians could learn from and model when speaking to a sceptic. First, we can learn from Huff’s temperament and approach. He allowed Rogan to ask questions, was never combative and answered with confidence.

When Huff was asked about his beliefs about the death and resurrection of Jesus, he began his answer with the historical evidence for the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Rogan followed up by proposing the Swoon Theory: “Do you think it’s possible that he didn’t die and do you think it’s possible that they thought he was dead?”

Again, Huff began with the historical evidence: the Romans were very proficient at executing people via crucifixion, followed by the well-established fact that even most secular scholars agree that Jesus died by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate.

He then develops his argument using the eyewitness testimony recorded in scripture. All four Gospels record the death and resurrection of Jesus, and Paul provides a list in 1 Corinthians 15 of those who have seen Jesus alive post-crucifixion, post-burial and post-resurrection – this includes “more than five hundred brothers at one time.”

The Huff effect

Perhaps Huff’s approach - as well as his arguments - are working. Not so long ago Rogan was known for his hostility towards the gospel - often mocking it and engaging in fallacious argumentation - but here he displayed a sense of humility and openness to learn about Christianity. After listening to hours of Huff’s material on the reliability of scripture, Rogan didn’t raise any of his usual arguments, but seemed open and willing to learn. 

Towards the end of the podcast, and after hours of discussing historical and theological claims about Jesus, Huff asks Rogan the most important question - and one that everyone must answer: “What do you think of Jesus?”

This question is the same question that Jesus asked his disciples in Matthew 16:15-16. Rogan and his listeners have been confronted with this evidence and testimony about Jesus, and now they must make a decision on who they believe Jesus to be.

Let’s pray many turn to him as a result of what they hear.