While 123.7 million Americans watched the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl, many saw the “He Gets Us” commercial, which stated that “Jesus didn’t teach hate. He washed feet.” Gallons of ink have been spilled as all stripes of Christians have opined about the strengths and weaknesses of the two “He Gets Us” ads which cost around $20 million.
Since it aired, I have heard many opinions about the commercial, and one thing is for certain — it has produced a lot of division among Christians. More conservative Christians have stated that they don’t like the ad because of its progressive and liberal leaning allusions, and that it is overly “woke.” More progressive Christians have questioned some of the commercial’s Christian funders who have supported what they call “anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-abortion causes.”
The “He Gets Us” advertising campaign started in 2022 and has stated that its goal is to “reintroduce people to the Jesus of the Bible.” According to their website, they want to “move beyond the mess of our current cultural moment to a place where all of us are invited to rediscover the love story of Jesus – Christians, non-Christians, and everybody in between. All of us.”
This is a noble motive. Inviting others to a greater understanding and knowledge of Jesus is a good thing. To this, I say “Amen.”
To “rediscover the love story of Jesus” means that we must look at the whole Story. Yes, Jesus washed feet. We are told in John 13 that Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. In another scene of the “love story of Jesus” we are told that He made a whip of cords, driving out money changers who were in the temple. We see also that He poured out their coins and turned over their tables. This is some love story, indeed.
Go to your local Walmart and ask those coming out of the store if they believe in Jesus. Here in the Bible Belt south, I imagine that everyone, regardless of the way they live their lives, would say “Yes. Of course, we believe in Jesus.” The more accurate question is: Do we believe in the Jesus of the Bible?
Sure, Jesus washed feet (John 13). He was invited to a wedding and changed the water into wine (John 2). Religious people grumbled about Jesus because He hung out and ate with sinners” (Luke 15:2). At one point, He told the chief priests and elders “the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you” (Matthew 21:31).
He also was pre-existent with God the Father (John 1:1). He was born of a virgin woman (Luke 1:27, 34). He died on the cross for the sins of the world (I Peter 3:18). He calls all to repent and believe (Mark 1:15).
Once, the religious scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who was caught in the act of adultery to Jesus (John 8). According to the law, she was to be stoned for what she had done. Knowing the law, Jesus spoke to the religious men and said, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” They all hung their heads and walked away. Jesus then spoke to the adulterous woman. Did “He Get Her?” Yes, He did. Did He love her? Yes, He did. But notice what He said to her. He said, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
He knew how sinful she was, and He loved her still. He also told her “from now on sin no more.”
Jamie Bambrick, a pastor in northern Ireland created a better video. It’s called “He Saves Us.” In it, there are pictures of a former witch, a former KKK member, a former drug addict, a former drag queen and prostitute, a former abortionist, a former pornstar and others. Indeed, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Yes, He Gets us. He saves us. And he makes us new.
Likewise, He Gets Me. He knows how sinful I am, and He loves me still. For my sake, God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for me so that in Jesus I might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
