[Originally shared, January 2023. Updated, March 2024]
As someone who loves Jesus, whose life has been changed by Him, and who enthusiastically shares the truth of who He is with anyone God will allow me to I was excited that the name of Jesus would be shared with millions of people because of this group and their “He Gets Us” campaign. During the big game this year this organization purchased commercial time to share their message that Jesus “gets us.”
Does Jesus get us?
The Bible clearly shows that he dwelt among us as a man, shared our sorrows, wept with us, prayed with us, broke bread, laughed, and loved us.
He felt the pain of loss and the stabbing ache of betrayal.
He felt hungry and tired. He felt conflicted and weak. He learned obedience and suffered.
I’ve felt it and experienced my need for Jesus’ example and my love that He gave me what I truly needed – love, hope, joy.
Does Jesus get us? Yes. Praise God. I’ve wept many tears of joy and relief knowing this truth deeply in my soul. I can say and do with any opportunity I’m given that Jesus gets me. I didn’t just read about that or hear from someone else, I have experienced it, and that truth changed everything.
He most certainly gets us, and there’s a lot of hope and solidarity in that truth.
So, to have millions of people hear this truth during the big game today makes my heart light with joy and hope.
But.
My best friend “gets me” – so does my husband and even people seeing a post I might share about forgetting my password, losing my glasses, or wishing my kitchen would clean itself – all these “get me.” What difference does it make to have someone who gets us if we all just share a common experience?
Jesus getting us wasn’t the point. It didn’t end there. It didn’t even begin there.
Jesus didn’t get us so that we could have an example to follow.
Jesus didn’t get us so we’d relate to Him as a dynamic teacher. He didn’t get us so we could have someone high up there who would affirm us in the way we live as is.
The entire reason for Jesus even existing as a man that we could touch, and hear, and relate to began with how desperately lost we are.
Jesus getting us is a blessing, but His purpose greater – way greater – it was to redeem us because we are literally lost without Him – not “lost” as in I hope I can find meaning and purpose in life and not “him” as a good man and teacher – but “lost” as in doomed to Hell – and “Him” the One who became sin for us and died in our place so that we could be restored to relationship with God.
I might try to be a better person, love more, share and give and help others more because of the example of my best friend, husband, or other good people. But Jesus didn’t just get us – any good teacher could have done that. Many good teachers have.
Jesus didn’t get us so we’d have a better system of social justice or be moved to action against politicians.
He didn’t get us so we’d have more rights and fewer poor people.
He didn’t get us, so we’d affirm our lifestyles as is.
Jesus didn’t get us; He came that we might have life because, without Him, we have death. Those are our options. Life or death. Not someone who gets us and someone who doesn’t.
He came to set us free from the bondage of sin because we are lost in our wickedness without Him.
It wasn’t for our lifestyle, our politics, our charity, our struggle…it wasn’t for our outrage or desires for inclusivity.
It wasn’t for us to become activists and to affirm women or the marginalized.
Jesus didn’t just get us; He died for us and before He did that, He told us to repent. Stop sinning. Be holy.
After that He gave us His Holy Spirit so we could be filled and empowered to repent and be holy.
Thank God, He does get us. And thank God He didn’t leave me in my sin with a warm feeling of camaraderie and a social justice mission.
He came for more.
As wonderful as it is to hear the name of Jesus proclaimed before millions around the world, it is a tragic loss if the true Jesus is replaced with man who “gets us.”
The “He Gets Us” campaign may be a great starting point. I pray that it is. I pray that people will find the true Jesus – the lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. I pray that those who have felt lost or betrayed, hurt or alone will overcome any prejudice about Jesus Christ and seek to know Him.
I pray also that we would not be led astray by worldly ideas masked in Christian wording.
Be thoughtful and may your thoughts be in line with His. He does get us, but for the sake of us repenting and receiving Him.
Read this excellent article by my friend Natasha Crain who wrote more in detail and with great clarity on the issue about the [original] “He Gets Us” campaign and why I believe that Christians should be cautious about it. You can read her article here.
I heard all about this campaign prior to the game, and I didn’t care for the slogan “He gets us.” As if that was the only reason Jesus came? For someone who feels lost, lonely, alone in this world, struggling with depression – all things I have struggled with most of my life and know well – hearing that Jesus “gets me” might make me feel like wow! That’s so cool! Or it might make me feel like Who cares? But I think this organization is less concerned about preaching the gospel, and more concerned with telling the masses via a Super Bowl commercial that it’s ok to let Jesus be part of the popular culture. I think they could have done better. I do like the idea of getting the name of Jesus out there, like millions upon millions of seeds planted with one commercial. But again, Jesus didn’t come to earth to get us. Although Jesus was tempted in every way and did not sin, so in that way he does get us, but that’s not the reason. Jesus came to die for the sins of mankind, to be crucified, buried, and resurrected to give US victory over death. Those who believe in this will have everlasting life in Heaven. That’s why Jesus came, not to get us. So I am very much on the fence with these commercials. There is also a book coming out soon by Max Lucado called “He Gets Us”. We will be hearing this slogan/mantra/catchphrase for some time to come.
Excellent thoughts, Cathy. The idea that God gets us is so touching and so important, but ultimately it’s not the most important thing. We want so badly to be seen and loved. I pray that in our longing this campaign would help people see Jesus and then accept Him as their Savior and Lord.