During a recent Super Bowl commercial break on Sunday, February 11, 2024, a faith-based organization named "He Gets Us" captured attention with its ad, "Foot Washing." The imagery depicted individuals washing each other's feet in diverse situations, accompanied by a soulful rendition of INXS's "Never Tear Us Apart."
The ad concluded with a poignant caption: "JESUS DIDN'T TEACH HATE. HE WASHED FEET." This is followed by another message, "He gets us. All of us," and then the name "Jesus" appears. Then, viewers are directed to HeGetsUs.com/LoveYourNeighbor.
Something to point out here is that the captions all highlight certain words and letters, such as "Hate, " "Washed, " and " us. "
Upon visiting the website, an article delves into the symbolism behind the commercial, suggesting that Jesus used foot washing to convey a broader message about how followers should treat one another. The article also envisions a world where ideological differences are set aside for mutual acts of kindness, urging "societal discussion and individual self-reflection about “who is my neighbor?” and how each of us can love our neighbor even as we have differences and serve one another with more kindness and respect."
However, I question the decision to use Jesus' foot washing lesson for this purpose, proposing that the Parable of the Good Samaritan would have better aligned with the campaign's goal. Despite this critique, the article acknowledges the accurate portrayal of foot washing as a symbol for Jesus' followers to emulate in their interactions.
I contend that Jesus' foot-washing lesson was specifically intended for His disciples—those who profess to be His followers (past, present, and future). Drawing attention to the disciples' acknowledgment of Jesus as their Lord and Teacher (John 13:13), I argue that this distinction is crucial. Jesus emphasized the disciples' role in emulating Him, obeying His teachings, and expressing love for one another.
The commercial, however, misinterprets the context of Jesus' foot-washing lesson by portraying individuals who may not necessarily be His disciples. Additionally, the ad mistakenly implies that the foot-washing lesson is about 'He Gets Us,' diverting attention from the central theme of understanding, believing, and following Jesus to a potentially misleading notion that the emphasis is on Jesus understanding Us (humans). The foot-washing lesson, however, is meant to underscore the imperative for individuals (particularly those professing to be His disciples and followers) to comprehend, believe, follow, and obey the teachings and commandments of Jesus rather than highlighting Jesus' understanding of humanity.
The core message emphasized by Jesus is that true discipleship involves more than mere acknowledgment; it requires a commitment to living according to His teachings. Repentance, faith, baptism, righteous living, love for neighbors, love for His Saints within the Body of Messiah, and spreading the Gospel are highlighted as integral aspects of genuinely following Jesus (Matthew 22:23-40, John 13:31-35, John 14:15-26).
In conclusion, I urge all of us to reflect on whether we truly "Get Jesus" by aligning our lives with His teachings and commands, emphasizing the transformative power of genuine discipleship.