Bill and I subscribed to Peacock in February, so that we could watch the Olympics and the Super Bowl. One by-product of watching both is getting to see the commercials. I always notice the commercials about Jesus, with the tag line “He Gets Us.” All of the ones I have seen in that series convey strongly that Jesus is approachable, welcoming and kind. May they be used to help people consider coming to our Lord for help.
I want to add some verses that have come to mind which connect to this theme. I am reading the Gospel of John right now. At the end of John 2, there is a comment that sticks out. John reports that many began to believe in Jesus’ name because of the signs he did, and then he writes, “But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.” I interpret that verse to be saying that Jesus “gets us” in the sense of knowing how unreliable or untrustworthy we are – we might respond enthusiastically at the beginning, but then waver when we begin to see the cost of following Jesus. (In Chapter 6:66, many of his followers leave him.) This verse in Chapter 2 follows the problems already brought up in Chapter 1 of human failure to recognize Jesus, our creator, and to “receive” him as we should (John 1:10-11). I don’t think these verses are going to show up in the commercials! It sounds pretty negative about us! But despite knowing all about us, he loved us and came to rescue us. This is profoundly hopeful, that we are fully known but yet, fully loved. “He gets us,” AND he still pursues us.
The second passage that came to mind is from Psalm 103:13-17: “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him.” He gets how fragile, needy and ephemeral we are. We are mere dust, which decays, blows away and has little intrinsic value. But even knowing all that, he shows compassion and permanent love to us and treats us as his beloved children.
The final verses I thought of are Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” In these verses we see that he gets how we labor, carry heavy loads (the context suggests loads of sin and guilt), and need loving instruction. He offers his teaching and rest. There is an excellent book by Dane Ortlund entitled Gentle and Lowly which unpacks the beauty of these verses and others which confirm the message conveyed here.
We are not simply victims of adverse circumstances. We are wayward creatures in need of a shepherd. We are ephemeral, in need of his steadfast love. We are burdened and foolish, in need of his yoke of support and teaching. He gets us indeed, and yet he loves us. Do we “get us”? Do we “get Him”? What an amazing God we have who would shelter us all like a mother hen (Matthew 23:37) if we would recognize our need and seek refuge in Him.