He Gets Us?

by Pastor Bob Rasmussen

Pastor Jeff decided to call this Resurrection month. I think it is good to focus on the sacrifice of Jesus. His death and resurrection is what has brought us all life. All of us here this morning came from a place that was no good, without the saving blood of Jesus in our lives, amen. The truth is that we were all sinners, before Jesus. But He made a way, we repented, we were baptized, and filled with the Holy Ghost, amen?

• A pastor has said that this
  • I remember who I was before God saved me
  • You can’t have the memory of my sin
  • I won’t let you take it
  • It reminds me of God’s goodness to me
  • It reminds me of His grace in my life
  • It reminds me of where I was
  • And where I never want to be again
  • It reminds me that His work in my life may not be complete
  • But it is effectual
  • I’m not who I ought to be
  • But Hallelujah I’m not who I was
  • Amen

As we continue in this month, it seems that the world keeps trying to define who Jesus is or should be.

Have any of you heard about the “He Gets Us” ad campaign? If you have not seen any of their commercials, that is probably not a bad thing.  But they did take out 2 commercials I believe for the Superbowl. They are not afraid to spend money – they have upwards of $100 million dollars. Honestly, their production, music, and all that is quite impressive

Their theology though, is where things fall apart. They do not want to talk about that, even in their FAQ. But the biggest problem I have is just the title “He Gets Us”. Friends, brothers, sisters – – Jesus already knows us, he has always “gotten” us:

Psalm 139 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. 5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

As we enter this Easter season, I do not think it wise to worry about if Jesus gets us, it should be – do we get Jesus?  That is what the world should be striving for, to get to know who the Savior of the world is.

But that is not a popular media minute, is it?

If I say that Jesus is the Savior of the world, it begs the question – Savior from what – (slow) the what is that what He saves us from is our sin, and that is where things get uncomfortable. Media depictions like the “He Gets Us” campaign paint a happy joyful picture, and there is joy in the Lord, but to have that, you need to know who Jesus is. And to really know who Jesus is you have to know His Word.

And if you know His word then you’re going to know what sin is, and you’re going to understand that there is judgment – and all that can be hard to understand and maybe frightening, especially if you are living contrary to His Word.

But there is good news, there is great news, there is the greatest news – ever – Jesus saves us. Jesus paid the price for our sin and was raised from the dead, hallelujah and amen. And knowing this we can move forward in our life, with Jesus, knowing He is the reason for that change in our lives.

A pastor in Australia, his name is Jamie Bambrick, was so irritated by the He Gets us campaign, he said this:

A group known as ‘He Gets Us’ released an advert during the Super Bowl which, whilst perhaps well intentioned, failed to convey anything of the gospel to the hundreds of millions who saw it.

He also made a video which I thought was pretty powerful using the same music as the “He Gets Us” ad. Here is his version:

The scripture he alluded to at the end of the video is this:

1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

That is the message of the gospel that the world needs to hear. Not some watered down Jesus loves us all and he was nice, he laughed like we did, he let his hair down (their words, not mine).

Jesus is and was and will be God, amen.

Jesus is the one who can change us.

Jesus is the one who can rescue us.

Jesus should be presented for who He is – a Savior, for the whole world.

The problem is not those of us who believe in the biblical teachings of Jesus like the sanctity of life, gender and sexuality – it’s in His Word. We’re just sharing what God’s Word says.

But there is something the campaign alludes to – that you and I are the problem in this world because we stand for our belief in His Word. That we call sin, sin. Jesus knew that this would happen, it’s kind of the point, isn’t it? Jesus caused quite the commotion when He came to save the world, so much so that they conspired to kill Him. And not quietly where no one would see it happen. They made it public, they made it brutal, and they made it humiliating – why? Because of what He taught and who He was.

Jesus knew that and made it clear that it may be difficult for anyone who might follow Him

Luke 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! 51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Sharing the gospel and what Jesus really thinks when it contradicts what is going on in our lives or the lives of others is where it gets uncomfortable. When I was first saved, I did not think I was going to be able to not do what I was doing wrong. And I did not think I could do what I was supposed to do according to the bible. Was it easy, some of it, some other areas, absolutely not! Has my walk been perfect, nope. I went to Woodman’s yesterday and man, people should be grateful I am saved! Good Lord, people can be messy! But He has been with me, with you, from the time that we received Him as our Savior. We are called to walk with Him and not the world.

Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

We are complete in Him, that is so beautiful. All we need is Jesus!

And another problem with this campaign, and the direction of some churches in my opinion, is they want to reinforce what the world wants to believe about Jesus, but leaving out what the world does not want to believe. Jesus welcomes everyone to His table, I will agree with that. He went to places where the sinners were. But He did not go there to condone their behavior or beliefs. He went there and saw them so that He could share His message because everyone needs to hear His message about people’s need for repentance and salvation.

Matthew 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

It does not get much clearer than the very words of Christ – Yes, I am here with these sinners (and the Pharisees were there as well), but I am here because they are sick. Their sickness is their sin. Jesus did not go to celebrate their sin, He went to bring light on their sin. I am the doctor, I can heal them, how? To bring sinners to repentance – repentance means turning away from their bad behavior and beliefs, their sin. There is a way out. Jesus has the answer to the problem of sin and sin debt, amen?

And this sin that Jesus talks about, it’s all spelled out in His Word. Just because you don’t like it, or it goes against some things that you are doing or some things you believe, that doesn’t make it hate speech. Just because we go out in the world and say, well, in the bible it says that what these people are doing is wrong, it is not hate speech. If I say well, abortion is wrong because all life is precious in the eyes of God. That’s not hate speech, if anything it is love speech. One scripture that comes to mind is this:

Proverbs 6:16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

I did not write that, it is the Word of God, it is Holy and righteous. It is not a suggestion, it’s not a maybe you should, it is God’s Word, it is truth. If I am going to tell you that abortion is not the way, it is not because I have a personal agenda, it’s God’s agenda. And the truth of the matter is this – you can fight against it and call it hate speech, and you can hate me for saying it. 

There may be family members that because of your faith will stop talking to you. Anyone? There will be friends and family that will look at you with disdain and their own judgment. But I am going to keep sharing the Word of God. A strained relationship, hurt feelings, I am going to keep preaching that there is a Savior, and this is what His Word says, amen?

Because there will come a day that it will matter, a day that each and everyone of us will face our time with God, whether you believe in Him, whether you receive Him or not, that’s why I’ll keep going forward in Him, and we all should keep going forward in Christ.

Romans 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

I share the love of Jesus, we all share the love of Jesus, because we care and want nothing but the best for anyone. We do it with the knowledge that there will be a reckoning, and with Jesus as our payment for sin, we can boldly go before the throne of Jesus.

The world shudders and says that we are judgmental. The world says people should be able to believe and do what they want. Who are you to say that it is wrong. They are not hurting you, they are not hurting anyone. Get behind me Satan! 

Matthew 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

The things of God will not always be comfortable.

The things of God may not be what we want.

The things of God may not always “feel” good to us.

That scripture reminds us that we need to focus on the things that are of God, and not the things of man. The ways of the Lord may cause rifts in relationships and all sorts of things, but we should always be looking to Jesus in how to live our lives.

In our culture of instant gratification, I need to remember that I need to want what Jesus wants above what I want. And I trust the Word of God. In the expanding world of AI or artificial intelligence, which is very powerful, it is nothing compared to the Word of the Lord

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

And the passage finishes with one of my favorite scriptures

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

When Jesus came into this world and lived out His ministry. The world was covered in darkness, not actual darkness, but a world burdened by sin – it was lost and had no hope. But He was the light for all of mankind.

The gospel tells of a savior who brought a message of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

He healed the sick, he raised the dead but he also turned the tables in temple

Matthew 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

The Word of God gives us the ability to see what tables need to be called out in this world, and turned over Jesus’ mission of salvation was not without sacrifice. Through His ultimate act of love – his crucifixion and resurrection – Jesus conquered death and sin. He paid the price for our transgressions – offering us redemption and eternal life. No, he did not come to condemn the world, he came to save it. But you have to receive Him to be saved

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

You cannot stop at verse 17, you have to go on to verse 18 to get all of what Jesus is saying

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

We do not get to take whatever verses we like, the stories in the bible that fit a certain narrative and turn and twist them to justify the world or the way we or someone lives their life.

It is supposed to be the other way around, amen? That the Word of God will change the narrative of our lives to look like Jesus’s life, amen?

Jesus never said it would be easy, he warned it would be hard. And the world may still look dark today, but Jesus will always shine brighter.

Through faith, through good works, through loving people, we can spread that light. Let us go forward, hearts filled with His love and spread His message of salvation. Let us speak truth, all of the truth so that the world sees the whole savior, the whole message. Let us remind the world it’s not about Jesus getting us, it’s about us getting Jesus.

Acts 2: 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.