Come Near’s ad featured scenes of people from all walks of life washing feet in imitation of Jesus during one of the first commercial breaks of the Super Bowl 2024. Many felt that the ad missed the biblical point.
The website of the group states that this ad is meant to promote HeGetsUs.com. This campaign aims to “remind everybody, including ourselves, that Jesus’ teachings are not a cold-shouldered embrace but a warm hug.”
The advertisement shows twelve different scenes where one person washes another’s foot. The majority of the scenes appear to show white people washing their feet. A white man is never shown washing the feet of a minority. Some even appear to tell white Christians to not be bigoted. This last photo shows a white priest scrubbing the feet of a person who appears to be part of the LGBTQ community. One image shows a white older woman washing her feet a young woman who is scowling outside of a Family Planning Clinic while pro-life demonstrators stand in the background.
Jesus washed the feet of friends and enemies. No ego or hate. He humbly loved his neighbors. How can we do the same? pic.twitter.com/kXift42ZG9
— HeGetsUs (@HeGetsUs) February 11, 2024
John 13:1-17 tells the story of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. It is often interpreted as a lesson in humility that Jesus taught to his disciples before the Last Super.
Many on social media thought the ad “blasphemous”, and that it did not represent the message Jesus wanted to convey to his followers.
Blasphemy.
Don’t fall for this satanic symbolism.
— Patrick Webb (@RealPatrickWebb) February 12, 2024
Y’all (shockingly 🙄) forgot to mention that acknowledgement and repentance come before being washed clean. 😒
— Jordan Miller (@jordokmiller) February 12, 2024
Completely ignoring the fact that while one yes, did betray him ultimately, the Only feet he ever washed were those of his Disciples. Not absolute strangers like this pedestrian ad is implying.
— Preston Marlow (@PoppaPillie) February 12, 2024
This is blasphemous and makes the assertion that we should accept sin.
Christ specifically implored sinners to change, not live and boast in their sin.
He wouldn’t condemn sinners, but He would condemn sin.
Hence telling the woman at the well “Go and sin no more”
— Jimmy Dean (@big_wig_69) February 12, 2024
Others felt the ad had been designed to be a racist attack on white people and push a leftist narrative.
This is blasphemous and makes the assertion that we should accept sin.
Christ specifically implored sinners to change, not live and boast in their sin.
He wouldn’t condemn sinners, but He would condemn sin.
Hence telling the woman at the well “Go and sin no more”
— Jimmy Dean (@big_wig_69) February 12, 2024
A horrible woke, commercial. Once again, plenty of images of whites washing black’s feet. But not one single image of a black washing a white man’s hard working feet. 💩🙄
— LoyalCaps 🏒🥅👮🏻♂️🇺🇸 (@dmddusseau) February 12, 2024
@HarrisonHSmith who’s funding this? It appears to say, “Christians must be slaves to the 3rd world”
— Lizard Boy (@DMitch1776) February 12, 2024
Others wondered why the group spent up to $7 million on an advertisement instead of using this princely sum for people.
How about you use the money you wasted on a Super Bowl commercial to help people instead
— mae ⸆⸉ (@cowboy_like_mae) February 12, 2024
$7 million is a small price to pay to increase Jesus’ brand awareness!!
— פרי (@NextTopMD) February 12, 2024
this money could have gone towards feeding the homeless, medical care, providing housing. and so much more. all of which your “prophet”did. you can do the same by not blowing millions on a commercial & taking ACTUAL action. if you want to evangelize while doing so idc. do better
— fuck the supreme court (@jude_ism) February 12, 2024