The 'Jesus is a Jerk' meme is based on a series of vintage, 1980s-style religious illustrations that originally intended to show Jesus providing comfort and guidance in everyday situations. However, the internet recontextualized these images—which often feature Jesus hovering closely behind people—to make him look like a petty, intrusive, or mean-spirited prankster. Since gaining traction on platforms like 4chan and Reddit in the late 2000s, the template has been used to satirize everything from minor inconveniences to existential dread, turning wholesome religious art into a vehicle for dark humor and relatable social commentary.