Rev. Dr. Bary R. Fleet - Pastor
November 25, 2007 – Christ the King
Jeremiah 23:1-6      
Colossians 1:11-20
Luke 23:33-43 

All the Fullness … None of the Substance

Coke Zero.  Nothing tastes quite like Zero … while actually being zilch.  No calories, no nutrition … nothing but flavored water.

Most all of us have seen the commercial:  two executives of Coke are meeting with in-house attorneys, wanting to sue “Coke Zero back to the Stone Age.” 

The attorney responds incredulously, “It’s the same company!”  “It’s like suing yourself!”“Yeah, but they’re on a different floor!” the marketing guy says … drawing a long blank stare.

We’ve seen countless soda products come and go, but from current marketing studies, expect Coke Zero to be around for a while. 

It is attracting male soda consumers … who are turned off by the feminine image of drinking a “diet” soda.  It is also different from Coke’s current diet soda – which is based on the formula of “New Coke” that was introduced in the mid 80’s.  Coke Zero is based on the original Coke formula that dates back to the 1880’s ... Coke Classic.

Coke Zero isn’t just cannibalizing Coke Classic.  It is drawing a new market of bottled water, juice and energy drink consumers into the Coke fold.

Today is “Christ the King Sunday.”  This is actually the last Sunday of the church year.  Next Sunday we begin Advent – which is the beginning of the new liturgical year. 

This is a good time for us to think about how we think about Jesus.  When we celebrate Christmas, what is it that we are celebrating?  When we worship Jesus, who / what is it that we are worshipping?  When we follow Jesus, who / what are we following?  When we pray to Jesus, who / what are we praying to? 

Paul says that “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” (Col. 1:15)  Paul goes on, “He is the head of the body, the church.” (Col. 1:18a)  “For in him, the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” (vs. 19).Well, there is the “Diet Jesus”.  Do we approach Jesus like either Coke Zero or Diet Coke?   We want all the flavor with none of the calories.

This Jesus is for those who love the concept of Jesus, but not the impact he might make on their lives.  We want Jesus to save our souls, but leave our lifestyle untouched.  We love this Jesus. 

This is about like me going to McDonald’s and ordering the 1,500 calorie super-sized double quarter pounder with cheese and fries, a couple of fried pies and, of course … a diet Coke!  Who are we kidding?  What’s the point?  Why not go ahead and enjoy a “real” Coke?

Jesus is the same way.  We can’t check off the “Follower” box and not take an honest look at our lives.  The scriptures are clear that when we are in Christ, we are a “new creation.”  We are fundamentally different.  Paul says we are rescued from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. 

We are no longer bound to our old ways of being in the world. 

Then there’s the “Additive Jesus”.  Think of “Cherry Coke” or “Lime Coke” or “Vitamin Coke”.  It is something that makes the beverage a little more interesting … otherwise, we get bored with the same old thing. 

       This is the Jesus for folks who want a little something extra added to their lives.  Jesus is the additive – the icing on the cake of life.  In the South, it is called “Country Club Christianity” – make a visit once a week to let folks know you are still a member of the club. 

But Paul doesn’t think of Jesus as an additive – Jesus is the substance of life. This is what life is all about – not an extra “throw-in.”

There is the “Tab Jesus.”  I didn’t think Tab was still around; pretty old and outdated.

This is the “fad Jesus.”  This is the Jesus of the past generation, but having little or no relevance for today’s life. 

Tab Jesus doesn’t know about invetro-fertilization or surrogate mothers or organ transplants or stem-cell research … or much else in our world.

Remember, just as Tab was eclipsed by Diet Coke, which now may be replaced by Coke Zero … it all goes back to Coke Classic. 

We need to be willing to stay in conversation with the younger generations about the hard issues of each generation … and know that the answers that worked for us might not work for others – but the substance of the decision making process is still the same.

The same way … there is something about Jesus that is worthy of acknowledging him as King of the Universe.  There is something of substance that endures. 

For lack of a better word, it is “fullness.”  What if we decided to base our lives on the “Classic Jesus”   the real thing?  What if we truly pledged our allegiance to honoring Jesus with each decision we make? 

Let’s make a New Year’s Resolution to base our lives – not on the marketed Jesus … not the Zero, not the Diet, not the additive version, but on the Jesus of the scriptures, the Jesus that makes God visible. 

In the name of Christ, may our lives be full and substantive

NOTE:  The above sermon is credited to Homiletics, November / December 2007, Vol., 19, No. 6, pp. 42-46.

SERMON IN A SACK:  A “Mr. Potato Head” Talk about all the things we can make – but they are all based on the same “potato.”  Those who call themselves followers of Jesus come in all shapes and sizes, but they are all based on the same “Jesus.”