Colossians 1:11-20

11: Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12: Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18: And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19: For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell;
20: And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Beginning next week our churches are entering the season of Advent — a time for focus and reflection on who the real Jesus was and is for us and our world. This season and today’s passage in Colossians will ask us to consider what kind of Jesus we believe in.

Perhaps you have seen or heard the follow saying where Jesus is associated with a popular merchandise slogan.

JESUS is like BAYER ASPIRIN ... He works miracles.
JESUS is like HALLMARK CARDS ... He cares enough to send the very best.
JESUS is like TIDE ... He gets the stains out that others leave behind.
JESUS is like GENERAL ELECTRIC ... He brings good things to life.
JESUS is like ALLSTATE ... You’re in good hands with him.
JESUS is like COKE ... He’s the real thing.

I was reading an article in the Nov/Dec issue of Homiletics that took the Jesus is like Coke idea and bit further. This morning’s sermon is an attempt to share the point the article made.

What if we treated Jesus just like we treat our soft drink options, specially our Coca-Cola drink options? Coke products can serve as a metaphor for describing the ways we often think about and relate to Jesus.

Let’s begin with The Diet Coke Jesus. The Diet Coke Jesus is for people who love the concept of Jesus, but not all the impact he might make in their lives. We want Jesus to save our souls, but to leave our lifestyles alone. We love this Jesus. He gets people out of hell, but not the hell out of people.

This take on Jesus is as misdirected as overeating accompanied with a Diet Coke. Haven’t you seen people go to McDonald’s for a super-sized 1,500-calorie lunch of a double cheeseburger and fatty fries … washed down with a Diet Coke? Are they kidding themselves? What’s the point of monitoring the beverage? Have a Coke … or three.

Faith is the same way. We can’t check off the “saved” box and take no look at our lives. Jesus Zero or Diet Jesus doesn’t work. The Scripture is clear that we can’t be saved and stay the same; In Christ we are a new creation! The old

“has passed away; behold, all things are new!”

Paul talks about a radical change in the Colossians text before us. It’s as if the redeemed have been traded to another team —

“He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son.”
(Col 1:13)

This new freedom doesn’t mean we are free to live however we want to. It means that sin and self-directed lives are no longer the only option we have. Christians are not in bondage to their old, flabby lifestyle; rather, they’re set free to live out kingdom values.

Then there is the The Additive Jesus. Think of Cherry Coke or Vanilla Coke. It’s Coke, plus a nice little additive to create interest. Here’s a really common flavor that’s subtle yet strong in many of our churches, and this passage hits it head-on.

Sometimes people see their lives as friends, family, career, recreation, retirement accounts, etc., and then throw in some Jesus additive once a week. He’s a nice flavor enhancement to an otherwise intact formula.
In the South they call it Country Club Christianity — make the visit once a week to show everyone you are still a member.

But while so many unwittingly think of Christian spirituality in this way, Jesus makes no claim to be the cherry additive. He’s the Coke.

Jesus is not an add-on. The text is clear,

“He is before all things,
and in Him all things hold together”

If we are followers of Jesus all of our life all seven days a week should be impacted by our faith.

He prepares

“being strengthened with all power
according to His glorious might
so that you may have great
endurance and patience.”
(v. 11).

In other words, there’s nothing we experience that God wants us to take on alone. Every negative thought. Every insecurity. Every temptation. He wants to be involved in every aspect of who we are.

As for his priority in the created order, Jesus has

“first place in everything”
“He is the beginning and the first born.”
(v. 18).

We can’t approach this Jesus and put him somewhere on the life priority list. There is only one place he will be. First place. More important than our money, happiness, health, family, etc. Jesus is no pleasant vanilla accent. He’s the entire concept behind our whole lives.

Then there is the Tab Jesus. How many of you recall Tab. That disco ’70s font on the pink can of saccharin refreshment. Is Jesus anything like Tab? Sadly many people think so. Our culture presents the view that Christ and Christianity are outdated and old-fashioned. A fad but not relevant for today.

Tab Jesus is old music and dry stories. Tab Jesus doesn’t understand the pressures and temptations to which the younger generation is vulnerable. Tab Jesus is just an obligation to family tradition. Tab Jesus needs to go the way of Tab.

Jesus is timeless. He is the

“firstborn of all creation”
(v. 15),

meaning that from before time, eternal Jesus had his passion and love and creativity and dominion over every aspect of this universe. From eternity past through incarnation through 2,000 years of history, Jesus has demonstrated remarkable staying power in shaping souls. The same Jesus-concept keeps on working.

The concept never changes, Jesus Christ changing lives so people can help change the world. The form that takes, the packaging, the style, the way we go about it can and should embrace new generations with timeless truth.

Jesus is timeless, not just an old-fashioned trend or the current flavor of the month. But let’s have the faith to believe that

“in him all things hold together”
(vv. 17-18)

In our churches, over which he is the head.

Here’s the point of this passage and of the season of Advent that is upon us. Jesus is not, and cannot, be understood to be a zero calorie diet Coke, an additive to an already complete life or an outmoded concept of the previous generation.

No … Jesus isn’t like any of those. He’s Coke. Coke Classic. The original. “The Real Thing.” The King of kings and the Lord of lords. The Alpha and the Omega. He is everything. He is reconciling all things in every aspect of every believer’s life.

Just like you can choose the kind of Coke you drink, you can choose the kind of Jesus you want to quench the thirst of your soul. Remember Jesus said,

“Whoever drinks the water I give will never be thirsty. The water I give will be an artesian spring within,
gushing fountains of endless life.”

AMEN