John the Baptist shares some of his favorite gifts to prepare us for Christ’s coming.

Do you remember Oprah’s Favorite Things episodes when she would give gifts to members of the studio audience? She would say, “You get a loofah. And you get a loofah.” Everyone would scream when they got the loofah. The episode was meant to give her audience Christmas gift ideas.

Advent is the season when we prepare for the coming Savior—at Christmas and on judgment day. That was John the Baptist’s central message, which is why we often study John during Advent. I wonder what John would have put on his favorite things list. What would he give us to prepare for Christ’s coming? What would he encourage us to give one another? His list would be more meaningful than a new loofah.

“You get a camel’s hair shirt!”

I’m not sure that I want a camel’s hair shirt. It sounds itchier than the wool sweaters my gramma used to give. Matthew 3:4 states that “John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair.” They were simplistic: rough and coarse. His clothes tied him to the prophet Elijah and reflected the message that John preached: repentance. Repentance is humility and sorrow over sin, followed by joy in Jesus’ forgiveness.

If John put a camel’s hair shirt on his list of favorite things, it isn’t the shirt that is important but the gift of humility that the shirt represents. Humility means, first, being humble toward God, acknowledging that I am unworthy of God’s goodness and blessings. It means admitting to the world and my family that I am a sinner, but a sinner forgiven because of God’s grace. He loved me even when I was not lovable.

Humility also means being humble toward others. I love to compare myself to my brother, my father, and other pastors and fellow Christians. “Whose kids are better behaved? Who gave the better gift? Who is the better servant?” That isn’t a good Christian—or Christmas—attitude. Humility is. Paul encourages us, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment” (Romans 12:3). John might give me a camel’s hair shirt to remind me to give that humility to others. I think those around me would appreciate that gift.

“You get a fruit basket.”

I love fruit, especially mangoes. A big basket of Julie mangoes would be an awesome Christmas gift!

In Matthew 3:8, John says, “Produce fruit.” I don’t think that he really wants us to give fruit. He continues: “in keeping with repentance.” The joy of forgiveness, the joy that comes from repentance, inspires us to live as God’s children. In other words, we are to produce godly fruit that follows and reflects our repentance.

What fruit could I give this Christmas? As I think about the gift of a Savior and the joy of knowing my sins are forgiven, what am I moved to do? I know that I can get a little stressed out around the holidays, and sometimes my poor family doesn’t always get my best behavior. Sometimes I like to throw myself a pity party because things don’t quite go how I want them to. I am sorry for those things, but Jesus came to forgive me. This Christmas, I think the fruit I will give my family and my God will be patience when I am tired, joy in my family, and contentment with what God has given me. John may give me a fruit basket to remind me to give the fruit of repentance. I know my family will appreciate that gift.

“You get a lamb”

A lamb would be a difficult gift to take care of. But John wouldn’t give us a baa baa lamb. In John 1:29, John says, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” He is talking about our Savior Jesus. He is the Lamb of God. The lamb reminds us of Old Testament sacrifices. The sacrifice of lambs pointed ahead to the sacrifice of the Messiah, the Lamb of God. John would give the gift of the Lamb of God. He would tell me about my Savior Jesus.

These gifts—humility, the fruit of repentance, the message of a Savior, and a commitment to Christ—add meaning to my Christmas.

As a family, we always read Luke chapter 2 on Christmas Eve after church and before we open gifts. I remember one year church went long (the preacher was long-winded). We got back late, and I suggested that we skip reading Luke chapter 2. My daughter Rachel would have none of it. “Dad, that’s the whole reason for Christmas.” She was right. Christmas is about the Lamb of God, the Savior of the world. What greater gift can we give than the message of the Savior who has come to rescue us from ourselves and a world of sin and death? We need to give this gift not only to those who don’t have it yet but also to those who already do. John may give me a lamb to remind me that I have the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

“You get John’s head”

This gift is a little gory and not really Christmassy, but the lesson is powerful. Matthew chapter 14 records for us the terrible account of Herod’s stepdaughter saying, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist” (v. 8). And Herod gave her John’s head.

Even though Herod was dangerous, John had condemned him publicly for living contrary to God’s Word. Why would John put his life on the line? All he had to do was ignore Herod’s sin, and he would have been fine. But John was committed to God and God’s Word.

God doesn’t want me to seek martyrdom. God wants me to be a living sacrifice, not a dead one. But if my head is asked of me, I pray I would be as committed as John. And if my head isn’t required, I still desire to live a life totally dedicated to my Savior. As I reflect on the gift of a Savior born in Bethlehem who would give his life that I might live, I can think of no better way of showing my thanks than by committing myself to him—my life, my strength, my all. He created me, he redeemed me, he sanctified me. I am his.

A heart dedicated and committed to God is not only a gift of thanks to God but also a gift to my wife, my kids, my congregation, and my neighbors. Maybe that is the gift I will give this Christmas: to renew the commitment I made 36 years ago in front of the family of believers at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in New Orleans on my confirmation day. I am yours, Lord.

I am not sure anyone will notice if I give these gifts, but these are the greatest things for me to give. These gifts—humility, the fruit of repentance, the message of a Savior, and a commitment to Christ—add meaning to my Christmas.

As you walk with the shepherds to the manger and see your Savior Jesus born in Bethlehem, may his love for you inspire you to give more than a coffee mug or a paisley tie or a loofah. Instead, give the greater things: the things of the Spirit, the things that last to eternity.

Author: Joshua Sternhagen
Volume 111, Number 12
Issue: December 2024