Now I don't always get people presents on their birthdays, but Jesus did die an unjust death and serve as the propitiation of God's righteous wrath toward me and rise again with new life that he's graciously offered to me (which comes with inheritance in God's kingdom), so I would feel awkward if I didn't get him anything.
But what do you get someone who literally has everything? In my brief research for this post, I was unable to find a suitably concise list. So I took the task upon myself.
Fortunately, Jesus (the Word of God made flesh) has left some clues in the paper version of himself.
Here's a non-comprehensive, concise list of things I, and anyone else who would like to follow Jesus in light of his atoning, life-giving, costly sacrifice can get him.
Things to Get Jesus for His Birthday
- Mercy--In Hosea 6 (captured in this great Shane and Shane piece) God says in frustration at the Israelite's inability to get him the right thing, 'I desire mercy (NIV, steadfast love-ESV, loyalty-NASB), not sacrifice, and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings.' Jesus reiterated the importance of this passage by instructing the Pharisees (i.e., the pious, nice, good, church folk of the day) to go learn what it meant in Matthew 9. God is apparently not so much into rituals or tradition for the sake of it (oops), but is more into loving people, forgiving them as he forgave us. I like how Paul said it in Ephesians 4, 'Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as Christ God forgave you.' In other words, Jesus gave us forgiveness so we could use it to forgive others--kind of like a way better version of white elephant.
- Humility--David, the great king of Israel, a man after God's own heart, did a kind of terrible job at showing mercy to Uriah, an active duty soldier, and his cry of distress to God in Psalm 51 starts with 'Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love.' (I included this to reiterate the first point). David goes on to say he knows of his transgressions and sin, i.e., he is not shy about his own shortcomings--God wants us to be honest about our brokenness and not act self-righteous. David goes on with some beautiful theological exposition of God's saving grace, and says 'For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.' God actually makes clear that he has a pretty simple ask of us in Micah 6, 'He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love mercy (NIV, kindness / steadfast love-ESV), and to walk humbly with your God?'
- Love God, Love Others--It seems like two things, but Jesus seemed to think they were so integrally connected he tied them together as the greatest commandment. In Matthew 22, he tells us the greatest commandment is to 'love the Lord your God all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment' Tall order, but clear enough--Love God. But he goes on, 'A second is like it; you shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love my neighbor, i.e., anyone with whom I am in proximity, as myself--like, actually? I spend a disproportionate amount of my time thinking about myself and how I can be happy and healthy (e.g., what job to take, where to live, how to make my wife and child happy so I can be happy, how to do enough good to feel good about myself). Jesus wants that from me, for me to love other people, even those who actively dislike me (cf. Matthew 5, Luke 6-love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you)? What if that's not at Target?
- Glory--The subtext of all of this is Jesus just wants to make known what a great guy/God he is. Egotistical? For me to want people to spread the word of what a great guy I am, sure, but for someone who is literally the most good and most loving and infinitely capable of showing that love and forgiving people of the sin the breaks them apart and tears them up? It would probably be a bad idea not to make that person and their goodness/greatness known. In fact, God tells us that's literally why he made us. Isaiah 43 (which is a great Christmas text) says 'Fear not, I have redeemed you. . . everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.' (read the whole chapter if you haven't, it's pretty great).
A Non-Comprehensive List of Things Not to Get Jesus
- Sin-I know I at least have given him plenty to die for, I don't think he wants anymore, even though that's I'll I've been giving him since. . . forever, and something I've been giving him way too much of this close to his birthday.
- Self-righteousness--Really a subset of sin, this is a big problem in my life and something I see causing others distress all the time. Also known as pride, self-righteousness is kind of the opposite of humility and brings God no glory and shows neither he nor others love. So... yeah, don't give Jesus a box of self-righteousness for Christmas.
- Rejection-Jesus's will is for everyone to know his goodness and his redeeming, saving love, that no one should perish by relying on their own lack of righteousness when God makes the new heaven and new earth pure and free of sin, death, and pain. He doesn't wish for anyone to die (cf. 2 Peter 3:9, Ezekiel 18:32). He invited you to his birthday party, how rude would rejection be for a present anyway?
- An iPhone 6--I have no Biblical reason to believe this, but my gut tells me God doesn't like Apple products
Some textual analysis also reveals, God's interest in Himself (via his own name), his interest in telling off sin, and his frequent references to mercy, grace, forgiveness, and humility.
Some Common Words Frequency within the Bible
Source: OpenBible.info
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