The perfect Christmas book for loved ones who don’t know Jesus

All You Want for Christmas (10 Publishing) by David Platt is a little book that delivers a big punch.

In just 92 pages – only slightly larger than one of the old-fashioned Ladybird books – Platt presents the simple yet life-changing message of the gospel.

Written in an accessible style, it invites readers to reflect on one central question: why did Jesus come at Christmas?

That question lies at the heart of Platt’s ministry. The lead pastor of McLean Bible Church in the USA and author of the New York Times bestseller Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, Platt has a gift for communicating deep truths simply.

All You Want for Christmas is written for those who don’t yet know Jesus. Presented as a small hardback designed for gifting, it’s the kind of book you can easily hand to friends or family – and once you start reading, you’ll want to finish it.

Platt explores four key reasons why Jesus came at Christmas, inviting readers to consider that he came to be with us, to die in our place, to show us how to live, and to serve us.

First, Jesus came at Christmas to be with us. Platt recalls a conversation he once had with a Buddhist and a Hindu leader in a temple in Southeast Asia. At first, they believed their faiths were essentially the same – that they all worshipped the same God. Platt gently pointed out the crucial difference: that in Christianity, God came down to us at Christmas. Jesus, called Immanuel – “God with us” – makes the Christmas story the greatest ever told.

He then considers Christ’s purpose in coming to die for us instead. Unlike other faith leaders such as Confucius or Buddha – whose deaths marked the end of their missions – Jesus’ death was the beginning of his. Platt presents the gospel message clearly and powerfully, reminding us that through his sacrifice, Jesus offers the gift of eternal life to all who choose to accept it.

Platt also reflects on how Jesus came to show us how to live. God’s gift of his Son is the greatest act of kindness ever shown to humanity. Because of this kindness, we are called to reflect it in the way we live. He challenges readers to consider: what if Christmas isn’t just about having our own needs met, but about loving others enough to lay down our lives in service throughout the year? Ultimately, the response to that call is ours to make.

Finally, Platt reminds us that Jesus came to be our servant. While other religions emphasise what we must do for God – our good deeds and efforts – Christianity is centred on what God has already done for us. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve, offering his life on our behalf. All that’s required of us is simple, childlike faith in response to his grace.

The conclusion returns to the question: ‘What do you want for Christmas?’ Platt reminds us that whatever we face, Jesus is able to help us. The baby born in Bethlehem grew up, bore our punishment through his death, and rose again. He offers us the greatest gift of all – the free gift of eternal life – if we will only accept it.

I pray this little book finds its way into hundreds of homes this Christmas, filling people’s lives with true Christmas hope. It would make a wonderful gift for family, friends, and anyone who, as Platt writes: “doesn’t yet know the servant of our souls.”

All You Want for Christmas (10 Publishing) by David Platt is out now