Emphasizing Christ on Christmas Morning

Christmas morning can easily become about exhaustion, expectations, and excitement—but Matthew 2:10–11 reminds us that true joy is found in worshiping Jesus first. By intentionally centering Christmas morning on Christ, families can experience deeper peace, joy, and meaning that lasts far beyond the presents under the tree.

Highlights

• The Magi modeled Christmas worship by rejoicing, bowing, and offering their treasures to Jesus.

• Holiday exhaustion can distract us, but worship refocuses our hearts on what matters most.

• Keeping Christ central requires intentional planning, just like other Christmas traditions.

• Simple practices—reading Luke 2, singing hymns, or praying together—anchor the day in truth.

• Family traditions can joyfully point children to Jesus without removing the magic of Christmas.

• Reprioritizing schedules may feel uncomfortable, but it reflects the sacrificial heart of the Gospel.

• Honoring Jesus on Christmas morning creates opportunities to witness to others through love and example.

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Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's Holiday Gift Guide

Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide—from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there’s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas!

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Full Transcript Below:

Emphasizing Christ on Christmas Morning

By: Peyton Garland

Bible Reading:

“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:10-11 (NIV)

If we’re honest, most of us will admit that once Christmas morning arrives, we are utterly exhausted. Whether we are parents who stayed up all night putting together toys with hundreds of tiny pieces, we’ve spent the last week scrambling for last-minute gifts, or we are entertaining guests over the holiday, we have pushed our bodies to the limit. They quickly tell on us, eyes heavy, mind screaming for coffee, slippers dragging the floor. 

Amid this busy season, how can we ensure that Christ remains the center of Christmas morning, bringing us peace, joy, and hopeful energy far superior to our dark roast brew? How can we approach Christmastime so we enjoy all the festive traditions yet keep the manger the main thing? 

Thankfully, the answer isn’t a deep secret, and it’s what most of us do well, almost too well, this time of year. Planning. Conscientious, motivated planning. No doubt, we go to great detail to collaborate with friends concerning the annual tacky Christmas sweater party. We ensure that we pack and donate at least one Operation Christmas Child box per family member. We attend our little niece’s Nutcracker performance, a bouquet of festive roses in hand. We manage to balance all of the holiday’s hustle and bustle because we hold ourselves accountable to what we value most.

Value Christ above all else this Christmas morning by grabbing a calendar and listing out exactly how your family will engage in holiday celebrations centered on Jesus. Invite your family to sit down with you and toss around ideas for which celebratory traditions sound best for both the children and adults. 

A few creative ideas include:

• Gathering at the dining room table to read Luke 2 before opening presents or eating Christmas breakfast/brunch.
• Playing Christmas hymns in the background as everyone eats breakfast. 
• Adding a “Happy Birthday, Jesus” cake to the breakfast menu, letting everyone sing Happy Birthday to the greatest Birthday Boy in history. (I know a family who does this each Christmas, and their four children love it!)
• Before opening gifts, have everyone take turns sharing why Jesus remains the greatest gift in their heart and life. 
• Placing a nativity scene at the foot of the Christmas tree before eating breakfast or opening gifts. (Placing a nativity scene at the foot of the Christmas tree is an old Catholic tradition that I learned from my husband’s family, and though my husband, son, and I are non-denominational, it is a dear tradition we honor each year.)
• If Santa visits your children, have Santa write a note to them, celebrating the ways they have grown in character that year while also sharing that he, too, knows that Christ is most important on Christmas Day. (Remember, little hearts that lean into magic will lean into miracles, so don’t cut the miracles short!)

I pray these ideas spark creativity as you pray about and consider the Holy Spirit’s leading in how to best honor and praise Jesus on Christmas morning. But I also pray that you recognize that honoring Jesus on Christmas morning might mean you must reprioritize other things. 

Perhaps extended family members who typically join you for a casual Christmas breakfast at 9 can come over for a Christmas brunch at 11 (so your family has a quiet time of worship beforehand). However, if they are interested in joining your “Happy Birthday, Jesus” celebration, they can come over whenever is best for your family. Bonus: this is a great opportunity to love on your family members who aren’t believers!

If your kiddos are accustomed to starting Christmas morning by seeing what Santa brought, I encourage you not to take away from that joy, but to reposition it. Explain to them ahead of time that since Christmas is about Jesus, we will celebrate Him first, then see what Santa brought. Having this conversation in advance allows little hearts to anticipate a schedule change. This gives them room to ask questions to better understand the purpose behind this new tradition. 

These new shifts might be uncomfortable or make little ones a bit fussy at first, but remember, the Gospel had uncomfortable beginnings, as a teenage girl gave birth among cattle and the Savior of the world was placed in a trough of prickly hay. May we truly adore Him as we sacrifice our schedules to put Him first this Christmas. 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Even after Christmas has passed, sit down with your family to discuss ways to continue keeping Christ the center of your days. Consider a daily family devotional or prayer time. Allow the children to include their own ideas. 

Further Reading:
When Creating Christmas Memories Costs Your Sanity

Psalm 145:4

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