Jesus is the reason for the season: How to make Christmas about Jesus

By Brooke Brinker, Social Media Manager

The holidays can feel busy and overwhelming with holiday shopping, setting up Christmas decorations, and making Christmas wish lists. People get so excited about Christmas or even so stressed out that they start to forget the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas isn’t about presents but the gift God gave us: Jesus Christ.

We celebrate Christmas because Jesus, our Lord and Savior, was born on that day, Dec. 25. Christmas and the holidays should be about celebrating Christ, helping others in need, and spending time with loved ones.

Here are some ways we can make Christmas about Jesus:

A simple way to make the holidays about Jesus is spending time with Him. You can read the Christmas story of Jesus in your Bible and use red and green highlighters, play worship music on your way to class, or take a prayer walk. Spending time with the Lord is so special and helps you to focus on Him during the holiday season.

Another fun way to make Christmas about Jesus is to give back to others. Jesus is the definition of love and care. Acts of kindness show who Jesus is and Christ in our hearts. For example, the Angel Tree in Walmart, which is a tree with a list of names of children with their Christmas lists to Santa. You can pick any kid’s list and buy the gifts that they are asking for. All of the children’s faces will light up with happiness when they see the presents they got.

You can also donate money to “Toys for Tots” or any other donation program for kids, families, and people in need if you want to spread kindness this season and the joy of Jesus.

Jesus is the reason for the season. During this special season, we can spread the love of Jesus to those around us.

Did you know that the candy cane represents how Jesus is our good shepherd? The candy cane is shaped like a “J” for Jesus, and the red of the candy cane symbolizes the blood Jesus shed on the cross for our salvation. The white symbolizes the purity of Jesus. Passing out candy canes with the gospel or what the candy cane means is a great way to make Christmas about Christ.

“One creative way is to separate the activities of the Christmas season that have become a habit from the values at the heart of the Christmas story. Connect each activity with a core value in the Jesus narrative,” said Chris Newcomb, an adjunct professor of religion.

Jesus is the heart and purpose of Christmas. With every activity you normally do during the holidays, relate it to Jesus or His birth.

Lastly, being with your loved ones during this season, or gathering in community, is a great way to honor Christ. Go to church together and worship Jesus, join a Bible study group to connect with others, make a cake sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus with family, friends, and loved ones, or invite someone to church.

God calls us to be in community, and what better way to be together in community than celebrating Jesus who fills us with love, joy, peace, and hope.

Around 2,000 years ago, our savior was born and changed the world. As you are putting up your Christmas tree, decorating your dorm room, or looking at Christmas lights, think of the reason we celebrate the season: Jesus!

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