And while they were there, the time came for her (Mary) to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7
Growing up as a child, my family’s practice was that one gift from under the tree could be selected to be opened on Christmas eve. I recall a year where I had an unexpected surprise. I carefully inspected all the options and chose the largest and heaviest that I could find. Certainly the greatest gift must come in a big package.
Eagerly ripping the paper off the box, I anticipated a gift for the ages. Something marvelous must be in this large and heavy box. What I discovered was a volume of nature encyclopedias. While certainly marvelous in their own right and have since proven to be helpful to me as I still have these on a shelf in my home, this was not the gift I was expecting.
Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, arrived in an unexpected package and in the humblest of beginnings. Not born to a kingly throne, our King Eternal was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manager. Yet, this unexpected package was delivered to provide us with the most remarkable and marvelous gift! A gift that every one of us needs most, the gift of forgiveness, redemption, and salvation.
At Concordia we celebrate that Christ is at the center of all that we do. We can point to and proclaim that Jesus, our Savior, has come. His life, death, and resurrection has given us victory over sin, death, and the devil. A Lutheran Christian education is one where that simple, but absolutely profound gift is delivered every day.
From all of us at Concordia Lutheran High School to your family, I wish you a very Merry Christmas! May the Savior of the Nations be at the center of your celebrations this week.
Merry Christmas Concordia Family!
Jacob Pennekamp
Head of School