Here at Concordia Seminary, we opened this academic year with the theme, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.” Now, as we look forward to the last few months of the spring semester, I want to repeat the same encouragement to each of you that I’ve been repeating to our faculty, students, and staff: fix your eyes on Jesus. The winter months get long. In the midst of the busyness and travail, let us fix our eyes on Jesus. He is the reason we do what we do. God’s love for sinners is the reason Concordia Seminary exists and is the reason why you get up each morning to serve others in His name. May all we do be to the praise and glory of our Lord Jesus.

And as we enter Lent, let us fix our eyes on Jesus. We all know that our work for the church, our service to the Word of God, our efforts to teach and preach the Gospel, all pale in comparison with what our Lord has done for us and continues to do for us. He bore our sins and our sorrows in His body on the tree. He conquered death and the grave. He opens to us the way to everlasting life. He graciously forgives our sins. He washes us in Baptism and feeds us with His body and blood. He will return as the judge and raise us up and give eternal life to all who believe in Him.  

As you run the race of the rest of this winter and spring, as you journey through Lent, let the words of Hebrews 12 echo in your mind and in your heart: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1–2 ESV).

What a joy to labor each day for His glory, in His presence and under His grace and promises!

In Christ’s love,

Thomas J. Egger
President