“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations.” — Luke 2:29-31

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Last June, led by NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals to claim the city’s first-ever major sports championship. The underdog Pacers stretched the series to seven games, but eventually, the Thunder’s defensive tenacity and unmatched depth proved too much. When the final horn sounded in Game 7, Oklahoma City erupted in a joyful exuberance never before matched.

See, Oklahoma City knew an NBA championship was an eventuality. Behind budding superstar Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder had improved upon its record each of the previous four seasons, and the team posted a league-leading 68-14 record during the 2024-25 regular season. That squad boasted a top-five offense and a top-five defense, winning games by an average of 12.8 points. Winning it all was just a matter of time.

But still, Thunder fans had to wait. They had to wait as general manager Sam Presti built a contender, as Gilgeous-Alexander developed into the league MVP. They had to wait through the grind of the regular season, and then the playoffs, and then seven games of the NBA Finals. But at long last, on June 22, the wait was over. For so long, the NBA championship they longed to see had finally come.

Oklahoma City’s wait reminds me in some ways of Israel’s long wait for its promised Messiah, King Jesus, as expressed in the words of an old man named Simeon.

Simeon lived in Jerusalem and was described as “righteous and devout” and “waiting for the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25). The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon “that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah” (Luke 2:26). He most likely waited for years, longing to see with his eyes what the Lord had promised. His body weakened, his mind slowed, death drew near, but his trust in God was as alive as ever.

Then one day, his waiting came to a joyful end. Simeon took up his typical spot in the temple, waiting for the fulfillment of God’s promises, and then in walked Mary and Joseph with their Son, Jesus.

“Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations.'” — Luke 2:28-31

Simeon’s experience parallels the experience of the entire nation of Israel. For so long, Israel had lived in darkness, suffering because of their own sin and the sins of other nations against them. Repeatedly throughout the Old Testament, God had promised to send a deliverer (a Messiah) who would bring lasting salvation and peace. But still, like Simeon, they waited years for God to fulfill His promises. In fact, God’s last message to them in the Old Testament Book of Malachi was about 400 years before the birth of Jesus. During that time, Israel waited in utter darkness and silence, longing for God to act.

And then, Christmas came.

A light of salvation dawned. Peace descended like a river. Jesus lay in a manger.

Simeon’s story — Israel’s story — is your story too if you are in Christ. You and I have waited through the Advent season for Jesus to come, groaning in our hearts for salvation and peace. We were weary from wrestling with the sin in our hearts and the darkness in our lives, longing for a deliverer to rescue us from our low estate.

But God is faithful to His promises, and Jesus has come. Our sin is no more, and our peace cannot be shaken. That is why we celebrate this Christmas morning.

— Kevin Mercer

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