The Bible intentionally pairs the stories of John the Baptist and Jesus’ births together. John the Baptist’s birth was nothing short of a miracle. Angel appearances and the fact Elizabeth had long since passed her childbearing years attest to this.

But this story seems to be a warm-up act for Jesus’ birth. His mother, a virgin, gave birth to Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. The timing, the birthplace in conjunction with Old Testament prophecies, hundreds of prophecies fulfilled … this could not have remotely happened if not for the power of God.