A story of an elderly childless couple seems irrelevant to the Christmas season, yet that is the story Luke uses to open his gospel. He doesn't start with Mary, or Joseph, or shepherds, or a manger, or wise men. He starts with the miraculous conception of the one who would be the Messiah's forerunner, John the Baptist.

This is the first miracle of Christmas, one of many. It is a miracle that shows God's grace, compassion, love, and faithfulness. It's a wonderful human interest story, too, one we can be encouraged by today. That's probably one reason Luke began his story of Jesus with it.