Continuing on in my study of the Unexplainable Jesus. Working through chapter one of Unexplainable Beginnings, working through day three today. Day one and two had me considering new things, so I’m thinking the same will continue. I was struck with how Zechariah’s and Mary’s questions have consequences. Join me won’t you? Maybe you will see something that I have missed!
Questions lead to consequences
Day Three: Luke 1:18-38
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
So Zechariah, who knows that it’s an angel standing before him, giving him news that God directed him to give. And he questions him!!! I can totally understand this. You tell me something that is momentous and I’d have questions! Especially if it seemed like there were real obstacles in the way… in this particular instance Zechariah and Elizabeth were both old. They weren’t exactly in their child-bearing years! And yet, Gabriel reassures him… this will happen. But then lays out the consequence of this unbelief… no talking until the baby is born.
Can you imagine how hard that would be? How humbling it would be for Zechariah and how it some ways it might be enlightening? Enlightening as it would show how, in the surprise of the moment, his trust in God faltered and became questions of doubt.
Luke 1:26-36
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.</span>
But on the flipside we see another pending birth announcement. The angel came to see Mary, told her not to be scared, and that she was going to have a baby. He gave her information about her son-to-be. Mary’s response was “how will this be, since I am a virgin. The angel didn’t call her on that question, not seeing it as a cause of doubt, but one of curiousity. And so, it seems to me taht’s what it was since she readily accepted his explanation and stated her availability to be used of God as he saw fit.
Questions have consequences
Well this is frustrating…. all my thoughts just disappeared. So now I get to try to recreate them!!!
In this passage we have two people with questions too which Gabriel, the angel of God, responds to differently.
Both Zechariah and Mary were startled when Gabriel showed up. Both were given the same message of “don’t be afraid, I’m an angel of God” and then the reason for his arrival.
Zechariah’s response to this momentous news was “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
Mary’s response was “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
Do you see the difference in the questions?
Zechariah’s one of demand, or maybe more of sarcasm. Like he’s saying “hey man, how is that going to happen with a couple of old farts? Like seriously man, we’re old!”.
Mary’s response was more of a wondering, a how can this happen to me? She’s old enough to know how babies are made and well… wouldn’t you wonder how you could get pregnant with God’s child?
Gabriel’s response therefore to each was different. Zechariah disciplined with silence for nine months. Nine months to consider God’s grace in his life.
Mary on the otherhand got an explanation “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Her response was “Behold, I am the servant[f] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
Immediate acceptance vs nine months of a reminder to accept God’s will for your life.
Oh… that I might be more like Mary. Not needing time or discipline to accept God’s plan for my life.
Let’s not forget Elizabeth!
Even though I concentrated on Zechariah and Mary we shouldn’t forget Elizabeth’s response.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
She saw God’s goodness in her life. So much so she hid herself away savouring it. (my words I know) Knowing that in her society she would no longer be looked down upon for having no children. For five months she kept this news for herself and Zechariah. I wonder if non-speaking Zechariah found a way to communicate with her about their son’s eventual ministry and God’s call upon his life. That would have helped me (if I were Elizabeth) to stay sequestered too, just trying to wrap my head around it all!
