Two people, one angel with one message, and two very different reactions.
Bible Reading: Luke 1:5-38
The first chapter of Luke records two visits by the angel Gabriel. Gabriel
first came to a priest named Zechariah to tell him he was going to have a son
and that his name was to be John. His second visit was to a teenager named
Mary, to tell her she was going to have a son and she was to name him Jesus.
Both angels started off by saying, “Do not be afraid” (Luke
1:13 and 30).
Zechariah and Mary had completely opposite reactions to the message they were
given. Zechariah, an elder priest, had his doubts and questioned Gabriel.
Mary, the frightened teenager, also questioned Gabriel. When Zechariah
questioned the angel, he did so out of disbelief. When Mary questioned the
angel, she did so from innocence. You see, Zechariah was old and his wife was
beyond childbearing age. Mary was but a teenager and had never been with a man
sexually. Even so, she didn’t doubt what the angel had told her, she simply
asked for clarification; “How?” Zechariah thought it wasn’t possible and
basically scoffed at the angel with his question of “How?”
Have you ever wondered why some people can seemingly take everything that
comes their way on faith – be it good or bad? I think most of us can relate
more easily with Zechariah than we can with Mary. Most of us are like those
from the “Show Me” state of Missouri, we want evidence before we will
believe. But as the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Rome;
“… hope that is seen is not really hope, for who hopes for what can be
seen? But if we hope for what we don’t see, we eagerly wait for it with
patience. “
(Romans 8:24-25)
Zechariah doubted God and paid the price for his doubt. Mary believed and
rejoiced at the news that she had been chosen to serve God. Perhaps that is
what Jesus meant when he said,
“Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a
child shall not enter it.”
(Luke 18:17). And perhaps that is why the author of the Letter to the Hebrews
wrote,
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw
near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek
him.”
(Hebrews 11:6)
Related Articles:
- Prepare For Christmas – Zechariah (thebarnabascenter.org)
- Hope Against Hope (radiatedevotions.wordpress.com)
- The Extra-ordinary and the ordinary (Luke 1:1-25) (garethbowley.wordpress.com)
- Mary Did You Know? (devotionsinmotion.wordpress.com)
