Mary vs Zechariah

Is God okay with your questions?

Today I want to look at 2 questions both found early on in Luke's Gospel. Both of these questions involve child birth. 

You see, 2000 years ago having a baby was a big deal. Well, i guess it still is but people believed if you didnt have a child it meant you were cursed by God. Maybe you did something wrong or maybe God just didn't like you. Regardless, it was not okay. 

First----Zechariah. 

Zechariah and Elizabeth wanted a baby. Elizabeth was past child-bearing age but still wanted an offspring. It came time for Zechariah to serve the Lord in the temple. 

Here are the words that Gabriel brings to Zechariah- 

"But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth."

Yet Zechariah wasn't so sure.....“How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

Second- Mary 

Mary was a teenager. We don't know her exact age but we know she was old enough to be engaged in the her First Century Jewish Culture. 

To Mary Gabriel said, "Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Yet Mary also had a question-  “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”



Mary vs Zechariah 

Both Mary and Zechariah had questions. 

But They were very different questions- Look closer. 

Zechariah wanted certainty. Certainty according to Peter Enns is a Sin. If we are certain of something we no longer need God because we have it all figured out. Because certainty breeds pride. 

Because Zechariah wanted certainty Gabriel made it so he could no longer talk until his son would be born. 

Mary's question was not filled with doubt. She was a virgin. Virigin's cant give birth. It's impossible. It would take a miracle. 

The angel declares to her.... "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you."  

In other words God is going to do something big he just needs you to trust......

We can tell Mary's question was about searching more because she responded in faith, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true."


Conclusion 

Questions are good. Jesus asked many questions. God can handle our questions.

But Questions must be asked in a child-like manner and not in a way that we seek to figure it all out.

I pray you can come to God with all your questions and pain. I pray you can come to him as a child comes to his/her father to not get something but to get someone.

May you know that God loves you and wants to hear from you today. Seek him in prayer. Amen.