Two Responses to God’s Promises from Luke 1

Luke one must have been, from an angelic perspective, a very busy time. Gabriel is sent first to Zechariah in the Temple (1:11) and then to Nazareth in Galilee (1:26) bearing the most momentous news yet given to men, to a young girl named Mary. Both are told of an impossible conception (1:13&18,31,34-35). Both are told the future prophetic and redemptive importance of their child (Lk. 1:15-17, 31-33) Both have testified to them their heavenly standing (Lk. 1:13,28&31). And both ask a question of this word from the Lord (Lk. 1:18,34). 

These questions produce very different answers from the angelic messenger and, though both are characterized as believers in the text, their response of belief or unbelief leave them with very different outcomes in the text. 

Though the questions may appear similar on the surface, their difference betray the heart behind them. Mary’s question, in verse 34, “How will this be?” Is not questioning the reliability of this word or whether or not it will come to pass: instead, she’s asking literally, “how?” How can a virgin conceive? How is this all going to work out? She isn’t unbelieving, as indicated both by a lack of rebuke like we find with Zechariah in verse 20 (“because you did not believe”) and by Elizabeth’s statement in verse 45 (“blessed is she who believed”). 

Zechariah’s question, on the other hand, is signaling his unbelief: literally he’s asking “By what will I know this?” He’s not asking how the miracle will be accomplished but what assurance he can have that it will happen at all. He’s asking for a sign, something Jesus later will tell us is a hallmark of an evil and adulterous generation. Here an angel stands before Zechariah and he asks for authentication of the message. This unbelief generates a stinging rebuke from Gabriel, one that is significant in connection to both the miracle itself and ironic to the whole situation. 

Zechariah has announced to him that his miraculously born son will be the voice in the wilderness preparing the way of the Lord. But he won’t be able to talk about it. For all he years of barrenness Zechariah and Elizabeth have experienced this terrific news will not be pronounced from Zechariah’s lips. For all the joy any parent has had at being able to share their expectation with others, Zechariah will be barred from that joy. This is not to insinuate that Zechariah was an unbeliever, I think v. 6 indicates otherwise, but this response to God’s Word was still costly in terms of his experience of joy.

Not so for Mary. Mary’s belief enables her to precede Zechariah in praise. Luke 1:46-55 is known as the Magnificat, and is a tremendous hymn of praise to the Lord for His marvelous work. Because Mary believed she could praise. She could share her joy with others. She could announce the great things God had done for her. Her belief promoted praise: unbelief prohibited it. 

What is our response to God’s Word, particularly His promises? Do we believe? We might have weak faith, surely, but weak faith is still faith. Our faith will be evident in how we speak about those promises, in whether or not we’re laying hold of them. Faith speaks. 2 Corinthians 4:13-14 bears that out:

 “…according to what is written, ‘I believed, therefore I spoke,’ we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.’” 

We may be concerned with how God can possibly accomplish what He has promised, but we need never worry whether or not His Word will be accomplished. Though we have no angel standing at hand testifying to God’s Word, we have His Word, itself a testimony to His enduring power to fulfill His promises, and a more sure word on which to base our hope. We may trust the Lord, though the circumstances seem impossible, just as they did for Mary and Zechariah. With that belief comes joy and sharing the hope we have in God’s Word. We may be a Zechariah, who eventually believes and sings at the Word fulfilled, missing out on much joy in the meantime, or we can be a Mary who believes and shares in joy immediately and is blessed in return. When God’s promises seem hard to believe, which will you be?