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Answer
In Luke 1, both Zechariah, an elderly Jewish high priest, and Mary, a teenage virgin, received a visit from the angel Gabriel announcing their roles in the arrival of Israel’s long-awaited Savior. While Zechariah was in the sanctuary burning incense to the Lord, the angel of the Lord appeared and said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John” “But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias: for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elisabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.”, (Luke 1:13, NLT). Gabriel explained that the baby would grow up to be God’s chosen instrument, a great prophet like Elijah, who would prepare Israel for the Messiah’s coming (see Luke 1:14-17).
About six months later, Gabriel visited Mary, declaring, “Do not be afraid, Mary, . . . 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. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” (Luke 1:30-33;NLT).
Zechariah and Mary were unlikely candidates for their God-selected missions, and both received the staggering news with fear and wonder see Luke 1:12,29. Each of them questioned how such miracles would be accomplished “And Zacharias said to the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.”, (Luke 1:18,34) “Then said Mary to the angel, How shall I know this? for I am a virgin.”, (Luke 1:34).
All this be, seeing I know not a man?”, (Luke 1:18,34). But Zechariah was punished with muteness until his child was born (verse 20), and Mary was not upbraided at all. Why was Zechariah chastened, but Mary was not?
At first glance, Gabriel’s response to Zechariah’s question does seem a bit unfair compared with his reply to Mary’s. But a closer look reveals a significant difference. Hearing Gabriel’s announcement, Zechariah asked, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years” “And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.”, (Luke 1:18, NLT). Overwhelmed with doubt, Zechariah asked for a confirming sign. Gabriel quickly pointed out that the appearance of God’s messenger in the temple should have been enough of a sign: “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time” (Luke 1:19-20;NLT).
Zechariah’s request for a sign came from a place of unbelief. Even though he and his wife had prayed for a child, the couple had abandoned hope of God ever answering their prayers. Gabriel’s announcement brought their answer. God had heard their prayers “But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.”, (Luke 1:13). But Zechariah responded not in faith but in doubt. He needed a “sign.”
James taught about prayer, saying, “But wWhen you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do” (James 1:6-8). Zechariah was double-minded. With his eyes on his human limitations, he could not see God pulling off this miracle. According to the apostle Paul, Zechariah’s unbelief was a sin because “everything that does not come from faith is sin” «And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.», (Romans 14:23).
Like many who came before him—Moses (Exodus 3:11;Exodus 4:1,10-13;6:12,30) and Gideon (Judges 6:15,17, 36-40), for example—Zechariah struggled with doubt and unbelief. Like many Christians still do today, Zechariah doubted God’s Word. As a priest serving in the Jerusalem temple, Zechariah would have been familiar with Old Testament Scripture, especially the five books of Moses. He would have known that the same promise made to him in his old age was also given to his forefather Abraham (Genesis 12:1-9). Abraham had doubted the Lord, too «Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? », (Genesis 17:17). But God said, “Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you aAt the appointed time next year, Sarah will have a son” «Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. », (Genesis 18:14). Zechariah should have remembered these words to Abraham along with the fulfillment of the promise «And Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born unto him. », (Genesis 21:5), but at that moment, he hesitated. God silenced Zechariah’s disbelief, and the Lord’s plan was accomplished.
Now contrast Zechariah’s reaction with Mary’s. When Mary heard Gabriel’s promise, she said, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” «Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? », (Luke 1:34). Zechariah doubted and requested a sign, but Mary believed, pondering, “How will this happen?” Her concern was more about logistics. She was perplexed about her role as an obedient servant, particularly as an unwed virgin. Perhaps she wondered how the birth announcement could precede the wedding. Would she and Joseph need to expedite the wedding date? The angel did not rebuke Mary for her genuine concerns. Mary’s question was rooted not in doubt but in faith and obedience—the type of questioning Scripture praises (Proverbs 25:2;Acts 17:11).
Gabriel explained to Mary how it would happen—the Holy Spirit would perform a miracle! It would be something entirely new that no human could fathom, something that had never happened before in all of history. Mary would conceive a child—not by a man but by God Almighty through the power of the Holy Spirit. Within her womb, the Son of God would develop and be born. He was destined to be IIsrael’s Messiah, the Holy One and Savior of the world “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”, (Luke 1:35).
Gabriel concluded his message, echoing the words of God to Abraham: “For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:37-38;ESV). Mary believed the Lord’s messenger. She responded in faith and submitted to God’s will.
Zechariah expressed unbelief; Mary revealed faith. Zechariah was not punished arbitrarily or unfairly. Both Zechariah and Mary were treated according to their reaction to the message. One doubted; the other believed. The aging priest refused to believe the answer to his own prayers; Mary believed something she had not prayed for and could never have imagined.
Despite Zechariah’s doubt, God abundantly blessed him and his family. The Lord caused Zechariah to be silent not merely as a punishment for unbelief, but as a sign, first to Zechariah and then to all the people around him (see Luke 1:20-21, 59-79). After John the Baptist was born and God reopened Zechariah’s mouth, “awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, ‘What will this child turn out to be?’ For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way” (Luke 1:65-66;NLT). Through it all, God was working out His plan of salvation and bringing “all things together for the good of.
Those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”, (Romans 8:28).
