There are 24 chapters in the Gospel of Luke and a recent custom is to read one chapter each day beginning on December 1. That takes the reader through the Gospel by Christmas Eve. (Read with me this month.)
The chapter begins with a dedication to a man named Theophilus and the assurance that good doctor Luke has investigated everything he is about to write. It recounts two visits by the angel Gabriel, one to Zechariah the father of John the Baptizer and the second to Mary the mother of Jesus. The chapter also includes the recounting of Mary’s visit to Zechariah’s wife, her cousin Elizabeth, two songs of praise and prophecy and the birth of John.
What I always find intriguing are the two questions, one from Zechariah and the second from Mary. Both sound similar yet Gabriel’s responses to the questions are quite different. (Zechariah is struck mute; Mary gets a clarification.)
“’How can I know this?’ Zechariah asked the angel. ‘For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.’” [vs 18 HCSB]
“Mary asked the angel, ‘How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?’” [vs 34 HCSB]
“How can I know this?” and “How can this be?” sound alike. Each is followed by an account of why these things are impossible from a human perspective – Zechariah and Elizabeth are past childbearing age and Mary is a virgin.
Gabriel’s response to Zechariah, however, declares that his question was spoken out of disbelief and fear – “because you did not believe my words.” — while Mary’s question seems to simply be a clarification of how the things Gabriel told Mary would transpire. She responds in faith, “May it be done to me according to your word.” [vss 20, 38]
I have heard the blanket statement that we are not to “question” God. Blanket statements about our obedience and responses to God are usually a bit short-sighted. There are times when we need to question God “in faith” because we have not heard clearly, or we are unsure of His direction. Those questions are spoken in reverence and respect of Who God Is!
God wants us to hear His voice and He wants us to understand what He is saying to us. When asking with a heart like Mary’s (“May it be done to me according to your word.”), God will make His will and way clear to us.
