Your Heart in Questioning God - A Devotional

 

As we enter this Advent season we naturally focus on the birth of Jesus. However, Luke’s story of the birth does not start in chapter 2 but in chapter 1 of his Gospel and it highlights one of the most vivid contrasts of “heart attitude” among the faithful.  

This is represented in the responses of Zecharias and Mary to the angel Gabriel. A quick read of what each of these people said to Gabriel seems similar. But when you look at the way it is worded, and what God expects from His people, you see why the Gabriel deals differently with them. 

Zecharias was an older man who had been a priest in the Temple for many years. His knowledge of Scripture was immense – easily dwarfing our own. Mary was a teenager who, likely, had no formal training in the Scripture. Knowledge, as we will see, does not equal faith. 

When Zecharias went into the Holy of Holies to exercise his priestly duty, Gabriel appeared to him with an appearance that must have almost stopped Zecharias’ heart and then made an amazing announcement. 

Luke 1:12-17 

12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.  

16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 

Likewise, Gabriel appeared to Mary in an awesome way with an even more amazing statement. 

Luke 1:28-33 

28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 

29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  

31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”  

Now comes the contrasting responses. Zecharias, the seasoned, educated priest says: 

Luke 1:18 

18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”   

While the uneducated teenager says: 

Luke 1:34 

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

 

Later in Luke, Jesus says: 

Luke 12:48b 

For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.   

More was expected from Zecharias than Mary. With his greater knowledge of God’s miracles in scripture through constant reading of Torah and experience as a priest, he should have been less surprised and more believing than Mary. Additionally, the wording of the scripture implies an attitude of disbelief by Zecharias and wonderment for Mary.  

The result was Gabriel immediately caused Zecharias to lose the ability to speak until the birth of his son, John the Baptist. Mary, on the other hand, was dealt with graciously and had her question answered. 

Things to ponder: 

- Do you feel Gabriel acted correctly in punishing Zacharias? 

- What does this tell you about “heart attitude” when questioning God? 

- Does this change the way you look at knowledge and faith? 

Zacharias did come around. After he affirmed his son’s name was to be John, his ability to speak returned. The prophecy he proclaims (Luke 1:67-79) is one everyone should read often. 

For additional consideration: 

Sometime after John the Baptist baptized Jesus and seeing the Holy Spirit fall upon Jesus, he was arrested by Herod. While rotting away in a miserable jail, he sent some of his disciples to Jesus questioning whether Jesus was the Messiah. Rather than being upset with John, Jesus kindly answers the question. After John’s disciples left, Jesus told everyone that John was the greatest prophet – greater than Elijah! See Luke 7:18-35. 

- Why wasn’t John dealt with the same way (or worse) his father, Zecharias, was? 

- What does this tell you about God’s justice and compassion?