Two Questions

In the opening chapter of Luke, we read about Gabriel bringing messages from God, first to Zacharias and then to Mary. In verses 14-18, we read the specifics of this prophecy concerning John's life and ministry. Gabriel told Zacharias that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a son named John. In response, Zacharias reminded Gabriel that both he and Elizabeth were elderly, and then he posed this question:

Luke 1:18 And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years."

In other words, Zacharias asked, 'How do I know this is true? The evidence of my senses tells me this is impossible.' He questioned the veracity of the message from God that Gabriel delivered.

In response to Zacharias's question, Gabriel said that he, Zacharias, would be unable to speak until the fulfillment of the prophecy because he "did not believe my word" (v20). Zacharias' question did not originate from a genuine desire to know but from unbelief. Zacharias did not believe the information God revealed through the messenger Gabriel, and he was thereafter rendered mute until the prophecy concerning John was fulfilled.  

A few verses later, we read about the same Gabriel speaking to Mary, a young, unmarried woman engaged to a man named Joseph. Mary was a virgin; that is, she had never had sexual relations with any man, including her fiancé, Joseph. Gabriel appeared to Mary and delivered the joyous message that she was highly favored and that she would conceive and deliver a son, who would be named "Jesus." Gabriel then said the following:

Luke 1:32-33

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 

and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

In response to Gabriel's message, Mary asked: "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"

In other words, Mary didn't doubt that this message was true and that it would come to pass. But she did have a question. She wanted to know how she would conceive and deliver a son without having sexual intercourse. It's a reasonable question. And so, Gabriel answered her. Mary responded, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word" (v38).

Two questions, two different responses.

According to Gabriel, Zacharias's question arose from unbelief. At the time, Zacharias did not believe the message from Gabriel but instead believed in the evidence of the senses (Elizabeth and I are old!) His question to Gabriel indicates as much.

In contrast, Mary's question did not arise from unbelief but from a genuine desire to know. She did not question IF the prophecy would come to pass; she questioned HOW it would come to pass. Given the fact that the fulfillment of this exceptional prophecy involved her own body, it's perfectly reasonable that she would ask the question--how will this happen without my having sexual intercourse with a man? Mary did not doubt that she would conceive. She did not doubt that the baby would be named Jesus and would accomplish all that Gabriel foretold. Mary deemed the information God spoke through Gabriel as reliable and trustworthy. But she still wanted to know how it might come to pass.

Here, we see a difference between asking IF a promise from God will come to pass and asking HOW a promise of God will come to pass.