1:18-20
Not surprisingly Zechariah is rather surprised at this announcement, and he is rebuked for this, and struck dumb for several months. Later we will read of the angel giving similar news to Mary. She too questions the angel, saying “how will this be”, and she is not rebuked. Why the difference? I don’t think it is wise to be too dogmatic, and we have tendency to read into the text what we want to see, so anything I say is just a suggestion. The miracle in Mary’s case was much greater, for she was a virgin. Zechariah and Elizabeth were just childless and getting on. The general approach seems to be that Zechariah doubted, Mary wondered how it would come true, not so much if it would come true.
We should also note that the punishment was temporary. Zechariah was not cast off forever. Likewise, Moses was severely punished for his lack of faith, and not allowed to enter the Promised Land, but he was not cast off forever. He appeared with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration. Sometimes God may seem to deal with us quite severely, this does not mean He has cast us off completely.
The angel’s answer to Zechariah is that he stands in the presence of God, so he is speaking God’s words so we had better believe it! In John’s gospel there is great emphasis on the fact that Jesus comes from heaven, sent by the Father. Jesus knows exactly what He is talking about. So we reject Jesus’ words at our peril.
Note that Zechariah’s doubt did not stop the word of God coming true.
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