Bible Studies

Two Cases

by Terry Barlow
03/26/14
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Notice in the first of the Gospel of Luke (which was first entitled simply "According to Luke") how the angel Gabriel handles what appear at first glance to be two similar situations very differently. Both Zacharias and Mary question Gabriel about the announced pregnancies, the former citing the fact that he was old and his wife advanced in years (a kinder way of saying old) and Mary pointing out that she had not known (had such relations with) a man. One seemed to himself too old, the other to herself too young. Gabriel strikes Zacharias mute but bears gently and steadfastly with Mary, explaining how the conception will come to pass and informing her about her relative Elizabeth which reassures Mary, building her faith and causing her to submit wholeheartedly to the process. Why was Gabriel so stern with Gabriel and so patient with Mary? Perhaps because Zacharias was an adult man and a priest and leader before Israel, while Mary was a mere teenage girl, a weaker vessel. More was to be expected of Zacharias at that stage of his life, and initially he didn't deliver. Less was expected of Mary at her young age, but she did deliver in a "big" big way!