In Luke 1 we read about the responses by two individuals who each received a revelation from an angel. The similarities—and differences—are intriguing. Several months apart, Zechariah the priest and his wife’s relative Mary each experienced a once-in-a-life-time experience: a visit from the angel Gabriel. Being well past child-bearing years and having never been able to conceive a child, Zechariah and Elizabeth had nearly given up hope of ever having a child of their own. But the angel appeared to Zechariah with an announcement about a remarkable birth: “…your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John” (Luke 1:13). About six months later, Gabriel appeared to Mary with an announcement of another remarkable birth and this time, a miraculous conception: “…you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus” (Luke 1:31). Here are two divine announcements about the births of two baby boys—one to be born to a woman past the age of childbearing and one to an unmarried girl. But Zechariah and Mary responded in two different ways to the news.

At first, their responses may seem similar but taken in their context it becomes evident that their responses revealed two different heart conditions. Zechariah responded with skepticism. He asked, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years” (Luke 1:18). Gabriel’s rebuke makes it clear that Zechariah’s response was rooted in unbelief. He was not merely expressing surprise but was actually questioning the truthfulness of Gabriel’s message. Zechariah was punished for his unbelief by being mute until his son was born. Mary’s response, on the other hand, showed her trust in the word of the Lord and her total surrender to his will. She responded by asking, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” Her question may sound similar to Zechariah’s, but we see from Gabriel’s answer and Mary’s response that her question was about the means by which this would come to pass, not a question about whether it would happen. Gabriel answered her question, and then she responded again by saying, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Mary questioned how this promise would come about but she did not doubt that it would be so and she expressed her complete surrender to the Lord’s will, knowing what it could mean for her reputation to have a child outside of marriage.

What about you? What about me? How do we respond to God’s word and his promises? Do we respond with skepticism like Zechariah, or do we respond with acceptance and total surrender like Mary? Even if not directly through an angel, the fact is that God has sent his word to us too. How will you and how will I respond to his word today?