Faith Beyond Logic

It seems like Mary’s question in Luke 1:34 is somewhat similar to Zachariah’s in verse 18.

Verse 18: “How shall I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is well advanced in age.”

Verse 34: “How can this be since I know no man?”

Zachariah’s Case:

He seemed to focus on himself and seemed to be asking, “How can I be certain you are not joking?” or something like, “Angel, are you kidding me? I know I’ve been praying for this, but can't you see I’m old, and my wife is past menopause? What are you talking about?”

Zachariah had a wife named Elizabeth, so there was a possibility for this promise to happen, except that they were old.

Mary’s Case:

Mary asked how such a thing would happen, considering that she was only engaged to a man and not yet married, and thus could not “consummate” the marriage.

Using an example from today’s world:

First Individual:

An elderly man in his mid-late fifties who is close to retiring after working with a company since his youthful days but never got promoted once. Let's call him Mr. A.

Now, an executive member of the board (Mr. EM) with access to insider information tells him, “You are going to be promoted to one of the top levels in the organization.” Mr. A, who has been praying for a promotion for years and even mentioned it to God during lunch that day, receives this insider information but starts asking, “How can I be sure this will happen since I am very old and close to retiring?”

Mr. A had a job and sought promotion (there was an avenue for the promotion as he had a job). He had also heard stories, one of which was about a man in a similar situation.

Mr. B’s Story:

Mr. B, who had been in the organization for years, heard the same statement, “You would be promoted soon,” but saw no promotion for years. He decided to manipulate his way to get a minor promotion and relaxed. Years later, he got promoted to one of the top managerial positions two years before his retirement. Mr. A knew this story not just as a fable but as a fact but never imagined such could happen to him. It would have been easier for him to believe Mr. EM’s words.

Second Individual:

A lady, Ms. M, who was in her final year in school. On her way back from class, she meets an executive at a top firm who tells her, “Very soon you’d be promoted to one of the top managerial positions in the company.” Imagine her shock. She might have seen the man on the news, so she knows he is from that company but still couldn’t help but ask, “Sir, how can this be since I am still an undergraduate?”

She had no avenue for this promotion (no job) and had never heard of such an instance before.

Back to Mary and Zachariah:

Zachariah had the avenue (he was married) and a reference point (he had heard of how Abraham and Sarah had Isaac in their old age) but still wondered how it could happen since he and his wife were old.

Mary, on the other hand, did not have an avenue yet (only engaged) and had no reference (she had never heard of such an instance). So she asked how it was possible.

No wonder the angel was upset by Zachariah’s question and gave him a “proof” but explained things to Mary, telling her the process and giving her insider information of a somewhat similar case to make her see God in a new light. This ignited her faith, making her respond, “Let it be to me according to your word