“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest … and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” ~ (Luke 1:30-32a, 33b, 34
When the angel Gabriel came to Mary with the “glad tidings” that she would bear a son, Mary had a question too. “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?”
But Mary did not lose her voice. Nothing uncomfortable happened to her at all. What is the difference between their two questionings? Old Zacharias’ question, as I [Eugenia Price, the author] see it, held genuine doubt: “Whereby shall I know this?” In other words, “how can I be sure God can do such a thing under such naturally impossible circumstances?”
Mary’s question had a different inner-ring to it: “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” She did not question whether or not it would or could be done. She simply asked how? Zatharias wanted to know how he could be sure. Mary just asked how it would be done. There is no doubt in her inquiry at all.
This great, childlike simplicity, “found favor with God.” In order to verify his news to doubting Zacharias, Gabriel said: “I am Gabriel, that stands in the presence of God.” He had to present his credentials to Zacharias. To Mary, Gabriel could simply say: “… thou art highly favoured. The Lord is with thee.”
Are we like Zatharias or Mary? Both were faithful servants of God. But one was struck dumb and confused by his own doubt. By his own refusal to be simple with God. But Mary didn’t have to remember to be simple and clear and uncomplicated. She was. That is why she found favor with God.
“… blessed art thou among women.”
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