Motherhood is only ever praised in scripture. Being childless is only ever a source of grief. The declaration, “I’m so glad I don’t have kids”, is so antithetical to the Gospel, and faith, it beggars belief. The reason it beggars belief is that childbirth is tied to this worlds’ redemption, and your salvation.
And so Paul, addressing women says,
But she will be saved through childbearing, if they abide in faith and love and holiness, with self-restraint. (1 Timothy 2:15).
Biblical faith is pictured in Hannah’s mourning at her childless state, and her rejoicing at the birth of Samuel. So too Elizabeth and Sarah. So too every godly woman in history.
And they were this way because they all looked in hope to one mother in particular. Mary, the mother of Jesus.
For those without children, the grief is managed by our contentment in the goodness of God who has fulfilled His promise to Eve (Genesis 3:15). For those blessed with children, motherhood, is a neon light pointing to the salvation of the world.
Perhaps this is why Luke’s gospel starts out the way it does. Luke’s gospel gets underway with the foretelling and birth of John the Baptist. Luke begins with the announcement of John’s birth to Zechariah, his father (Luke 1:5-25). Then comes the announcement of Jesus’ birth to Mary his mother (Luke 1:26-38). In Luke 1:39-56 a connection between the two is made as Mary goes to visit Elizabeth and magnifies the Lord in song.
Finally, in Luke 1:57-80 comes the birth of John and his father’s song of praise, followed by the birth of Jesus and the song of the angels (Luke 2:1-20).
So, there is a clear pattern in Luke’s presentation of the gospel. The announcement of John, the announcement of Jesus. The birth of John, the birth of Jesus. Two women pregnant with two unexpected children, who then bump into one another down the street.
It looks like Luke wants us to compare the arrival of Jesus and John the Baptist.
For example, both children are announced in advance by the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:11, 28), both births are miraculous, and in both cases the angel tells them what their names should be (Luke 1:13, 31).
But even more important than the similarities are the differences. John was born to an ageing married woman who was married to a priest. Jesus was born to an unmarried virgin betrothed to a carpenter. John was given a name which means “God is gracious”, Jesus was given a name which means “Saviour”;
John was to prepare the way for the Lord, Jesus was the Lord who would reign forever.
Perhaps the most significant difference between the events is the way in which Mary and Zachariah respond to the visit and announcement by Gabriel.
Mary’s response was, “How can this be, since I have no husband?” (Luke 1:34). Zachariah’s response was, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” (Luke 1:18).
Zechariah reminds us of childess Abraham, but he did not respond like Abraham, of whom Paul said,
He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body which was as good as dead because he was about 100 years old, or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God but he grew strong in his faith giving glory to God. . . .” (Romans 4:19-20)
Zechariah wobbled in his faith, as we all do at times, and I think Luke wants us to notice it.
Gabriel certainly noticed it.
And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of God; and I was sent to speaks to you and to bring you this good news. And behold you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their time.” (Luke 1:19-20)
Elizabeth seems to have noticed it too and when she catches up with Mary and says,
Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. (Luke 1:45)
All of this is in contrast to Mary who responded to Gabriel saying,
How can this be, since I have no husband? (Luke 1:34)
Zechariah says, “How can I know this?” Mary says, “How can this be?” Zechariah asks for more evidence; Mary asks for an explanation.
Zechariah says he can’t be sure; Mary says she can’t understand. Mary receives at least a partial explanation (Luke 1:35), but Zechariah receives a rebuke and is rendered speechless by the angel.
There are three lessons I think we can learn from this.
First, it’s possible to demand too much evidence before you believe God’s promises. It’s not wrong to want evidence for our faith (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:3; 17:11). But there is a line in the sand, and that line appears to be somewhere between believing and acting on what we have been shown, and trusting God for the things we are yet to understand.
The second thing we learn is that it’s okay to ask for an explanation when we are perplexed.
Mary was not accused of unbelief when she questioned Gabriel (Luke 1:34). Mary saw the human impossibility as clearly as Zechariah but her heart did not reject the possibility in unbelief; she responded humbly and desired only to know how such an impossibility might become possible.
When our heart is right, God is never opposed to our seeking to understand His ways in history and in our own lives.
There is one other lesson to learn from Zechariah’s wobble.
This moment in his life was preceded by a life of godliness and followed by a life of godliness.
Zechariah’s doubt is in the same category with Peter’s three denials of Christ. It was a temporary lapse – not a way of life.
Look at the billing Zechariah and Elizabeth get in Luke 1:6. Both were righteous and blameless before God.
Zechariah was not a chronic unbeliever, but he was human.
But thanks be to God, though we may have to endure some chastisement for our doubts, God does not cast us away if we repent and set our hope afresh on Him.
When Zechariah followed through obediently and named the child John, Luke 1:64-67 says his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed and he spoke, blessing God.
And so, we need not despair when it faith waivers. Instead we are to repent, accept God’s forgiveness in Christ and go on subbing to the Lord.
Walking in all God’s commandments, being righteous and blameless, does not mean sinless perfection. In the Psalms the “righteous” were not without sin (Psalm 32). They were those who did not rest in their sin but repented and trusted God, and the Son, born into this world through motherhood, that He has sent.
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