Luke 1: 18 "Zechariah asked the angel, 'How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."
Luke 1: 34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
Two people get their worlds rocked with angelic messages.
Both are startled.
Both are afraid.
Both ask questions based on facts.
One is punished for unbelief & skepticism.
One is praised for unconditional servitude.
It's a subtle difference. But it's there. Mary doesn't question whether it will happen...only how. She assumes God's word is true.
Zechariah can't be sure. He allows the facts of his life to determine his uncertainty. He assumes the message can't possibly be true.
The angel said it best in the explanation to Mary of 'how': "...For nothing is impossible with God."
