In one of the last sermons in our Living Worthy series last year I discussed four different models of Christian grow.  If you were here on that Sunday and you are a geek I’m sure you remember that sermon. 
-We talked about Christian maturity as a slope.  Over time you gradually became more mature.  We liked that model because it accounted for learning more Bible, being able to see how God was working in your life and it kind of felt right. 
-We then talked about the AH HA graph of growth.  It is when the light bulb comes on we make jumps forward in our faith.
-We then talked about two steps forward and one step back.  Anytime we make progress as a Christian, Satan is going to attempt to knock us off track.  So, our Christian growth is gradually increases but Satan resists us.
-The last model was the empty-filled cycle of maturity.  We see where we struggle and work to become empty toward it and then we are filled with the Spirit and become better Christians.

The assumption, of all four of these models, is that over time you become more mature.  Given the more years you are a Christian the more Christ-like you become, the more faith you develop and the stronger you are as a Christian.  Well this morning Luke throws all that out.  Luke says the assumption that over time you gain more faith is not necessarily true. Luke tells two amazing stories the point of which is old religious guys don’t have more faith than young believers. 
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Let’s look at these two stories but let’s tell them simultaneously and at the same time, sort of.  Let’s watch for who has faith.  The old guy in the first story is Zechariah.

Luke 1:5-7   In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.  Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

Here we have the portrait of an old preacher who had been married to the same woman for tons of years.  Both he and his wife were from solid religious families.  Luke tells us Zechariah was upright, he did everything he was supposed to do.  He followed all the laws of Moses blamelessly.  But this couple never had any children, which to place them in the context of their culture, is a bad thing.  Their community would have considered something was wrong with them for God to punish with no kids.  There was a disgrace involved in not having kids.  So, here is the picture I get of Zechariah: he was a do-it-by-the-book, not-very-much-fun, going-through-the-motions, grumpy old preacher.  Don’t anyone say it. “Kind of like you, Tim.”

Now let’s look at the person in our 2nd story; Mary, who is all the way opposite of Zechariah.

Luke 1:26-27   In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

First we learn that Mary is from Nazareth in Galilee.  Zech lived in Judah near Jerusalem and Mary is all the way almost as far as you can get away from Jerusalem and still be in Israel.  Scholars believe that Mary may have been about 13 years old.  Typically, in their culture, girls were given to be married as soon as they were able to have children.  Setting the stage we have an old religious sour-puss preacher and a young country bumpkin girl.  Almost everyway you could look at them they were different; old-young, man-woman, educated-not, married forever- only engaged, religious-clueless, righteous – just a kid.  They are opposites.

Now according to our geek theories of faith development, over time and with more education and with life-experience, the slope theory should have Zech as a pillar of faith and Mary as a rookie.  But that is not what happens.  What is interesting, as opposite as they both, the same thing happens to both of them. Let’s watch. 

Luke 1:8-11  Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,  he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.  And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.  

This is interesting.  Zech’s priestly group was called to duty in Jerusalem.  Most of the time he lived in the hill country of Judea and he did minister kind of things.  He would teach, and preach and be the religious leader of his community.  But every now and then it was his turn to go and serve in the Temple.  And then on this time he was chosen by lot – the throw of the dice – to get to go into the actual temple and burn the incense.  This was, most likely, a once in a lifetime thing.  He got to go into the Holy place.  And there an angel appeared to him; right there beside the altar of incense. Wow, an angel appeared while he was doing the most important activity of his life!

The same thing happened to Mary.

Luke 1:26  In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,

It doesn’t even say what Mary was doing.  She didn’t do anything important. She wasn’t any where important.  She wasn’t important,or so it would seem.  Now watch what the angel says to both of them. First Zech. 

Luke 1:12-17  When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. (Angels aren’t fuzzy little nice creatures rather are big and powerful outfits)  But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.  He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.  Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous-- to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Wow! Zechariah that is all you have ever wanted; not only a son, but a son who is going to be great in the sight of the Lord; a Son who will be a joy and delight.  He is going to be Elijah.  Wow, it doesn’t get much better than this! The word from the angel to Zechariah was spectacular news! But what does Gabriel say to Mary.

Luke 1:28-33  The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."  Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

What was great news for Zechariah was tough news for Mary.  You too will have a great son.  He will be “called son of the Most High” is okay but the part about me being pregnant could be problematic.  Unwed mothers had a tougher time in Nazareth in 4 B.C. than they do today.  But, essentially, Zechariah and Mary get the same news; “You are going to have a great Son.”

Now, here is where we get to the part where our geek theories of spiritual development would predict that Zechariah would show his faith and maturity and you would expect Mary to be a little wishy-washy, uncertain. But watch what happens.

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."

I think you have to read this with a lot of skepticism. I like the way the MESSAGE renders this, “How can you expect me to believe this? I’m and old man and my wife is an old woman.”  At least this is how Gabriel took it.

Luke 1:19-20   The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.  And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."

Bad idea to doubt an angel, especially a big sensitive angel.  They don’t take it well.  Now listen to how Mary received her news.

Luke 1:34   "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

Mary’s question does not doubt the angel, but is puzzled about how this was going to work.  The angel answers her question, although I doubt it helped much.

Luke 1:35-36   The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.  Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.
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What is the difference in Zech and Mary?  Why did Zech have a hard time with the amazing news that the old couple was finally going to have a baby? Listen to Elizabeth’s response.

Luke 1:24-25  After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.  "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."

Why did Zechariah have trouble believing this and Mary accepted the news that she, an unwed mother, was going to have a baby.  This was going to rock her world.  Who would believe her?  “Yeh, right, Holy Spirit’s the father. That’s a new one. Anything you say.”  Listen to Mary’s amazing words.

Luke 1:38   "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

How could Mary have that kind of faith?  Why didn’t Zechariah?   If our geek theory of Christian maturity is even near right we would expect the wise old priest to be a monument of faith not the teenage country girl.  What in the world is going on here?
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Let me speculate a bit here about grumpy, old preachers, since I am an expert on the subject.  We can become blind to something which kids can still see.  With time cataracts can grow over old eyes and keep us from seeing what is crystal clear to young people.  Years of unanswered prayer and dashed expectations and given up dreams have crusted over our eyes.  We can’t see what kids intuitively know. 

Zechariah had prayed fervently from the day he and Elizabeth were married to have a son just like John.  As the years turned into decades his prayers only intensified, “Lord all we ask you for is a child.”  With a desperation driven by disgrace, he questioned his own worthiness.  “Obviously, there is something wrong with me.” His faith began to change.  He did not give up or quit God, instead his faith morphed into… duty.  He became righteous.  He became an exact follower of the law.  No one could fault him for anything.  He was blameless.  But he quit praying.  What was the point?  God wasn’t listening to him.  He became blind to one important element of faith. Now, I skipped a verse in Gabriel’s answer to Mary that is the key to understanding why Zech doubted the angel.

Luke 1:37   “For nothing is impossible with God."

That is what grumpy, old preachers forget that every kid knows.  We have become blind to the wonder.  We have become blind to the miracles.  We have become blind to the way God works. Mary could believe that with God all things are possible.  She had not lost her imagination.  She had not been hardened by the disappointments of life.  She was fresh and new and open and ready to be God’s servant, regardless of what that meant, because she could see God doing anything!

God is a weird and wonderful being.  He does things in his own time.  He does things in his own way.  He moves with his own agenda his wonders to perform and grumpy old preachers often forget this while kids never do. 

So, who are you?  A crusty old preacher whose faith has come to mean following the rules or are you a sparkling young girl open to God’s wonder in her life?  Or, most likely, somewhere in between?  Perhaps, depending upon where you are and how well you see, you may need to join me in a prayer.  If you do join me on the AMEN. 

Lord, I want to see.  I want to see your wonder in the world all around me. I want to see how you can use kids to teach senior citizens.  I want to always be open to your agenda, your time table, your ways.  Lord, help me to always be ready to be your servant, regardless of my age. Lord, keep the disappointments and the discouragements of life from closing my eyes to your angels telling me, “Do not be afraid.”  Bless me not to be a crusty old preacher.  Lord I want to see with the eyes of Mary. AMEN