What does Luke 1:35 mean?
When Gabriel told Zechariah, an aging priest, that he and his wife would conceive, the priest reacted with doubt (Luke 1:13, 18). He was unsure if the angel's message was true. In response, Gabriel temporarily struck the man mute (Luke 1:19–20). Six months later, Gabriel has delivered an even more amazing message, this time to a young woman named Mary (Luke 1:26–28). The priest's son would be an important herald of the Messiah (Luke 1:16–17). Mary, however, will give birth to the actual Son of God, Jesus: the Messiah Himself (Luke 1:31–33).Mary's response is like Zechariah's in that it comes in the form of a question. Unlike Zechariah, she does not doubt "if" Gabriel's words are true. Instead, she wonders "how" they will be fulfilled (Luke 1:35). And so, Gabriel reacts with more information, rather than a rebuke.
When Adam sinned (Genesis 3:9–12), he brought a "sin nature" to humanity, which was passed down to all of Adam's children (Romans 5:12, 17–18). Jesus' conception by the Holy Spirit, rather than by a human father, accomplishes two purposes. It makes Jesus free from sin that all fathers pass to their children. It also fulfills prophecy that the Messiah would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). This means Jesus will quite literally be the "Son of God" (Luke 1:32; 22:70; John 3:16; Matthew 14:33). He will be born holy, lacking any sin at all, and remain that way forever (Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
It would be easy to forget that Mary's unexpected pregnancy, during her betrothal to Joseph (Luke 1:26), would have created a social dilemma. Joseph, for his part, was inclined to break the planned wedding when he learned she was expecting a child not his own (Matthew 1:19–20). Even when Jesus is an adult, rumors about His birth will be used as insults by His enemies (John 8:19, 41). The news that she would conceive as an unmarried woman implied a burden of its own. And yet, Mary will respond with joyful obedience (Luke 1:38).
