The Annunciation and Zechariah's Response

The Annunciation

• Gabriel, an angel, announces to Mary that she will conceive and bear a son, Jesus.
• Mary is surprised and asks how this can be since she is betrothed.
• Gabriel responds that the Holy Spirit will come upon her, and God's power will overshadow her.
• The child will be called holy, the Son of God.
• Mary's cousin, Elizabeth, is also pregnant, despite being older.
• Nazareth, where Mary lives, is viewed as insignificant.

Zechariah's Response

• Zechariah, a priest, is told by Gabriel that his wife, Elizabeth, will bear a son.
• Zechariah is initially skeptical, unable to speak until after the event.
• He doubts that something so remarkable could happen, questioning the feasibility of a miraculous event.

Mary's Character

• Mary is described as intelligent, prayerful, modest, and resolute.
• She is receptive to God's will.
• Her initial reaction to the angel's message is likely wonderment, further emphasizing her awe and surprise at the announcement.

Setting and Significance

• The setting of Nazareth in Galilee contrasts with the grandeur of Jerusalem.
• Nazareth was viewed as insignificant, which highlights the importance of divine intervention, and the humble origins of Jesus.