What Do Your Questions Betray? Lk1:20 s4e8

Zechariah, though he is earlier described as a righteous man, betrays himself by a question.  The question seems innocent enough, but we get an angelic clarification.  The angel just calls him out definitively:  you did NOT BELIEVE MY WORDS. This is to a faithful, chosen, professional priest, who has stood the test of time.  If you wanna know, the question is on the surface pretty 'innocent.'  In reality it is not.  Here it is, "How should I know this?"

In this, he betrays his unbelief.  You see, because an angel has come as a messenger.  It is an angel who "stands in the presence of God."  I work at the White House.  And, he even gets his named revealed, Gabriel.  The last time Gabriel was named, it was 500 years before this to Daniel the prophet when in captivity.  Gabriel has been on the job for a long, long, time.  It is not his first rodeo.  

The Gospel of Luke starts with two surprises.  First, that a child is going to be born and his name is JOHN.  Second, that it starts with UNBELIEF from a guy who should not be doubting. Isn't it true that supposedly innocent questions betray so much.  But it is not every day that an angel calls you on it.  Please listen for 7 minutes.