Mary's Question

Luke 1:26-38
When the angel Gabriel visits Mary, telling her of the upcoming events, she questions him as to their unfolding (vs. 34).  God has set forth certain "laws" in nature to give it order and this angel, who has frightened her initially, has just given her a prediction that operates outside those God-given laws.  Certainly her question is understandable under these circumstances.  The angel acquiesces to her request and answers her question, which he was not willing to do for Zechariah (vs. 18-20).  This seems peculiar.  Both do not understand, and both seemingly doubt.  Yet one has her question answered, and the other does not.  Why?  The child that Mary will carry is said to be holy (vs. 35). He is to be the life for us all (John 6:48), necessitating his pure holiness and complete lack of flesh (John 6:63).  John is never said to be any of these things.  Seeing that Jesus will be and must remain holy, Mary (flesh) cannot have any part in him, and the angel must ensure this.  He answers her question and not Zechariah's to keep Mary from acting.  If Mary were to exert effort to try and help God out, even with honest intentions, it would only taint what God has set apart as holy.  It can have no human touch or involvement or else it is no longer holy.  So when she asks how this could possibly take place, he tells her that God, through his Holy Spirit, will birth the child (vs. 35).  And he gives further proof that his testimony is valid by informing her that her relative, Elizabeth, who was barren, is also bearing a son, telling her that nothing is impossible (vs. 36, 37).  Mary submits, yet still investigates the prediction by visiting her relative, and it is validated by the baby inside Elizabeth leaping upon Mary's arrival, showing Mary that the angel is truly from God, bearing his words.  This so overwhelms her that she bursts forth in worship.  See the great lengths God goes to to ensure Mary has no part in this, but allows God to do what he has intended to do?  If Jesus is to remain holy it has to be this way; Mary has to be kept from being involved, from exerting self-effort.  And God, in his sovereignty, ensures this, and will for us too, if we simply allow him.  Fleshly involvement and effort only taints what God has birthed as holy (Romans 7:18).  Paul said he places no confidence in the his flesh (Philippians 3:3), because he understood that if God is birthing something in our lives then he must be allowed to do so, without assistance from us.  As soon as we begin to help out, we hinder God's work.  We must let God and his Holy Spirit within us birth and carry forth the work.  Imagine if Mary had tried to help God out and her and Joseph had "known" each other to help conceive a child.  Would Jesus have still been holy?  How are our lives and work any different?