Daily Word Of God
Mark 6:22-28a
When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she delighted Herod and his guests; so the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me anything you like and I will give it you.’ And he swore her an oath, ‘I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.’
She went out and said to her mother, ‘What shall I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the Baptist.’ The girl at once rushed back to the king and made her request, ‘I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head, immediately, on a dish.’
The king was deeply distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word to her. At once the king sent one of the bodyguards with orders to bring John’s head. The man went off and beheaded him in the prison.
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- Herod knew, on hindsight that he had acted impulsively and recklessly when he made his promises on oath to Salome.
- Herod kept his promises not because he was a man of honour, but because he feared that his guests would jeer at him and would think that he is a weak King.
- Do we make rash and impulsive decisions that would embarrass us? How important is it for us to “save face”? Is Jesus challenging us to renew our commitment to follow His ways of living?