Mark 6:24-25

Passage

Herodias’ daughter went out to her mother and asked her, “What should I request?”  Herodias said, “The head of John the Baptizer.”  Herodias’ daughter immediately came in and told Herod that she wanted John the Baptizer’s head on a platter.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Herodias’ daughter immediately left the room where the men were gathered.  This tells us a number of things.  Perhaps the girl wasn’t old enough to make her own decision.  More likely, this indicates what we spoke of yesterday in that Herodias had schemed this event from the very beginning and Herodias had not yet told her daughter the final step in the plan.  The fact that Herodias’ daughter goes to her mother before replying is one more indicator that she is just a subtle pawn in the adult scheme of Herodias.

What does it say about Herodias that she would go to such lengths?  What does it also say about Herodias’ perspective on her daughter that she did not give her daughter the full plan ahead of time?  What does it say about Herodias’ daughter in that she goes to her mother before answering Herod’s request?

Second Thought:

Herodias tells her daughter that she wants the head of John the Baptizer.  The request is simple and direct.  The plan has unfolded and Herodias has gotten her request.  She will finally take the upper hand and from a worldly perspective “win.”

Why do we let grudges build to the point of having to “win?”  Why do we let people anger us so much that we have to get the last word and have it be final?  What really happens when the “conversation ends?”  What is the ultimate consequence for Herodias as she gets her way?

Third Thought:

Herodias’ daughter goes back into the room full of men and states her mother’s request.  Her usefulness as a pawn in her mother’s scheme is complete.  However, it is possible that she might be a willing pawn.  After all, she doesn’t seem bothered by the request that her mother makes.  She is being used in a deadly scheme, but she may not be completely innocent, either.

If she is not completely innocent, how would a child get this way?  What does it say about Herodias’s parenting that her daughter would be able to make such a request in the first place?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 6:26-29