THE DAUGHTER OF HERODIAS

The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.”
Mk 6:23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
Mk 6:24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.
Mk 6:25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

This is the story above of the daughter of Herodias. Herodias was the wife of King Herod. She was nursing a grudge against John, because he told King Herod that it was wrong for him to be with her, because she was the wife of his brother. Ouch the truth hurts. It hurt John for being willing to speak up and say when someone is doing something, that is not right in the eyes of the Lord. In this case, it cost him his life. It caused me to pause and ask myself, am I willing to speak God's Truth no matter what the cost, or what enemies I may make?

I feel there are more lessons in this story than this. One is the lesson of obedience, and selflessness. The daughter had a chance to get whatever she wanted from the King. Instead of thinking of her own desires, she ran to ask her Mother what shall I ask for? When her Mother gave her the command, it says AT ONCE the girl HURRIED in to the King with her request. Again I pondered, when God commands me, is my reaction the same as this daughters? Do I even think to ask God, God what shall I do with this decision before me?

Lastly I see a lesson of pride. King Herod offered this girl up to half of his kingdom. Obviously Herodias would have benefited greatly, if she had instructed the daughter to take him up on this offer, rather than putting an innocent man to death for speaking truth to her. She gave up half the kingdom because of a revengeful, pride filled heart. I wonder how many times I have given up access to the Kingdom, for not accepting Truth that is in front of no matter how hard it is to hear. God will send people that will speak His Truth in love to us. We have a choice as to whether we will choose to turn an open ear to this Truth, or allow it to harden our hearts further.