Mark 6:21-29 ~ Ask me for whatever you wish

Mark 6:21-29

But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.


A prophet is  without honor amongst his own people and his own town. What would it have looked like if John the Baptist had not been on the menu. We have looked before at Herodias's daughter with the opinion it is very difficult to be the child of mother like Herodias. Who was known to jump marriage ships when the cargo looked better. We live in an age where we are so aware of parental responsibility.

Personal responsibility is not as popular. We know what happened to Herod and Herodias, they are quite easily found in history books. Herod was raised by a killer who claimed the throne of Judea. Sent to Rome to be educated "the best" way. Herodias' family eventually gained the Emperor's ear and basically were exiled to die in obscurity except for..... Jesus Christ the Risen Lord.

And Herodias' daughter? Not heard from again, mentioned by Josephus.  Except on Wikipedia - Salome. What if she'd asked for freedom for John or literacy programs?  Because. There are many, many written messages on the walls of Peter's home.

What we do with our prayers is important to. We cannot hide from the LORD. Sometimes we don't feel like praying for someone, we do it any way. Sometimes we want something we should not.  What can we do but be honest with the LORD.  We can always stand amazed at His Grace. Forgiveness.

However.

Asking for the head of John the Baptist is probably not a good idea.  Messing with holiness not wise. We all need a reminder as we pray, to say, LORD I should remember this more. I should care more. Draw my prayer attention where it should be.  We should remember to pray at intintervals our generation is just letting our mind idle. If CNN and the news channels can flash message, ticker tape and inserts, why in the world don't we pray for ambulances, people with a Christian message on their car, empty or forlorn Churches. Churches so huge, the community is not easily known to one another.  For people alone in crowded places. For the
handicapped. 

I used to get upset seeing animals dead on the side of the road. The LORD spoke with Larry Brooks, a friend of mine, and he said, rather angrily, "Why do you mourn this? For one thing, we all have a time. And another thing is that raccoon wouldn't have died if it hadn't been so greedy to keep eating and grasping as the headlights were coming on." You know it isn't all about raccoons. It is about what we ask for when the LIGHT is there.

10 Lepers where healed. One came back to give praise.

Prayer is about keeping the conversation going. Even in crowded parking spaces. Bless their darlin little heart. 

Let's all practice what we teach. In the name of Jesus Christ, the LORD. The Light. The Salvation of Mankind.


<><