17For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Hero'di-as, his brother Philip's wife; because he had married her. 18For John said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19And Hero'di-as had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly. 21But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee. 22For when Hero'di-as' 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 grant it." 23And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." 24And she went out, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the baptizer." 25And 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." 26And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
“Whatever you ask me I will give you”. That is a crazy promise. Herrod was a Jew and as such, he was governed by the 10 commandments. “Thou shalt not murder” is one of the commandments. Perhaps Herrod was so arrogant that death by his hand was not murder. His promise was more important to him than God’s will. To me it is a warning about how our positions of power can put us into difficult predicaments. If we do not have God’s will as our highest value, we can end in a living hell. In our post-modern world, it is easy to become our own Gods. Like the devil’s promise to Eve in the Garden, “do not listen to God. Eat this and you will know the difference between Good and Evil”. Loving God, give me the strength of character to place your will above all things,eg my status and reputation. Continually remind me that I do not know Good and Eveil unless that knowledge has been bestowed upon me by you. Grant me the calrity to see the truth that only you can give.
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