5. THE HEAD ON A PLATTER (Mark 6: 16-29, for more advanced)
Background: Herod was not in fact a king but a tetrarch - he ruled over one quarter of Palestine with the Romans’ permission. The historian Josephus tells us approximately the same things about Herod’s married life as the Bible does. According to him Herod’s daughter was called Salome. When arrested John was about 30 years old.
1. Try to find out reasons why Herod had taken his brother’s wife (17-18).
What do you think why Herodias had wanted to change her husband for a new one?
2. Why did John interfere in Herod’s married life although he certainly knew this to be dangerous?
What would you say to a person who would come and tell you about some thing that you did wrong?
3. What do you believe John was thinking while sitting in chains in prison after a successful but short career as a preacher? (Mk 1:5 tells us that he was very popular)
Do you think John regretted at some stage that he had reprimanded Herod?
4. Why was Herod afraid of John even though John was only a prisoner (20)?
Why wasn’t John afraid of Herod even though he was Herod’s prisoner?
There was perhaps in what John said something that interested Herod. What was it?
5. Salome, Herod’s daughter, was at this stage in her puberty. Try to think what this girl’s life had been like so far.
Why didn’t the girl wish for a horse or a new ball dress as a birthday present, such things as young girls usually hope to get?
6. What do you believe John was thinking at his last hours? Do you think John could already understand the meaning of Jesus’ life? John knew the scriptures well along with the prophesies of Jesus in the Old testament. We read Isa 53: 3-6.
7. What may John’s disciples have thought about the fate of their teacher (29)?
What similarities and what differences do you find between the lives and deaths of John and Jesus? (the leader can list these on a paper or on the blackboard)
8. John made people ready to meet Jesus (Jn 1:28). How did John do this?
9. What do you think is the most important message of this story to you and our age?
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