The Hand That Trumps All Hands - Are you in? - Mark 6:14-29

Mark 6:14-29
INTRO

The hand that trumps all hands…are you in?

(Mark 6:14-16)

The mighty hand of God has been moving through the person and work of
Jesus Christ throughout the region of Judea…what today is generally referred
to as Palestine as is has been dating back to the 5th Century…People coming
to him from every quarter. Let’s take a look at this region on the map. NOW…
to be sure we are clear on some terminology. Judea is a Greek and Roman
adaption of the name “Judah”, which originally encompassed the territory of the
Israelite tribe of that name and the ancient kingdom of Judah. Judea was under
Roman rule who placed Herod the Great as a client king over Judea. The
Herod that committed child genocide when Jesus was a baby…that Herod. The
Roman Senate granting him (Herod the Great) the title “King of Judea”. The
territory he ruled was referred to as the Herodian Kingdom of Judea.
Meaning he ruled this region under Roman overlordship, under Roman’s
sovereign rule….and upon the death of Herod the Great, the Romans divided
his kingdom among three of his sons and his sister (Salome I).
Divided the subordinate ruling of the Herodian Kingdom into fourths which is
where we get the term tetrarch…as in… “Herod the Tetrarch” …tetrarch meaning (ruler of a quarter)
Looking at the map you can see these quarters divided between them.
Herod Antipas whom is mentioned here in the opening (verse 14) became…
Herod the Tetrarch. (Ruler of a quarter). And his quarter that he governed
under Roman oversight encompassed Galilee and Perea. His brother
Archelaus ruled over this region here and his other brother Philip, whom we’ll
hear more about….ruled over this region. His sister, Salome I, governed over
areas not depicted here by the color map since her ruling was short lived
due to her death wherein the areas she ruled got incorporated into Archelaus’s
quarter.
NOW, I share all that to show the expanse of the spreading of the fame of
Jesus. Jesus didn’t travel far during his ministry years. Here is the Sea of
Galilee that he boated across on many occasions, on the edge of which is
Capernaum (his home base if you will) located in this upper region, and then
his hometown of Nazareth where he grew up in Mary and Joseph’s home
which lies right about here. All in the territory that King Herod… Herod
Antipas ruled over.

The Fame of JESUS is spreading throughout all the territory. Demons are
getting cast out, the lame are made to walk, the blind to see, people are being
healed of their diseases, are being brought back from the dead, the kingdom
of heaven is being proclaimed in great wisdom and authority. His followers
sent by Jesus go throughout the region in pairs…covering more ground…doing
similar works in his name…the name of Jesus. Who is this guy? That was
the question circulating. People were trying to make sense of it and they
had three popular beliefs to answer that question. First, that Jesus is either the
revised John the Baptist, or that he was Elijah…Elijah being the one who was
caught up to heaven without dying and suspected to return at the end of
time….it’s gotta be Elijah back in action. And lastly, that Jesus was a prophet
like one of the prophets of old.
The 3 primary beliefs held to at this time, one of which, King Herod held to
when the question is posed in his mind upon hearing about the fame of this
Jesus. Who is this guy? Herod believed that Jesus was John the Baptist back
from the dead….whom Herod had beheaded. We read that in (verse 16). That’s
how King Herod answered that question. “Jesus’ name had become known
to him.” He is dealt a this hand..this royal flush. “Jesus’ name had become
known to him.” What is King Herod to do with the name of Jesus? What are
you to do with the name of Jesus? The life and ministry of Jesus is
irrefutable. Hearing the gospel message. Hearing about this man from
Galilee who taught of the Kingdom of God, who taught that people
are. to. repent, who taught that judgement. is. coming…whom God the
Father aﬃrmed his teaching with countless signs and mighty works done in the
power of the Holy Spirit, who ultimately went to the cross and was crucified
just as he said he would and rose the third day just as he said he would. What
is one to do upon “Jesus’ name becoming known to them?.”. There is no
neutral ground with Jesus. Even doing nothing is doing something. Doing
nothing is not repenting, it’s not seeking..it’s not saving faith…it’s not being
reconciled to God…it’s not having peace with God.
King Herod is dealt this hand, same as you…same as I….same as anyone
upon “Jesus’ name becoming known to them?.”… The hand that trumps all
other hands. Is Herod all in?…or is he not? Are you? In answering this
question for Herod, MARK calls our attention back to an account Herod had
with a man who…was all in for the name of Jesus. Every chip..if you will…put
into the pot….not holding back, not sparing anything.
Mark brings us back to Herod’s encounters with John the Baptist. Starting up
in (verses 17-20) in our text this morning.
Our first point

BODY
1)

FIRST POINT - (Mark 6:17-20). Calling a Spade a Spade

And what is certain about John the Baptist…is that he called a Spade a
Spade. Speaking of himself in regards to the name of Jesus,…John said he
was “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness to prepare the way for the
coming Messiah.” That’s all I am… ‘a mere voice giving attention to the
Messiah to come whose sandal I’m unworthy to untie.'
And upon seeing
Jesus - John said - “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the
world.” “He (Jesus) must increase and I (John) must decrease”.
He called it how it is.
Upon encountering Herod during his ministry…what does John do? He calls a
Spade a Spade….and more than once.
John the Baptist called a Spade a Spade - It didn’t matter who it was. King
Herod here divorced his first wife Phasaelis (was her name) in order to marry his
brother Philip’s wife Herodias and John publicly called out King Herod’s
immoral relationship with his own sister-n-law whom he took as his wife. (Verse
18) states that plainly…. “John had been…had been…not a one time remark…
but John had been saying to Herod (the ruler of a quarter - King Herod) that it
was not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” That’s bold. This is to the
King. John said it..how it is and it got him placed in prison and ultimately
beheaded. Great is the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Calling a spade a spade. How are we with doing this ourselves?
Firstly with yourself. Your frank, direct acknowledgment that you are a wretched
sinner in need of saving. Your unreserved decision to forsake your old life of
sin, to die to self, pick up your cross and follow JESUS which means learning
of him that you may live as he lived in this world. Delighting in him, seeking him,
pleading with him for his life to manifest within in you…to be changed at the
heart level…..that His desires would be your desires. To hate sin and be quick
to repent when convicted of it. To pray for conviction of sin, to not only pursue
holiness, but to “strive for holiness in the fear of God.” (2Corinthians 7:1;
Hebrews 12:14) Tell it how it is with yourself…examine yourself in such a
manner. And then testify…
Calling a spade a spade. Exposing sin; Exposing darkness (Ephesians 5:11)
“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”

Expose them without any reservation to the feelings or strained formalities that
may result. Like the disciples Jesus sent out 2 by 2. We can follow their
example as well who “went out, glancing back to (verse 12 of this chapter)
who went out and proclaimed that people should repent.”
Calling a Spade a Spade - people should repent - we will give an account of
our lives - we are all guilty before a holy God - God’s just wrath is upon all for
our sin, our rebellion against him, breaking His, the Author of Life…His
commandments..His Laws, falling short of the glory of God, committing sins
of omission and sins of commission. Not doing what we should do and doing
what we ought not to do. Unless we repent, confess that we are sinners, turn
from our sin, denouncing it, stop practicing it and rather practice a life of living
to the glory of God….then we are dead in our sins and destined for punishment
in HELL. Calling a spade a spade.
This is the message the world needs to hear plainly, frankly, not beating
around the bush about it. In all sincerity and purity, share the gospel message
without any reservation. God grant us the courage to tell the truth regarding
the nature of the thing in question, speaking directly about it even if it is
considered coarse, impolite, or unpleasant. This is the message I need to hear
spoken to myself. To not coddle myself, but rather speak frankly and plainly
as to what is true.
There is a cost to courageously living this out. It cost John his head. It may
cost you your head position in the workplace, your head lead on the Dean’s
list…your head status hold amongst your peer group. BOTTOM LINE.
In righteousness, Calling a Spade a Spade will have a cost.
And for me,
…..this is SO hard to do. It is. I error on the side of caution desiring to rather
thread it in in a manner that it would be received. That’s where I operate when
interacting with a non-believer or even a believer for that matter whom I may
have a word of caution or rebuke and so I’m Straight up I’m challenged with
this approach of Johns…not in the truth of it….Lord know…but how to put it
into eﬀective practice. I am. How did John have a welcomed audience with
Herod and YET call it so bluntly how it is?
I believe the text provides some helpful insight into how. Notice with me in
(verse 19) “And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to
death.”
So, number 1 - John was okay with rejection…he accepted that as a likely
outcome. And this wasn’t just a light or modest shunning felt in the

neighborhood, workplace or wherever…NO..it was hostile rejection to the
extreme. She wanted to put him to death. John accepted rejection to the
greatest extent as a cost to speaking truth plainly and he did not hold back in
doing so. I. need. to. be. okay. with. rejection. We all do. That’s a tough pill
to swallow….but we must swallow it because being all in for Jesus means
rejection will come. But that is not the only thing that comes. Now watch this
in (reading through verse 19 and 20) “Herodias had a grudge against him and
wanted to put him to death. But she could not for Herod feared John, knowing
that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard
him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.”
Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. Oh The
power of a life lived in the fear of The Lord. Herod’s wife outright rejects John,
holds a grudge against him, wants him dead while Herod is greatly perplexed by
John. Recognizes John as one set apart and to be regarded well even though
he is a prisoner. As a result, John holds and audience with Herod who hears
him gladly. No doubt John speaking more truth to him at each hearing…
That is something we ourselves can take to heart as we aim to be bold in our
faith. Rejection will take place to be sure…while there will also be a listening
ear to the ones who bear the name of Jesus both in word and in character. Do
you see the connection there? The words one speaks in the name of Jesus
coming from the lips of one whose life reflects it BEARS… MUCH… WEIGHT…
Let me say it this way - “Bearing the image of Christ in your life brings weight
to the message of Christ you bear upon your lips.” You see - - - One can share
about Jesus but if their character is not aligned…how serious can one take
them? It’s best they don’t speak at all unless it’s confessing sin and repenting.
It’s like one oﬀering basketball pointers who talks a big game oﬀ the court
but when they are on the court…they can’t even dribble let alone shoot. They
are not going to be taken seriously…no one will listen to what they have to
say. BUT, when they got game…when they demonstrate mastery on the
court…their audience is tuned in. So it is when ones character reflects the
name of Jesus they bear…people will listen to what you have to say. They
may not act on it. But they will listen and our participation with God is to be
“ambassadors for Christ as ones God is making His appeal through…to be
reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). So trust the conversion to God and
the working of His Spirit….while being a faithful ambassador for Christ.
And this doesn’t mean it can’t be done without tact. Granted an audience…
set apart as one who fears the Lord…one can call a spade a spade in a tactful

manner that is sincere, gentle, discerning and respectful. Speaking plainly
about the issues we face in this world. When in discussion with people
wrestling through the brokenness of this world..the heart aches…the
sorrows….to inform them plainly that people should repent. That sin is the
cause of our disorder, our strife, our confusion, heartache, hopelessness and so
on in this world. SIN is the problem. We are all guilty of it and we all should
repent. Repentance is the answer. Confessing our sin, turning away from sin,
turning toward obedience to God trusting in the forgiveness made available
through faith in Jesus Christ who bore our sin on the cross. That is the answer.
And do so having no air whatsoever of being arrogant, condescending, critical
or smug about it because you yourself know your own wretchedness and the
hope of salvation you have ‘ONLY’ through Jesus Christ. Speak frankly and
plainly about that….BY GOD…emphasize that. That YOU yourself are in
desperate need of a savior. Make known that (John 3:16-18) “God sent His
only begotten Son into the world not to condemn the world….the world was
condemned already…but rather…God gave His only Son in order that the world
might be saved through him.” Jesus did what we could not do. He fulfilled all
righteousness. He lived the sinless life. He pleased the Father on our behalf
whom then may receive, through faith in Him, the blessing of the Father and
also pardon for our sins through faith in him who satisfied the wrath of God
for our sin on the cross. It’s the double cure. Saved from wrath and made pure.
King Herod, like everyone else, needed to hear this and John did not hold
back declaring the truth to him. Sadly, Herod, dealt this Royal Flush hand by
John the Baptist…truth is spoken to him, sin is called out, the way of hope,
truth and life is pointed to, he recognizes and even fears John as a righteous
and holy man…YET he is unwilling to forsake his sin. He is not all in.
He was drawn to light, you see, but he didn’t act on it. Didn’t repent of living
in sin. Meanwhile his wife, reminiscent of the queen of hearts from Alice in
Wonderland saying “Oﬀ with his head” about John the Baptist…she was given
and opportune moment to devise a plan to see that wicked act through.
And indecisive Herod is none the wiser. Remaining unrepentant and more
concerned about gratifying his sinful flesh than repenting of sin and turning to
Jesus for salvation,…he therefore gets played by his wife.
Our Second point.
2)

SECOND POINT (Mark 6:21-28)- The foolish one gets played

Where our attention now goes in the story of this account
Perhaps you are familiar with the scene. Herod throws a BIG birthday Bash
for himself. Invites nobles and military commanders and the leading men of
Galilee for a large banquet. Prominent leaders from three societal groups. No
commoner here. Men of high status gathered to party in honor of King Herod’s
birthday. Herodias his wife, knowing her husbands cravings, knows just what to
do. She instructs her daughter, no doubt young and attractive, to dance for
Herod and his guests.
My guess is that this was much more than the Macarena dance. Her
entertaining dance was clearly intended to sensually arouse the men gathered.
A sensual dance. Implied by the King’s response to it. Which sheds light on
how deplorable this woman Herodias was. Using her very own daughter as
mere bait. Who herself was not a far cry from her mother in that we have no
indication she resisted any of her mother’s scheme. (Proverbs 11:22). “Like a
gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.” The girl’s
seduction lures King Herod to the bait that the hook may be sunk in deep.
THE foolishly impulsive King Herod…in response to the visual delight she
provided for him said to the girl (verse 22-23) “Ask me for whatever you wish,
and I will give it to you.” Promising her in front of all his guests, “Whatever you
ask me, I will give you up to half my kingdom.”…This is the same figure of
speech King Ahasuerus said to queen Esther who found favor in his sight.
(Esther 5:3, 5:6, 7:2). A figure of speech connoting their delight in them and
willingness to act on that delight.
Herod, at this moment is very much in a state of euphoria. It’s his birthday…
the best day of the year for him…his house is filled with prominent leading men
of Galilee there to honor him on this very special day…food is in abundance…
no doubt the wine is flowing…all taking place in the presence of visual
entertainment to feast upon. HEROD, feeling mighty good here, goes from a
state of exceeding flesh indulgence. His ego, his gut and his sensual
passions are spiked in pleasure and then, in a fleeting moment,…come
crushing down to exceedingly sorrowful. Yet another example of the “fleeting
pleasures of sin”. (Hebrews 11:25) Gone in an instant. After foolishly promising
the girl anything she would ask of him…in the presence of all his guest…she
does the unthinkable. (Verse 24-25) “Prompted by her mother” (Matthew 14:8)
she asks for “The head of John the Baptist.” Matthew’s gospel includes that
she asked for the head to be brought in on a platter. On a platter….How
grotesque. Shedding further light on the desensitized immoral behavior of
Herodias, her daughter and the people gathered who oﬀered no objection to this

horrific act. The King, (verses 26-28) though “exceedingly sorry, immediately
grants the request because of his oaths and his guests who witnessed his
promise made to the girl.” Orders are given by Herod…John is beheaded in
prison and his head is brought to the girl who brings it to her mother whose
wicked plan is now disgustingly complete.
A fool wrapped up in his own folly will be deceived (Proverbs 14:8). God will
not be mocked. Half hearted, indecisive, doubting the gospel, tossed to and fro,
no Christ centered backbone, no spine in christian resolve…fool, will be played.
Opportunity will come and you will fall. Herod was perplexed by the light of
John the Baptist but never repented. Herod kept John safe, gladly listened to
him but never acted in faith. Never courageously took a stand for Truth. And
when he is again dealt this Royal Flush. The name of Jesus comes known to
him. He doesn’t repent and turn to Jesus in faith to be forgiven and receive
new life. Which he could have done… NO ONE is rejected who sincerely
repents and follows Jesus. NO ONE. Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is
available to all who believe and repent.
But King Herod did not repent. Rather he responds in paranoia. His guilty
conscience over John….tormenting him more now than when John was alive.
And what’s revealing about Herod’s response…or lack there of….is how it
grows darker and darker. What begins with him being in doubt…not
knowing what to do about the person John and the Truth John was speaking to
him….his perplexity over it yet doing nothing about it…leads to him ordering the
execution of John by beheading…then a desire to kill Jesus as (Luke 13:31)
tells us and then ultimately…..When he got to be in the presence with the light
of this world…The Bible tells us he treated Jesus with contempt, mocked him
and ultimately sent Jesus away.
So be warned….for so too will be your end
if we are you remain half hearted toward Jesus; having no spine in christian
resolve. I am preaching to myself as much as to you.
CONCLUSION
Which brings us back to the Royal Flush hand we, along with Herod, are dealt.
Having “Jesus’ name becoming known to you….Are you all in?.” What are you
to do with the name of Jesus? Are you all in? Do you love Jesus? Do you
delight to learn of him and obey him?…OR are you one to gamble?…glad to be
acquainted with Jesus and the Bible with ready answers even to questions
discussed, YET in a moment later willing to engage in some crude act or
viewing it without a whim that God would be displeased or a tinge yourself that

it is distasteful/filthy. At the drop of a hat being ready to lie in the name of self
preservation to even not flinching to seize the opportunity to elevate oneself at
the cost of putting another down..
These, along with other expressions of not being all in, do not follow suit - with
being born again…The Bible begs to diﬀer…think twice about calling yourself a
christian if this be so. What is all in?…of having “Jesus’ name become known
to you?” The very thing John the Baptist, Jesus, the Disciples and by the
grace of God myself preach. REPENTANCE. Acknowledging you are a sinner
in need of salvation. Turning away from sin and coming to God humbly
begging Him to have mercy upon you. Trusting in the saving work of His Son
Jesus Christ and then committing yourself to a life long pursuit of knowing him
whereby his life is formed in you. Being all in is recognizing with great comfort
“that your life is not your own. That you’ve been bought with a
price.” (1Corinthians 6:20; 7:23) And therefore the life you now live is lived in
taking pleasure in God which brings glory to his name.
That is being all in for JESUS. - PRAY
COMMUNION
The final verse (verse 29) in our passage this morning is reserved for this time
in our worship service. YOU SEE, when John’s disciples heard about what
happened, “they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.” No indication
that John’s head was with the body. So this very may well have been just his
body without his head. The sight of which did not deter his disciples from
retrieving his body and providing John a proper burial. For they believed, along
with John, what Paul expressed to the Philippian church. (Philippians 3:8-11).
That indeed, those all in for Jesus “count everything as loss because of the
surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus their Lord. For his sake suﬀer the
loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that they may gain Christ
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of their own that comes from
the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from
God that depends on faith - that they may know him and the power of his
resurrection, and may share his suﬀerings, becoming like him in his death, that
by any means possible they may attain the resurrection from the dead.”
That is the posture of one who is all in for Jesus. While not in any way
presuming upon God’s grace, they at the same time, can rest confidently in it.
Confident that one day, by faith in Jesus, we too will be raised up to be with
him forever.

It is with that posture that I invite you christian to come forward and partake of
the bread and the cup…the elements of communion that proclaim the memory
of his death till he returns.
Benediction (John 3:30)


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