The daughter of Herodias dancing before Herod
The few followers who had still clung to John the Baptist, and visited him in his prison, took up his headless body and buried it. Then they went to Jesus and told him all the sad story of John's death.
But Herod was not yet done with John the Baptist. Soon he began to hear wonderful stories of the new prophet, Jesus the Nazarene, who had risen up in John's place. He heard that amazing powers were shown by Jesus, that the sick were cured, the lepers were made clean, the blind were made to see, and, most wonderful of all, the dead were raised to life.
People were saying to each other, "Who is this great Prophet that is working all these wonders?"
Some said, "This is the old prophet Elijah, who has come to earth again."
Others said, "If he is not Elijah, it may be Jeremiah or some other prophet of the old times."
But Herod was filled with a terrible fear, for his conscience troubled him on account of his wicked deeds. He said:
"I know who this is. It is John the Baptist, whose head I had cut off. He has come to life again. It is on his account that all these wonderful things are taking place!"
Thus the bloody head of John the Baptist, like a terrible ghost, rose before the sight of Herod the king!