A tragic tale The story of the beheading of John the Baptist is one of loss that goes far beyond the tragic death of John. The other 3 main characters are all a cautionary tale of loss that we need to heed. Let's start with Herod. Here was a man who initially "feared John and protected him [John], knowing him to be a righteous and holy man" (Mark 6:20). What went wrong, how did he go from protecting him to ordering his murder? He was saving face. He was too proud to admit he had been ensnared and didn't want to seem the fool in front of his dinner guests. This decision cost him dearly. I believe he became a shadow of himself after this fatal decision, living a life consumed by fear. The bible tells us when he hears of Jesus his thoughts immediately wonder if he is John resurrected. And he tried to see him. Why would someone in Herod's position want to see a carpenter from Nazareth? If he believed he was John maybe he wanted to beg forgiveness? Or maybe he was try...