‘And his disciples came, and took up the corpse, and buried him, and they went and told Jesus.'

Then the faithful disciples of John came, no doubt devastated by the news, and took up John's corpse, and gave it a decent burial. We are probably to see in this an indication that God had not forgotten him even after death (compare Matthew 27:57). It was a brave act, and probably prevented the body being publicly humiliated, for the public exposure of the body of an executed criminal was common practise. (It may, however, have been publicly humiliated before they obtained it). Then they went and informed Jesus of what had happened. This may suggest that they would now offer their allegiance to Him. That it came as a warning to Him is suggested by what follows.

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