And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

Matthew 14:12

And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

Mark 6:29

And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.

Luke 9:9

One of the saddest events recorded in the Bible has just occurred but there are some important things we need to glean from this tragedy.

John’s disciples heard about what had happened so they came and gave John a proper burial. Then, they did as their teacher had taught them. They went to the Lamb of God, Jesus, and told Him. These faithful men continued to try to follow the Lord even under these horrible circumstances.

Herod…  Honestly, I am not sure what Herod is doing next! He desires to see Jesus as well but I think it is simply to try to see some miracle or wonder. 

God’s judgment in the matter is recorded for us through historians.

The historian Nicephorus records the following about the daughter of Herodias.

This same person Salome, the daughter of Herodias, as she walked over a river which was frozen in the winter season, the ice broke, and she fell in, and the pieces of ice cut off her head; the “lex talionis”, the law of retaliation, was righteously executed on her.

(History I. 1. C. 20)

Josephus, the Jewish historian, records this about the Herods:

Jerome says, because she could not bear truth, that tongue which spoke truth; she plucked out, and pierced it through and through with a needle, as Fulvia did Cicero’s: but this triumph over the faithful reprover of her, and Herod’s vices, did not last long; for quickly after this, they were stripped of their honours and riches, and deprived of the kingdom, and banished to Lyons in France, where they died.

(Antiquities of the Jews I. 18. C. 8)

It is comforting to know that God brings His children safely home to Him regardless of what the world does to them. It is also comforting to know that we need not concern ourselves with revenge because God is a good judge.

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Romans 12:19