John the Baptist had said concerning Christ, He must increase, but I must decrease, John iii. 30. The morning-star is here disappearing, and the Sun of righteousness rising to its meridian lustre. Here is, I. The martyrdom of John; his imprisonment for his faithfulness to Herod (ver. 1-5), and the beheading of him to please Herodias, ver. 6-12. II. The miracles of Christ. 1. His feeding five thousand men that came to him to be taught, with five loaves and two fishes, ver. 13-21. 2. Christ's walking on the waves to his disciples in a storm, ver. 22-23. 3. His healing the sick with the touch of the hem of his garment, ver. 34-36. Thus he went forth, thus he went on, conquering and to conquer, or rather, curing and to cure.
The Death of John the Baptist.