2. The passion of John the Baptist (6:14-29)

The subsequent recounting of John’s execution is clearly an anticipation of Jesus' own. In both cases, (1) the Roman authority is sympathetic to his prisoner, whom he regards as innocent (6:20; 15:14); (2) the death sentence is pronounced under outside pressure (6:26-27; 15:14-15); and (3) after death, the body is taken and laid in a tomb (6:29; 15:42-47). Like the Old Testament prophets (Ne 9:26), John and Jesus are killed.