John the Baptist, the messenger sent by God to prepare the way for Jesus Christ, is beheaded by Herod Antipas, the son or Herod the Great and now King of Judea. Jesus realizes that the time for his sacrifice is now also drawing near. The Pharisees, King Herod, and the Romans see Jesus as a threat to the political and social stability or Judea. Known only to Jesus, the chain or events has begun that will eventually lead to his crucifixion on the hill on Golgotha.