Last week we dealt with Jesus’ baptism at the hands of by John the Baptist. I read an amusing story concerning John the Baptist recently that is simply too good not to tell.

It’s about a Bible scholar from this country who travels to Jerusalem every few years where he enjoys walking the streets of Jerusalem’s Old City. Once he was walking down a quiet alley when he was waved into a small shop. Within a few minutes he found himself with a glass of tea in his hand, sitting in the back room of a rug merchant’s stall. The merchant assured him that he had a priceless treasure for him. The merchant reached beneath a pile of carpets and brought out a small bundle which he carefully unwrapped to reveal . . . a human skull.

“This,” said the merchant, “is the skull of John the Baptist.” John the B…