It's worth asking why the synoptic gospels make so much of the character of John the Baptist. He is pretty much irrelevant to Christian theology -- Jesus could be the son of God, preach, perform miracles, get himself crucified, be resurrected and become your Lord and Savior if John the Baptist never existed. The story of his imprisonment and death is entirely irrelevant to the ministry of Jesus.
This has to do somehow with the politics of the era. As I have suggested before, a likely hypothesis is that Christianity emerged from a Jewish sect, specifically the Essenes or an Essene splinter group, and that John is an important figure to that sect. The story of his death as told in Chapter 14 is connected with some very complicated politics of the Roman administration. Some of the details are unclear in the historical record. If you're really interested you can read the Wikipedia article on Herodias.
To put it in as small a nutshell as I can, the man called Herod here is obviously not the Herod who killed all the babies at the beginning of the story, but his successor. He is not however the first Herod's son, and Herod isn't even his real name. There is some confusion about who he actually was and what his real name was. Anyway, Herodias had divorced her first husband, who was indeed Herod II, but for complicated reasons (read the Wikipedia article if you really care) Herod the Great dropped Herod II from the line of succession, and at some point Herodias divorced him, and married the new successor, although we aren't sure who he actually was. In any case, John the Baptist opposed the marriage, which is why he got in trouble.
It is strange indeed that Herod says in the beginning that Jesus is John the Baptist risen from the dead because, obviously, at this point John the Baptist is not dead but very much alive, in Herod's prison. So you'll have to figure that out for yourself. Anyway, as we read on, when Jesus learns of John's death, it basically doesn't matter, he just goes on preaching and performing miracles as if nothing has happened. This is where we get the loaves and fishes. Remember that Satan tempted Jesus by proposing that he miraculously create food, and Jesus intimated that would be an improper use of his powers. It seems he changed his mind. Then he walked on water.
14 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.
6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
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