The figure of John the Baptist symbolizes the fully developed intellect, the rational mind. And that mind, as John said, must decrease in order for the intelligence of the Most High, which surpasses our highest conception of mind, to find its place in us. John fulfilled all righteousness, which is to say that he followed the letter of the law, and for that he lost his head. This means that there comes a point in the evolution of our spiritual consciousness where the laws of God are internalized, written in our hearts. Knowledge takes a back seat to wisdom, and we begin to realize that laws are tools and not taskmasters. Compassion then becomes the highest law, and all other laws become its servants. As Jesus said, “I will have mercy and not sacrifice.”