# John the Baptist — Jesus the Son of Man character guide

> John the Baptist in Jesus the Son of Man by Kahlil Gibran.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** John

**First appearance:** 0017-john-the-baptist-to-one-of-his-disciples

## Snapshot

The desert forerunner whose severed head haunts Salome's memory and whose baptism marks the moment the Galilean is recognized.

## Who they are

He is the locust-eater from the desert whom Nazareth's respectable mothers curse as a scoffer and riot-monger, the prophet who baptized Jesus and named what he saw. His death at Salome's dancing hands becomes the wound she carries, the deed she would ask Jesus to forgive and release her youth from. His shadow falls across the early ministry as the measure of what it costs to prepare a way for a greater one.

## Relationships

### [Luke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jesus_the_son_of_man_se/characters/luke)

_professional_

John the Baptist mentors Luke, guiding him in the ways of prophecy and preparing him for his role as a disciple.

### [Mary Magdalene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jesus_the_son_of_man_se/characters/mary_magdalene)

_social_

John the Baptist and Mary Magdalene are acquaintances who share a common faith but have limited direct interaction.

### [Luke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jesus_the_son_of_man_se/characters/luke)

_professional_

John the Baptist mentors Luke, guiding him in the ways of prophecy and preparing him for his role as a disciple.

### [Luke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jesus_the_son_of_man_se/characters/luke)

_professional_

John the Baptist mentors Luke, guiding him in the ways of prophecy and preparing him for his role as a disciple.

### [Mary Magdalene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jesus_the_son_of_man_se/characters/mary_magdalene)

_social_

John the Baptist and Mary Magdalene are acquaintances who share a common faith but have limited direct interaction.

### [Mary Magdalene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jesus_the_son_of_man_se/characters/mary_magdalene)

_social_

John the Baptist and Mary Magdalene are acquaintances who share a common faith but have limited direct interaction.

## In the story

### [John the Baptist, to One of His Disciples](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jesus_the_son_of_man_se/chapters/john-the-baptist-to-one-of-his-disciples)

Imprisoned, he sends a message of faith and prophecy to Jesus, foreseeing his own death.

### [Salome, to a Woman Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jesus_the_son_of_man_se/chapters/salome-to-a-woman-friend)

Referred to as Jesus' friend, whose death Salome caused.

### [Judas the Cousin of Jesus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jesus_the_son_of_man_se/chapters/judas-the-cousin-of-jesus)

His death is reported; Jesus speaks of him as a voice crying in the land of the deaf.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jesus_the_son_of_man_se/characters/john_the_baptist
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jesus_the_son_of_man_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jesus_the_son_of_man_se/characters