Madonna and Child Saint John Postcard

Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist by Giovanni Lanfranco (about 1630–1632) John the Baptist was a Judaean preacher active in the area of the Jordan River in the early 1st century AD. He is also known as John the Forerunner in Christianity. St. John the Baptist was an ascetic Jewish prophet known in Christianity as the forerunner of Jesus. John preached about God's Final Judgment and baptised repentant followers in preparation for it. Jesus was among the recipients of his rite of baptism. 10 facts about John (1) John the Baptist was a real person (2) John’s ministry was situated in the wilderness (3) John was one of several wilderness prophets (4) John’s baptism was based on existing Jewish lustration rites (5) John’s baptism differed in one important aspect (6) John expected another figure to come after him (7) One of John’s disciples was Jesus (8) Jesus and John worked together on their holy mission (9) John was arrested and executed (10) Many Christian denominations consider John a saint