Jesus the Son of Man

Kahlil Gibran's poetic masterpiece—a luminous portrait of Jesus through the voices of seventy-seven contemporaries who knew him, offering intimate, imaginative glimpses of the teacher, healer, and prophet through the eyes of disciples, skeptics, Romans, and ordinary people whose lives he touched, creating one of the most beautiful and contemplative literary meditations on Jesus's humanity and spiritual presence.

Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931), the Lebanese-American poet and mystic best known for The Prophet, published Jesus the Son of Man in 1928 as his most personal and ambitious work. Rather than presenting Jesus through doctrine or theology, Gibran creates a mosaic of voices—Mary Magdalene, Pontius Pilate, John the Baptist, a Roman soldier, a merchant, a shepherd—each sharing their encounter with Jesus. Through these diverse perspectives, Jesus emerges not as an abstract theological figure but as a living, breathing human being whose wisdom, compassion, and presence transformed everyone he met.

What you'll discover:

• Seventy-seven poetic portraits of Jesus from different perspectives—followers, skeptics, enemies, and witnesses
• Mary Magdalene's intimate reflections on Jesus's compassion and understanding
• Pontius Pilate's conflicted perspective on the man he condemned
• Disciples sharing their memories of Jesus's teachings and presence
• Ordinary people—shepherds, merchants, children—describing how Jesus touched their lives
• Jesus's humanity, wisdom, and spiritual depth revealed through multiple voices
• Gibran's lyrical, poetic prose that reads like sacred poetry
• A contemplative meditation on Jesus as teacher, healer, and embodiment of divine love

Each chapter gives voice to a different person who encountered Jesus. Some loved him, some feared him, some misunderstood him, some were transformed by him. Through this chorus of voices, Gibran creates a multidimensional portrait that honors Jesus's complexity and humanity. We hear Mary Magdalene speak of his compassion for the outcast, a Roman centurion describe his quiet authority, a philosopher reflect on his wisdom, a child remember his gentleness. The effect is both intimate and universal—Jesus becomes real, human, and profoundly spiritual.

What makes this book essential for your contemplative library is its literary and spiritual beauty rather than doctrinal teaching. Gibran, influenced by both Christian mysticism and Sufi poetry, presents Jesus as a universal spiritual teacher whose message transcends religious boundaries. He emphasizes Jesus's humanity—his laughter, his tears, his love for beauty and life—while honoring his spiritual depth. This is not theology but poetic meditation, not argument but contemplation.

Gibran's Jesus speaks in parables and poetry, challenges hypocrisy and rigid religion, embraces the marginalized, and embodies divine love in human form. The book invites readers to encounter Jesus through imagination and empathy rather than doctrine, to see him as both fully human and spiritually awakened. It's a work that speaks to Christians seeking a fresh perspective, seekers from other traditions drawn to Jesus's wisdom, and anyone interested in contemplative spirituality.

The book's influence extends beyond religious literature to poetry and mystical writing. It stands alongside Gibran's The Prophet as a work of spiritual beauty that transcends denominational boundaries and speaks to the universal human longing for wisdom, love, and divine presence.

Perfect for: Readers of Kahlil Gibran and mystical poetry, those interested in literary portraits of Jesus, students of Christian mysticism and contemplative spirituality, readers seeking fresh perspectives on Jesus's life and teachings, anyone drawn to poetic and imaginative spiritual literature, students of interfaith spirituality and universal wisdom, readers of Rumi, Mary Oliver, and sacred poetry, and contemplative readers seeking beautiful meditations on Jesus's humanity and spiritual presence.

This paperback edition presents Kahlil Gibran's poetic masterpiece—a luminous, multifaceted portrait of Jesus that continues to inspire readers with its beauty, wisdom, and profound humanity.