# Jesus — Short Fiction character guide > Jesus in Short Fiction by Selma Lagerlöf. **Role:** supporting **First appearance:** 0048-the-holy-night ## Snapshot The Lord who watches Jerusalem with Saint Peter from a tower, silent while His apostle catalogues the sins of the crusaders below. ## Who they are In the fool's tale told to the knights, our Lord stands on a tower above Jerusalem while Saint Peter laments the corpses, the prisoners, and the smoking ruins. He tries only one mild objection about the knights' bravery, then bows His head as if justly rebuked, and leans forward to peer down with closer scrutiny. His silence and His searching gaze are the story's quiet center, weighing the crusaders' revelry against whatever He is looking for. ## In the story ### [Santa Caterina of Siena](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/santa-caterina-of-siena) Referred to as Caterina's beloved Bridegroom, to whom she pledges herself in a mystical betrothal. ### [The Holy Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/the-holy-night) The newborn child in the grotto, whose birth is celebrated by angels. ### [The Emperor's Vision](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/the-emperor-s-vision) The newborn Christ child, seen in the sibyl's vision lying in a stable, destined to be worshiped on Capitol Hill. ### [The Wise Men's Well](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/the-wise-men-s-well) The infant Christ child in the Bethlehem grotto, whose birth is heralded by the star. ### [Bethlehem's Children](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/bethlehem-s-children) The infant Jesus is the target of Herod's soldiers; he is saved by the intervention of bees and lilies he had previously helped. ### [The Flight Into Egypt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/the-flight-into-egypt) The child who commands the palm tree to bend, demonstrating divine authority. ### [In Nazareth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/in-nazareth) Five-year-old Jesus makes clay cuckoos, shares clay with Judas, paints birds with sunshine, and commands them to fly. ### [In the Temple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/in-the-temple) The little boy who performs miracles in the Temple out of compassion for others. ### [Saint Veronica's Kerchief](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/saint-veronica-s-kerchief) Christ whose suffering and sacrifice are central to the legend of the kerchief. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/v) Jesus is the Prophet from Nazareth who healed the vinedresser's wife of leprosy by laying his hand on her forehead. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/vi) The tortured man carrying the cross, seen by Faustina; he seeks refuge with her before being dragged away by executioners. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/vii) Referred to as the great Prophet of Nazareth, whom all the suffering people seek but who has been killed by Pilate. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/viii) The Prophet of Nazareth, condemned to crucifixion; dies at the moment of the earthquake. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/ix) The Crucified One whose likeness on the kerchief brings about Tiberius's cure and conversion. ### [Robin Redbreast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/robin-redbreast) The Crucified One, whose suffering and blood grant the robin its red breast as a reward for compassion. ### [Our Lord and Saint Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/our-lord-and-saint-peter) Our Lord, who patiently tries to console Saint Peter and explains the nature of Paradise. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/ii) Appears in the fool's story, defending Raniero's potential for future piety based on his care for the candle. ### [A Story from Jerusalem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/a-story-from-jerusalem) Appears in the stranger's dream as the figure who opens the Golden Gate and as the revealed Christ in the Hagia Sophia vision. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/characters/jesus - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/characters