The picture above shows part of the inner courtyard of the Jerusalem temple at the time of Christ. This is the outer curtain. In my book The Temple Curtain, the inner curtain tears. The inner temple curtain separated The Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.

The Temple Curtain is historical fiction for grades 3-9, set in 1st century Jerusalem and Antioch. It brings historical events to life. When Nathan is healed by Jesus (see first chapter below) it is the first of a series of events that change everything for him and his family. Their lives become unpredictable and full of adventure. 
In "Kids' Activities" you will find related questions and activities. 

                                               Chapter 1 – The Hated Crutches
At last they were in front of Jesus. He wore a loose saffron colored robe, the color typically worn by teachers. It accentuated his dark brown hair and beard and deeply tanned skin. Jesus smiled and said, “Nathan, come here.”

He knows my name, thought Nathan.

“Why did you come here from Jerusalem to find me, Nathan?” asked Jesus.

“Please, Jesus, I want strong legs to walk and run. When I grow up, I want to be able to serve God in the temple like my father does.”

“Do you believe that I can heal you?”

“I . . . I hope you can heal me. I really want to believe that you can. I’m trying hard to believe, but …” Nathan looked down at his legs and sighed. “My legs have always been like this.”

 “Nathan, throw down your crutches and walk.” Nathan gripped his crutches more tightly. He looked down at his legs. They were still the same useless legs he’d always had. He was sure that if he dropped his hated crutches and tried to walk, he would fall flat on his face in front of all the people gathered around Jesus. He was confused because he thought that Jesus would touch his legs to make them strong like those of other boys. The crowds around Jesus murmured and pushed inward, impatient for their turns to see Jesus.     

Nathan looked up at Jesus, who smiled again and nodded toward Nathan’s crutches. Nathan took a big breath, bit his lip, and let the crutches fall from his hands. Keeping his eyes on Jesus, he took one small, tentative step . . . then another. He could move his legs for the first time in his life. He was walking! Nathan smiled at Jesus. Then he turned away from Jesus, pushed through the crowd, and tried running—first slowly, then faster—up and down and across the nearby hillside doing what he had previously done only in his most wonderful dreams. He twirled around and jumped as high as he could. Ben joined him and they raced together, finally falling down laughing.

                                                      Chapter 4 --- Darkness and Disobedience  
     Nathan looked intently at Jesus hanging on the cross and saw how much he was suffering. Blood was dripping dripping from his hands and feet where huge nails pierced them, holding him on the rough wood of the cross. His face was bloody because a crown of thorny branches was stuck into his head. Nathen tried to get close enough to thank him.
     "Move back, boy," said a soldier pushing him roughly.
     "But . . . I need to thank Jesus. I'd never walked in my whole life until he healed me."
     The soldier sneered. "Oh yeah? He saved other people but look at him. He can't save himself."
     Nathan pushed nearer to Jesus. When he was close enough, he looked up and tried to speak, but no sound came out. Jesus looked directly at Nathan. As Nathan looked back at Jesus, he felt that Jesus knew everything about him and knew that he had come to thank him. Nathan' eyes filled with tears for Jesus. His pain must be unbearable! Why is he dying? Why don't people stop taunting him" Why, why, why doesn't Jesus, who healed me and so many others, save himself now?

     The boys got up and ran as fast as they could toward home until they were out of breath. As they slowed to a walk, Nathan said, "I want to ask my father what all of this can mean."
     "Your father will be angry."
     "I know, but he'll want to hear all about what we saw today. When Jesus died, there was a violent earthquake and that strange darkness disappeared."

                                                                   Chapter 6 --   A Midnight Visitor
     All was quiet except for a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of their fig tree. Just then, the moonlight revealed a silent figure walking toward them. His sandals made a soft, shuffling sound on the road.
     "Who would be coming toward our home in the middle of the  night?" Eli wondered aloud.
     Nathan gasped, "It looks like Jesus. But that can't be. No, I'm sure of it now. It is Jesus!"
     Jesus entered the garden and said to Eli, "Don't doubt yourself and your conclusions. For years you and other priests have obeyed God's law with rituals and sacrifices, but the blood of bulls, goats, and lambs cannot take away sin. It is my sacrifice on the cross that takes away sin. I offered myself as a sacrifice for sin once for all time--for the sins of people in the past, present and future."

     After Jesus left, Nathan said to his father, "I need to tell the rest of the family. Now! I just can't waid until morning!" Although it was past midnight, he ran into the house.
​     "Jesus is alive! he shouted. "Father and I saw him. We talked with him. He's alive!"
















    

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