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.
In "Kids' Activities" you will find related questions and activities.
Chapter 1 – The Hated Crutches
Shouts and laughter filled the air as the boys ran and played together. All except Nathan. He sat alone on the ground. Two battered wooden crutches lay next to him, thrown in the dirt.
“Stupid crutches!” he muttered, scooping up handfuls of dirt and pebbles and throwing them at his crutches. His scowl deepened as he stared at his weak, shriveled legs. “Useless legs! Can’t run—or even walk!”
“Time for lessons,” the rabbi announced. The other boys stopped playing, but Nathan continued to sit, staring at his crutches and tossing dirt on them.
“Come on, Nathan,” called Benjamin, running over to him. “We need to go!” Nathan looked up and saw his cousin’s strong, muscular legs. Tossing one last handful of dirt, he sighed deeply and slowly reached out to grab his crutches and shake off the dirt. Using hands and arms made strong by years of dragging lifeless legs, he pushed himself up and started toward the synagogue school with Ben.
Ben slowed down to walk with Nathan. “What’s wrong? You’re not usually so sad . . . and angry.”
“I’ve been thinking about our future. We’ll be turning thirteen soon. I’m part of Aaron’s family and the tribe of Levi. I should be a priest when I grow up. And that’s what I want!” Nathan frowned at his legs. “But I can’t be a priest with my legs. I’ll probably end up as a beggar.”
“Nathan, you’re the smartest boy at school. I don’t know how you memorize all that stuff so easily. You could be a great scholar, studying the scriptures.”
“But I want to be a priest like my father! I want to burn incense, sacrifice animals, and work for God in his temple. I’m not allowed to do that with crippled legs, and I couldn’t do it with crutches anyway.”
“Hey! I have an idea,” said Ben, as they entered the classroom where the other students sat ready for instruction. “Rabbi’s waiting. I’ll tell you after school.”
The boys sat cross-legged on floor mats as the rabbi led them in reciting the Torah, the books of the law. He asked questions and they answered from memory. Nathan tried to imagine what Ben’s idea was. He usually had good ones.
“Nathan, please answer the question. Nathan?”
“Oh, I’m sorry Rabbi. I . . . I wasn’t listening.” The other boys looked at him in surprise.
When school was over at last, Ben and Nathan left together. “Okay, Ben, let’s hear your idea.”
“You’ve heard about that man Jesus who’s going around teaching and healing people, right?”
“I’ve heard talk of him.”
“That’s my idea.”
“What is?”
“We should take you to Jesus.”
Nathan stopped. “To heal my legs?”
“I’ve heard he heals lots of people who are sick, blind, or crippled. Why not you?”
Nathan felt a small glimmer of hope. “Do you really think Jesus can heal my legs? And isn’t he way up in Galilee?”
“I don’t know if he can, but why not try? I heard he’s in Judea now.”
“I can’t go far on crutches. I’ve never even been outside of Jerusalem.”
“Maybe we can borrow a donkey.”
“Yes, I could ride to find Jesus! I’ll ask my father what he thinks, Ben. You ask yours.”
Nathan smiled and his eyes lit up. “This is a great idea!”
That night after supper, Nathan said, “Father, you’ve heard about a man named Jesus? I’ve heard that he heals people. Maybe he could heal my legs.”
“I’ve heard that many people go to hear him teach or to be healed. Because he’s so popular, some of the priests are worried about what he may do.”
“What do you mean?”
“The priests are afraid the people may try to make him a king. That would cause trouble with our Roman rulers.”
“I just want to find him and ask him to make my legs strong. Please Father?”
“The things you hear about his power to heal may not be true, Nathan. I’d hate to have you get your hopes up and be disappointed. And how would you find him? How would you get to him on crutches?”
“Ben and I have a plan. We’ll borrow a donkey to carry me. News of Jesus travels fast. I’m sure we can find him by asking people.”
Eli frowned. “I wonder if Jesus can really do all the miracles people are talking about.”
“Don’t you think it’s worth asking him, Father? Just imagine if I could walk and run. I could help more around the house. If I had strong legs, I’d be able to be a priest in God’s temple when I grow up!”
“I can see that you really want to try, so I’ll talk to your Uncle Simon. I’d like to take you myself, but it’s my time of service in the temple.”
A few days later, Nathan rode on a borrowed donkey. His crutches, tied on behind him, knocked together as the donkey walked on the rocky terrain. They headed out of Jerusalem and into the Judean countryside. Uncle Simon led the donkey and Ben walked next to it. Nathan sat on the donkey, holding tightly to the donkey’s mane with his hands, since his legs were powerless to grip the donkey’s back. They looked out over green and brown rolling hills with occasional herds of sheep. Masses of dark green trees decorated distant ridges. When the donkey tried to stop and eat, Nathan urged him on.
“Look!” yelled Ben, pointing. “Crowds! Maybe that’s where Jesus is.”
Uncle Simon asked some men, “Do you know where we can find Jesus?”
A man pointed. “See where all those people are heading? That’s where the teacher is.”
Nathan saw people streaming from every direction, all heading toward a distant spot where a large crowd had already gathered. To Nathan, the donkey seemed to take forever as it stumbled down the rocky slope. When they reached the edge of the crowd, Nathan slid off the donkey and untied his crutches while Uncle Simon secured the donkey’s rope to a small tree. People jostled and thronged from every side—mothers carrying fussy babies, fathers with little children on their shoulders, and old people bent over in pain.
“Please,” Nathan said to a man in front of him. “I need to get through here to see Jesus. I want to walk.”
“We need to see him too. See my daughter? She’s blind.” Nathan looked at a little bare-footed girl riding on her father’s hips and clutching his arm. The man was tall and strong, with dark hair and a kind face. He gave his daughter a gentle hug and a tickle that made her giggle. “Martha, soon we’ll see Jesus and you’ll be able to see.”
After what seemed like hours, Nathan said, “Uncle Simon, do you think it will ever be my turn to see Jesus? The sun’s hot this afternoon and I’m thirsty. I wish we hadn’t left our water skins on the donkey.”
“Do you want me to run back for them?” offered Ben.
“Stay, Ben,” said his father. “You don’t want to miss seeing what happens when Nathan gets to see Jesus.”
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.
“You can run as fast as I can,” said Ben breathlessly. He hugged Nathan, and together they lay back to rest. Uncle Simon came up to them leading the donkey.
“Nathan, what a gift Jesus has given you! Let’s start for home so we can share the news with your family.”
“But Uncle Simon, I didn’t say thank you to Jesus. I have to go back and thank him!”
“Look at the crowds, Nathan. Jesus is busy healing others who need him. You’ll have to thank him another day.”
On the way home, Nathan and Ben walked together ahead of Uncle Simon and the donkey. When they were almost to Nathan’s house, he ran ahead shouting, “Father, Mother, Rachel, Josiah, come out right away and see what Jesus did for me!”
Nathan’s father ran to him and hugged him, tears in his eyes. “It’s a miracle, a miracle by the power of Almighty God.” Nathan’s mother hugged him, tears of joy streaming down her face. Nathan grabbed his four-year-old brother Josiah and lifted him up, spinning him around in the air. Josiah laughed and squealed in delight.
Nathan hugged his ten-year-old sister Rachel who was, at first, speechless. Then, “Oh, Nathan, I’m so glad that Jesus made you well!”
Three children, joining hands, walked, jumped up and down, skipped, and ran in a circle laughing. Celebrating!
Shouts and laughter filled the air as the boys ran and played together. All except Nathan. He sat alone on the ground. Two battered wooden crutches lay next to him, thrown in the dirt.
“Stupid crutches!” he muttered, scooping up handfuls of dirt and pebbles and throwing them at his crutches. His scowl deepened as he stared at his weak, shriveled legs. “Useless legs! Can’t run—or even walk!”
“Time for lessons,” the rabbi announced. The other boys stopped playing, but Nathan continued to sit, staring at his crutches and tossing dirt on them.
“Come on, Nathan,” called Benjamin, running over to him. “We need to go!” Nathan looked up and saw his cousin’s strong, muscular legs. Tossing one last handful of dirt, he sighed deeply and slowly reached out to grab his crutches and shake off the dirt. Using hands and arms made strong by years of dragging lifeless legs, he pushed himself up and started toward the synagogue school with Ben.
Ben slowed down to walk with Nathan. “What’s wrong? You’re not usually so sad . . . and angry.”
“I’ve been thinking about our future. We’ll be turning thirteen soon. I’m part of Aaron’s family and the tribe of Levi. I should be a priest when I grow up. And that’s what I want!” Nathan frowned at his legs. “But I can’t be a priest with my legs. I’ll probably end up as a beggar.”
“Nathan, you’re the smartest boy at school. I don’t know how you memorize all that stuff so easily. You could be a great scholar, studying the scriptures.”
“But I want to be a priest like my father! I want to burn incense, sacrifice animals, and work for God in his temple. I’m not allowed to do that with crippled legs, and I couldn’t do it with crutches anyway.”
“Hey! I have an idea,” said Ben, as they entered the classroom where the other students sat ready for instruction. “Rabbi’s waiting. I’ll tell you after school.”
The boys sat cross-legged on floor mats as the rabbi led them in reciting the Torah, the books of the law. He asked questions and they answered from memory. Nathan tried to imagine what Ben’s idea was. He usually had good ones.
“Nathan, please answer the question. Nathan?”
“Oh, I’m sorry Rabbi. I . . . I wasn’t listening.” The other boys looked at him in surprise.
When school was over at last, Ben and Nathan left together. “Okay, Ben, let’s hear your idea.”
“You’ve heard about that man Jesus who’s going around teaching and healing people, right?”
“I’ve heard talk of him.”
“That’s my idea.”
“What is?”
“We should take you to Jesus.”
Nathan stopped. “To heal my legs?”
“I’ve heard he heals lots of people who are sick, blind, or crippled. Why not you?”
Nathan felt a small glimmer of hope. “Do you really think Jesus can heal my legs? And isn’t he way up in Galilee?”
“I don’t know if he can, but why not try? I heard he’s in Judea now.”
“I can’t go far on crutches. I’ve never even been outside of Jerusalem.”
“Maybe we can borrow a donkey.”
“Yes, I could ride to find Jesus! I’ll ask my father what he thinks, Ben. You ask yours.”
Nathan smiled and his eyes lit up. “This is a great idea!”
That night after supper, Nathan said, “Father, you’ve heard about a man named Jesus? I’ve heard that he heals people. Maybe he could heal my legs.”
“I’ve heard that many people go to hear him teach or to be healed. Because he’s so popular, some of the priests are worried about what he may do.”
“What do you mean?”
“The priests are afraid the people may try to make him a king. That would cause trouble with our Roman rulers.”
“I just want to find him and ask him to make my legs strong. Please Father?”
“The things you hear about his power to heal may not be true, Nathan. I’d hate to have you get your hopes up and be disappointed. And how would you find him? How would you get to him on crutches?”
“Ben and I have a plan. We’ll borrow a donkey to carry me. News of Jesus travels fast. I’m sure we can find him by asking people.”
Eli frowned. “I wonder if Jesus can really do all the miracles people are talking about.”
“Don’t you think it’s worth asking him, Father? Just imagine if I could walk and run. I could help more around the house. If I had strong legs, I’d be able to be a priest in God’s temple when I grow up!”
“I can see that you really want to try, so I’ll talk to your Uncle Simon. I’d like to take you myself, but it’s my time of service in the temple.”
A few days later, Nathan rode on a borrowed donkey. His crutches, tied on behind him, knocked together as the donkey walked on the rocky terrain. They headed out of Jerusalem and into the Judean countryside. Uncle Simon led the donkey and Ben walked next to it. Nathan sat on the donkey, holding tightly to the donkey’s mane with his hands, since his legs were powerless to grip the donkey’s back. They looked out over green and brown rolling hills with occasional herds of sheep. Masses of dark green trees decorated distant ridges. When the donkey tried to stop and eat, Nathan urged him on.
“Look!” yelled Ben, pointing. “Crowds! Maybe that’s where Jesus is.”
Uncle Simon asked some men, “Do you know where we can find Jesus?”
A man pointed. “See where all those people are heading? That’s where the teacher is.”
Nathan saw people streaming from every direction, all heading toward a distant spot where a large crowd had already gathered. To Nathan, the donkey seemed to take forever as it stumbled down the rocky slope. When they reached the edge of the crowd, Nathan slid off the donkey and untied his crutches while Uncle Simon secured the donkey’s rope to a small tree. People jostled and thronged from every side—mothers carrying fussy babies, fathers with little children on their shoulders, and old people bent over in pain.
“Please,” Nathan said to a man in front of him. “I need to get through here to see Jesus. I want to walk.”
“We need to see him too. See my daughter? She’s blind.” Nathan looked at a little bare-footed girl riding on her father’s hips and clutching his arm. The man was tall and strong, with dark hair and a kind face. He gave his daughter a gentle hug and a tickle that made her giggle. “Martha, soon we’ll see Jesus and you’ll be able to see.”
After what seemed like hours, Nathan said, “Uncle Simon, do you think it will ever be my turn to see Jesus? The sun’s hot this afternoon and I’m thirsty. I wish we hadn’t left our water skins on the donkey.”
“Do you want me to run back for them?” offered Ben.
“Stay, Ben,” said his father. “You don’t want to miss seeing what happens when Nathan gets to see Jesus.”
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.
“You can run as fast as I can,” said Ben breathlessly. He hugged Nathan, and together they lay back to rest. Uncle Simon came up to them leading the donkey.
“Nathan, what a gift Jesus has given you! Let’s start for home so we can share the news with your family.”
“But Uncle Simon, I didn’t say thank you to Jesus. I have to go back and thank him!”
“Look at the crowds, Nathan. Jesus is busy healing others who need him. You’ll have to thank him another day.”
On the way home, Nathan and Ben walked together ahead of Uncle Simon and the donkey. When they were almost to Nathan’s house, he ran ahead shouting, “Father, Mother, Rachel, Josiah, come out right away and see what Jesus did for me!”
Nathan’s father ran to him and hugged him, tears in his eyes. “It’s a miracle, a miracle by the power of Almighty God.” Nathan’s mother hugged him, tears of joy streaming down her face. Nathan grabbed his four-year-old brother Josiah and lifted him up, spinning him around in the air. Josiah laughed and squealed in delight.
Nathan hugged his ten-year-old sister Rachel who was, at first, speechless. Then, “Oh, Nathan, I’m so glad that Jesus made you well!”
Three children, joining hands, walked, jumped up and down, skipped, and ran in a circle laughing. Celebrating!
