The Temple Curtain

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 dry dirt and pebbles and throwing them at his crutches, stirring up small clouds of dust. 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 next year. 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.”
“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 the 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 a dry, hilly landscape with small bushes and occasional clumps of grass. The donkey tried to stop and eat, but Nathan urged him on.
“Look!” yelled Ben, pointing. “Crowds! Maybe Jesus is over there.”
Uncle Simon asked some men, “Do you know where the teacher Jesus is?”
A man pointed. “See where all those people are heading? Jesus is over there.”