Visit to Jerusalem

41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at (A)the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up there according to the custom of the feast; 43 and as they were returning, after spending the (B)full number of days required, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware of it. 44 Instead, they thought that He was somewhere in the caravan, and they went a day’s journey; and then they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 And when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for Him. 46 Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him (C)were amazed at His understanding and His answers. 48 When Joseph and Mary saw Him, they were bewildered; and (D)His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, (E)Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You!” 49 And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that (F)I had to be in My Father’s [a]house?” 50 And yet (G)they on their part did not understand the statement which He had [b]made to them. 51 And He went down with them and came to (H)Nazareth, and He continued to be subject to them; and (I)His mother (J)treasured all these [c]things in her heart.

52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and [d]stature, and in (K)favor with God and people.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 2:49 Or affairs; or business; lit in the things of My Father
  2. Luke 2:50 Lit spoken
  3. Luke 2:51 Lit words
  4. Luke 2:52 Or age

They Found Him in the Temple

41-45 Every year Jesus’ parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up as they always did for the Feast. When it was over and they left for home, the child Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents didn’t know it. Thinking he was somewhere in the company of pilgrims, they journeyed for a whole day and then began looking for him among relatives and neighbors. When they didn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem looking for him.

46-48 The next day they found him in the Temple seated among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. The teachers were all quite taken with him, impressed with the sharpness of his answers. But his parents were not impressed; they were upset and hurt.

His mother said, “Young man, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been half out of our minds looking for you.”

49-50 He said, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be here, dealing with the things of my Father?” But they had no idea what he was talking about.

51-52 So he went back to Nazareth with them, and lived obediently with them. His mother held these things dearly, deep within herself. And Jesus matured, growing up in both body and spirit, blessed by both God and people.

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