Luke 2:41-52

Easy-to-Read Version

Jesus as a Boy

⁴¹ Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. ⁴² When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as usual. ⁴³ When the festival was over, they went home, but Jesus stayed in Jerusalem. His parents did not know about it. ⁴⁴ They traveled for a whole day thinking that Jesus was with them in the group. They began looking for him among their family and close friends, ⁴⁵ but they did not find him. So they went back to Jerusalem to look for him there.

⁴⁶ After three days they found him. Jesus was sitting in the Temple area with the religious teachers, listening and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and wise answers. ⁴⁸ When his parents saw him, they wondered how this was possible. And his mother said, “Son, why did you do this to us? Your father and I were very worried about you. We have been looking for you.”

⁴⁹ Jesus said to them, “Why did you have to look for me? You should have known that I must be where my Father’s work is.^[a]” ⁵⁰ But they did not understand the meaning of what he said to them.

⁵¹ Jesus went with them to Nazareth and obeyed them. His mother was still thinking about all these things. ⁵² As Jesus grew taller, he continued to grow in wisdom. God was pleased with him and so were the people who knew him.