Old/New Testament

²⁵ A man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He was a good man and he loved God. He was watching and waiting for the one who would save Israel. The Holy Spirit was on him.

²⁶ The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

²⁷ He came into the temple, led by the Spirit. The parents brought in the child Jesus to do what the law said they should do about him.

²⁸ Then Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God.

²⁹ He said, `Lord, now you are letting your servant go in peace, just as you said.

³⁰ I have seen with my own eyes the one you have sent to save people.

³¹ You have made this way for all peoples to be saved.

³² He is a light which will shine for those who do not know God. He is the one who will bring praise to your people Israel.'

³³ Joseph and Mary were surprised at the things Simeon said about Jesus.

³⁴ Simeon blessed them. He said to Mary, the mother of Jesus, `He will be a sign that people do not believe in. He will make many people in Israel fall and rise.

³⁵ (Yes, a long knife will cut your heart too.) What people think will be made known.'

³⁶ Anna, a woman prophet of God, was there too. Her father's name was Phanuel. She was of the tribe of Asher. She was very old. She had been married and lived with her husband for seven years.

³⁷ Then her husband died. Now she had been alone for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, but worshipped day and night. She talked with God and fasted [did not eat food for a time].

³⁸ While Simeon was talking to Mary, Anna also came along and thanked God. She talked about Jesus to all the people who were waiting for the one who would set Jerusalem free.

³⁹ The parents did everything that the law of the Lord said they should do. Then they went back to Galilee to their own town, Nazareth.

⁴⁰ The child grew. He became strong and very wise. And God blessed him.

⁴¹ Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast [a special time to thank God].

⁴² When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to Jerusalem for the feast as they always did.

⁴³ After the days of the feast were finished, they started home. But the boy Jesus stayed in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it.

⁴⁴ They thought he was coming with the rest of the people. They travelled one day. Then they looked for him among their family and friends.

⁴⁵ But they did not find him. So they went back to Jerusalem and looked for him.

⁴⁶ On the third day they found him in the temple. He was sitting in front of the teachers of the law. He was listening to them and asking them questions.

⁴⁷ All who heard him were surprised at what he knew and his answers.

⁴⁸ His parents were surprised when they saw him. His mother said to him, `Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you. We have been very troubled.'

⁴⁹ He said to them, `Why did you look for me? Did you not know that I had to be in my Father's house?'

⁵⁰ They did not understand what he meant.

⁵¹ He went with them back to Nazareth and obeyed them. But his mother remembered all these things.

⁵² Jesus grew and became wiser and taller. He pleased God and also people.