The Boy Jesus at the Temple

⁴¹Every year, Jesus' parents traveled to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. ⁴²When Jesus was 12 years old, they went up to Jerusalem as usual for the festival. ⁴³After the celebration ended, they started the journey home, but the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn't realize it. ⁴⁴Assuming he was in the traveling group, they went a day's journey, and then they looked for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵When they couldn't find him, they turned around and went back to Jerusalem to search for him. ⁴⁶After 3 days, they finally found him in the temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. ⁴⁷Everyone who heard him was stunned by his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸When his parents saw him, they were amazed. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been searching for you with sorrow." ⁴⁹He replied, "Why were you searching for me? Didn't you know that I must be about my Father's business?" ⁵⁰But they didn't understand what he meant. ⁵¹Then he went back to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. His mother held all these things close in her heart. ⁵²Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with both God and people.