The Return to Nazareth

³⁹And when they had performed everything according to tthe Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of uNazareth. ⁴⁰vAnd the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

⁴¹Now whis parents went xto Jerusalem every year at ythe Feast of the Passover. ⁴²And when he was twelve years old, zthey went up according to custom. ⁴³And when the feast awas ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. wHis parents did not know it, ⁴⁴but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, ⁴⁵and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. ⁴⁶After three days they found him in the temple, bsitting among cthe teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸And when his parents7 saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, dyour father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” ⁴⁹And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that eI must be in fmy Father's house?”8 ⁵⁰And gthey did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. ⁵¹And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And hhis mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

⁵²And Jesus iincreased in wisdom and in stature9 and in ifavor with God and man.

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