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The Boy Jesus at the Temple

After the festival was over,
while his parents were returning home,
the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem,
but they were unaware of it.
Thinking he was in their company,
they traveled on for a day.
Then they began looking for him
among their relatives and friends.
When they did not find him,
they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him
in the temple courts,
sitting among the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions.
Everyone who heard him was amazed
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished.
His mother said to him,
“Son, why have you treated us like this?
Your father and I
have been anxiously searching for you.”

“Why were you searching for me?”
 he asked.
“Didn’t you know
I had to be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand
what he was saying to them.

Then he went down to Nazareth with them
and was obedient to them.
But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature,
and in favor with God and man.
(Luke 2:43-52 NIV)*

May God bless you in 2026!