Luke 2:20-46

²⁰The shepherds went back to watching their flocks, glorifying and thanking God for all that they'd heard and seen, for it was just as they'd been told.

²¹After eight days, the time came for the baby to be circumcised, and he was named Jesus. This was the name given to him by the angel before he had even been conceived.

²²When the time of their purification according to the law of Moses was finished, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,

²³as the law of the Lord states, “Every firstborn son must be dedicated to the Lord.”

²⁴There they made a sacrifice, as God's law also states, of “a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.”

²⁵Living in Jerusalem at that time was a man called Simeon. Simeon did what was good and was very devout. He was waiting expectantly for the hope of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

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

²⁷Following the Spirit's leading, he went to the Temple. When Jesus' parents brought in the little boy to be dedicated as required by the Law,

²⁸Simeon took Jesus in his arms, thanked God, and said,

²⁹“Lord and Master, now you can let your servant die in peace as you promised,

³⁰because I have seen for myself your salvation

³¹which you have prepared for everyone.

³²He is a light that will show you to the nations, the glory of your people Israel.”

³³Jesus' father and mother were shocked at what Simeon said about him.

³⁴Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Jesus' mother Mary, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and many to rise. He is a sign from God that many will reject,

³⁵revealing what they really think. For you it will feel like a sword piercing right though you.”

³⁶Anna the prophetess also lived in Jerusalem. She was the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. She had been married for seven years,

³⁷and then she had been widowed. She was eighty-four years old. She spent her time at the Temple in worship, fasting and praying.

³⁸She came up to them right at that moment, and began praising God. She spoke about Jesus to all those who were looking forward to the time when God would set Jerusalem free.

³⁹Once they had completed everything God's law required, they returned to their home town of Nazareth in Galilee.

⁴⁰The child grew strong, and was very wise. God's blessing was with him.

⁴¹Jesus' parents traveled to Jerusalem every year for the Passover festival.

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

⁴³When the festival had finished and it was time to return home, the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem, but his parents didn't realize this.

⁴⁴They assumed he was with all the others traveling home. A day passed before they started looking for him among their friends and relatives.

⁴⁵When they couldn't find him they returned to Jerusalem to look for him there.

⁴⁶It was three days before they found him in the Temple. He was sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.