Luke 2:32-46

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.