36
Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years.
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Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.
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She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.
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When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee.
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There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.
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Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.
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When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual.
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After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first,
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because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.
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When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there.
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Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions.