40
The child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God's favor was with him.
41
Every year Jesus' parents would go to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.
42
When he was 12 years old, they went as usual.
43
When the festival was over, they left for home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents didn't know it.
44
They thought that he was with the others who were traveling with them. After traveling for a day, they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.
45
When they didn't find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.
46
Three days later, they found him in the temple courtyard. He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions.
47
His understanding and his answers stunned everyone who heard him.
48
When his parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother asked him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been worried sick looking for you!"
49
Jesus said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you realize that I had to be in my Father's house?"
50
But they didn't understand what he meant.