35. and you, Mary, will suffer as though you had been stabbed by a dagger. But all this will show what people are really thinking.”
36. The prophet Anna was also there in the temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. In her youth she had been married for seven years, but her husband had died.
37. And now she was eighty-four years old. Night and day she served God in the temple by praying and often going without eating.
38. At that time Anna came in and praised God. She spoke about the child Jesus to everyone who hoped for Jerusalem to be set free.
39. After Joseph and Mary had done everything that the Law of the Lord commands, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee.
40. The child Jesus grew. He became strong and wise, and God blessed him.
41. Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for Passover.
42. And when Jesus was twelve years old, they all went there as usual for the celebration.
43. After Passover his parents left, but they did not know that Jesus had stayed on in the city.
44. They thought he was travelling with some other people, and they went a whole day before they started looking for him.
45. When they could not find him with their relatives and friends, they went back to Jerusalem and started looking for him there.
46. Three days later they found Jesus sitting in the temple, listening to the teachers and asking them questions.
47. Everyone who heard him was surprised at how much he knew and at the answers he gave.
48. When his parents found him, they were amazed. His mother said, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been very worried, and we have been searching for you!”
49. Jesus answered, “Why did you have to look for me? Didn't you know that I would be in my Father's house?”
50. But they did not understand what he meant.
51. Jesus went back to Nazareth with his parents and obeyed them. His mother kept on thinking about all that had happened.
52. Jesus became wise, and he grew strong. God was pleased with him and so were the people.