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Jesus visits Jerusalem as a boy

Jesus is found in the Temple.
Contributed by Didier Martin
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Jesus grew as a child with great wisdom obeying His mother Mary and Joseph who looked after Him. Jesus was born as God’s Son and Joseph looked after Him like a father would. He taught Jesus the skills of being a carpenter. – Slide 1
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When Jesus was 12 years old, Mary and Joseph took Him on a trip to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover feast as they did each year. They set off from their home in Nazareth with other family and friends. – Slide 2
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As they travelled many other people joined the crowd travelling to Jerusalem. There were many children on the trip and they loved to play together. – Slide 3
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It took several days to reach the city of Jerusalem where the great Temple could be seen. – Slide 4
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People would go to the temple to offer sacrifices, pray and praise God. It was a very happy time. – Slide 5
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Around the temple were covered areas where teachers read God’s laws and explained them. Joseph no doubt took Jesus to hear what they were saying and teaching. – Slide 6
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At the end of the feast everyone packed up and set off on the journey home. Mary and Joseph set off thinking that Jesus was with the other children of their family and friends in the crowd. – Slide 7
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It was only later in the day when they stopped for the night that Mary and Joseph started looking for Jesus. He was not with the other members of their family. He was not with their friends. He was not playing with the other children. Where was He? After asking everyone they realised that Jesus must be back in Jerusalem. <br/>They were very upset and set off immediately back to Jerusalem to find Him. – Slide 8
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After travelling for a long time they got to Jerusalem but Jesus was not outside the city or by any of the city gates. – Slide 9
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They spend a whole day searching the streets of Jerusalem frantically asking if anyone had seen Jesus. They told people He was 12 years old. They described what He was wearing. But no-one had seen Him. – Slide 10
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They spend the next day searching all marketplaces, the pools, the buildings and roads. They searched all the places a young boy might go. They shouted His name. But there was no reply. And no-one had seen Him. – Slide 11
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Jesus had now been missing for three days and Mary and Joseph were very worried. They continued looking and asking people if they had seen a 12-year-old boy on His own looking lost. – Slide 12
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‘The only place we have not searched is the Temple,’ said Joseph. ‘But why would a young boy go there?’ <br/>They decided to go and search the large temple courtyard. But He was not to be seen in the courtyard. – Slide 13
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Around the edges of the courtyard were covered areas where the Temple teachers met to read and explain God’s laws. There were lots of adults gathered to hear the teachers. – Slide 14
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As they looked at the crowds gathered around the teachers they suddenly saw Jesus. He was listening to them, asking questions and giving answers. They rushed to hug Him. – Slide 15
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The teachers had been astonished how much Jesus knew about God’s laws and how well He understood them. How did a young 12-year-old boy know so much about God and how to obey Him? They were amazed. – Slide 16
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Mary asked Jesus, ‘Why have You done this to us? Joseph and I have been so worried about you.’ <br/>Jesus replied, ‘At 12 boys start to learn their father’s business and that is what I was doing.’ – Slide 17
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They all travelled back to Nazareth. Jesus obeyed both Mary and Joseph but He continued to learn all He could from His heavenly father and obey Him too. – Slide 18
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Jesus continued to grow as a teenager and became a man. He also grew in wisdom and in favour with God and other people. – Slide 19
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Slide 20