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Let’s be Children Who Love God’s word

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Key verses: "Why were you searching for me?" he asked.

"Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" [Luke 2:49]

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Jesus had a typical childhood like you.

This is the story about Jesus when he was twelve years old.

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In the region where Jesus lived, there was a time when all of the people in Israel had to go to the temple. During the Feast of the Passover, all of the adults of Israel had to go up to the temple of Jerusalem to attend the Feast.

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So Jesus' parents went up to Jerusalem to the Feast every year according to the custom.

Jerusalem was very crowded at that time because of the Feast.

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Jesus' parents participated in all of the services staying there for a week.
After the Feast was over, they began to return home with other people.
However, Jesus stayed behind in the temple.

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When Jesus' parents had gone a day's journey, they discovered that Jesus was not with them.
They had thought that Jesus was following them among all of the people.

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As they were walking back to Jerusalem, they asked all of their relatives and friends.
In those days, they had to ask each person because there were no cell phones.
But nobody had seen Jesus.

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The parents had been looking for Jesus for three days.

Finally, they arrived back in Jerusalem.

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After three days they found Jesus in the temple courts discussing the Law.
Jesus was sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions
about the Law.

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The teachers who heard Jesus were amazed at his understanding

and his answers about the Law.

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Jesus’ parents asked, "Why did you stay here?
Do you know how worried we have been about you?"
"Why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."

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Jesus said to them, "Why were you searching for me?
Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"

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Jesus said this because Jesus came to the Earth as God's Son, and the temple was God's house. However, the people who were there could not understand his words.

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Jesus returned to Nazareth with his parents.
When Jesus was young, he always obeyed and helped his parents.
Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

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Jesus, God's Son, never ignored his parents or treated people with disrespect.

He always had good manners and endeavored to know God's word.

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Jesus wanted to show us how to live during our childhood.
Make every effort to know God's word and listen to your parents' words.
You should be loved and people should be pleased by you because Jesus showed us the best model.

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I hope that you have a childhood like Jesus' and try to know God's word and obey your parents' words so that you can be beloved by all people.