. At 12 years old Jesus goes to the Temple

This story is taken from Luke 2:41-52

Every year Jesus' parents, Mary and Joseph, went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.  When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as usual.  After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.  Mary and Joseph didn't miss him at first, because they thought he was with his friends or among some of the other travelers.  But when Jesus didn't show up that evening, they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.  When they couldn't find Jesus, Mary and Joseph went back to Jerusalem to search for him.

It was three days later when they finally found Jesus.  He was in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, talking over deep questions with them.  Everyone who heard Jesus was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

Jesus' parents didn't know what to think about Jesus behavior.  His mother, Mary, said to him, "Son!  Why have you done this to us?  Your father and I have been worried, we have been searching everywhere for you."

But, Jesus asked her, "Why did you need to search for me?  You should have known that I would be in my Father's house."  But Mary and Joseph didn't understand what Jesus was saying to them.

Then Jesus returned to Nazareth with his parents and he obeyed them.  Jesus' mother, Mary, kept all of these things in her heart.

Jesus grew taller and he grew in wisdom, and he was loved by God and by all who knew him.

Fill in blanks and answer questions:

1. Every year Jesus' parents, Mary and Joseph, went to ____________________ for the _____________ festival.
2. In our lesson how old is Jesus?  _____________
3. After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in _________________________.
4. Where did Mary and Joseph think Jesus was at?
1.  ________________________
5. When they couldn't find Jesus, Mary and Joseph went back to __________________ to search for him.
6. How many days later was it when they found Jesus?
7. Where was Jesus at when they found Him?
8. What was Jesus doing when they found Him?
9. Mary said to Jesus, " Son!  Why have you done this to us?  Your father and I have been ______________, we have been _________________ everywhere for you."
10. Where did Jesus say she should have known He would be at? 
1.  
11. Jesus returned to _________________ with his parents and He ______________ them.

1d. THE BAPTISM AND TEMPTATION OF JESUS

This story is taken from: Matthew 3:13-4:11; Mark 1:9-13; Luke 3:21-22; Luke 4:1-13

One day Jesus went from Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to the Jordan River.  That was when crowds of people were being baptized by John.  Jesus himself wanted to be baptized by John.  But John tried to talk Jesus out of it.  John said to Jesus, "I am the one who needs to be baptized by you, so why are you coming to me?"  But, Jesus answered him, "It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires."  So John agreed to baptize Jesus.  After His baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, and was praying, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on Jesus.  And a voice from heaven said, "This is my dearly loved Son, in whom I am well please."

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River, and Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.  Jesus was to be tempted there in the wilderness by the devil.  For forty days and forty nights Jesus fasted, that means that Jesus had ate nothing for the forty days and nights, and Jesus became very hungry.

During that time the devil came and said to Jesus, 'If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread."  But Jesus told the devil, "No!  The Scriptures (God's Word) say, that people do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Then the devil took Jesus to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and he said to Jesus, "If you are the Son of God, jump off!  For the Scriptures (God's Word) say, He will order his angels to protect and guard you.  And they will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone."  But, Jesus said," The Scriptures (God's Word) also say, you must not test the Lord your God."

Next the devil took Jesus to the highest point of a very high mountain and showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and all their glory.  Then the devil said, "I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them.  Because they are mine to give to anyone I please.  I will give it all to you, if you will kneel down and worship me."  But Jesus told the devil, "Get out of here Satan!  For the Scriptures (God's Word) say, that you must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him."

When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he went away and left Jesus until the next opportunity came.  Then angels came and took care of Jesus.