37 before he died and left her alone. She was now 84 years old. Anna was always at the Temple; she never left. She worshiped God by fasting and praying day and night.
38 Anna was there when Joseph and Mary came to the Temple. She praised God and talked about Jesus to all those who were waiting for God to free Jerusalem.
39 Joseph and Mary finished doing all the things that the law of the Lord commanded. Then they went home to Nazareth, their own town in Galilee.
40 The little boy Jesus was developing into a mature young man, full of wisdom. God was blessing him.
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.
42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as usual.
43 When the festival was over, they went home, but Jesus stayed in Jerusalem. His parents did not know about it.