d at
the sight; and when they came into the house and saw the child with
Mary, his mother, they knelt down and worshipped him. Opening their
treasures they presented to him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
But being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to
their own country by another way.

THE BOY JESUS ASKS QUESTIONS

After Joseph and Mary had done all that the law commanded, they returned
to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the boy Jesus grew and
became strong in body and mind. And the blessing of God was upon him.

Now his parents went every year to Jerusalem to the Feast of the
Passover, and when he was twelve years old they went up as usual. After
they had stayed the full number of days and were returning, the boy
Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know this; but,
supposing him to be in the caravan, they travelled on for a whole day.
Then they searched for him among their relatives and friends. When they
did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, still looking for him.
After three days they found him in the Temple, sitting with the
teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. All who heard him
were amazed at his intelligence and his answers.

When his parents saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to
him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have
been anxiously looking for you." He said to them, "Why did you look for
me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did
not understand what he meant.

Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth; and he was obedient to
them; but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus grew
in wisdom and body and in favor with God and man.

JOHN THE BAPTIST TELLS OF JESUS' WORK

While Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea and Herod was ruler of
Galilee, a man named John, the son of Zachariah, lived in the desert
country. And God commanded him and he went into all the country around
the river Jordan calling upon men to be baptized to show that they were
sorry for their sins and wished to be forgiven. Those who were truly
sorry for their sins, he baptized in the river Jordan.

This John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt, and his
food was locusts and wild honey.

Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea and the country around the
Jordan began to go out to him to confess their sins and to be baptized
by him in the