And the child grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom:  and the grace of God was upon him.

THE BOYHOOD VISIT TO JERUSALEM.

And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover.  And when he was twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast; and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not; but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey:  and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance:  and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him.

And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions:  and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said unto him, “Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing.”

And he said unto them, “How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be in my Father’s house?”

And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

THE EIGHTEEN SILENT YEARS.

And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and he was subject unto them:  and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

=The beginnings of his ministry=

* * * * *

JESUS AND JOHN THE BAPTIST

THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS.

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, in the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leathern girdle about his loins, and did eat locusts and wild honey.

And he came into all the region round about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins; and saying, “Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

For this is he that was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying,

    “The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
    Make ye ready the way of the Lord,
    Make his paths straight. 
    Every valley shall be filled,
    And every mountain and hill shall be brought low;
    And the crooked shall become straight,
    And the rough ways smooth;
    And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”