But the cruel king's son began to reign. He was even more evil than his father. He sent his army after people, even right in the Temple itself.
Joseph and Mary went to the Temple every year to worship, but they never took Jesus. They thought it was too dangerous. The Temple was right next door to the palace and a fortress of soldiers.
Finally, when Jesus was eleven years old, this evil ruler was sent to a foreign country far away to live the rest of his life. He couldn't hurt people there. Now things were better.
So when Jesus was twelve years old, it was safe to take him to the Temple for the first time. The Temple and its courtyards were huge. In all it covered the area of a large city block.
Jesus went to the Temple every day and got into discussions with the religious teachers. Even though he was still a child, he had read a lot of the Bible for himself.
Teachers usually ask their students questions. But Jesus was different. He kept asking the teachers questions. They were really surprised.
It seemed like Jesus had read the Bible more than them. Or maybe he just understood it more. Sometimes he asked them to find things in the Bible they claimed were there, but really weren't.
Jesus nearly always joined his family for meals. Sometimes while he was eating, he thought about the fact that all of us have to eat for ourselves. No one can eat for us.
Jesus knew that people, as soon as they learned to read, should begin to read the Bible for themselves. Then we know for sure what is in the Bible.
If you can read, find a Bible and read it. A good place to start is in the middle of the Bible where the New Testament begins. This is about the birth of Jesus.
Even if you cannot read yet, you can memorize verses (sentences) from the Bible. Ask the person reading to you to find a verse for you to memorize, maybe John 3:16 in the 4th book in the New Testament.
John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life."
That's why Jesus came to the world. He wants us to live with him forever in heaven some day. Won't that be wonderful?
Thank you, Jesus, for being born so you could show us how to live in heaven forever.