Reading the Bible and entering into the story makes the experience real to me, engaging my mind and emotion, capturing my imagination. This is one reason why I art journal. The process itself, helps me look at the little things in the text I may overlook in just reading of it. As I design, write, plan, paint etc. I pray, listen, and meditate on the meaning of the text. 

As I dig into John 11, the death and resurrection of Lazarus is especially relevant to me these days as I consider life and death. If you read my last post, you know I've related to Martha. I think we often underestimate her because of a previous story, but she had great faith in Jesus. I was also struck by something else this time as I read further in the chapter. In raising Lazarus when he was very dead, four days in a grave, while many mourners were there, Jesus was giving his people the chance to witness the power of God, victory over death itself. Many did believe, but some did not. It makes me ask why? It gives insight to the motivations of the people and challenges me about mine. In this story, I see God's desire for His people, His compassion, and find that comforting in the midst of my own questions and seeking.

"Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.'  Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again.' Martha said to him, 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.' Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?' She said to him, 'Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.'"                

- John 11:21-27 ESV