The story of the raising of Lazarus continues beyond these verses, but it is worth dwelling on these scenes before the event. Jesus and the disciples are staying on the other...

The psalms are the songs of the Israelites, and this psalm, part of the Songs of Ascent (Pss. 120-134) most likely functioned as a pilgrimage song for people journeying toward Jerusalem...

In the ancient world, sleep and death were seen as closely related phenomena, understandably. To the outside viewer, someone sleeping and someone who has died appear similar. Through medical technology, we...

Everyone’s life moves through “the darkest valley” in one season or another. There is no walking around the valleys, no flying over them, no tunneling under them, no standing to one...

In this letter, the writer invokes themes of light and sight, contrasting light not only with darkness but also with sleep and even with death. In the midst of this exhortation...

This very familiar and beloved psalm is often read in moments that call for comfort—when facing tragedy, illness, or death. A close read reveals that the psalm offers comfort, not because...

Notice the development in Samuel’s capacity for discernment. The first son of Jesse that he sees seems like a perfectly good candidate to be king. But the Lord tells Samuel that...

When we read about the miracles performed by Jesus, and when we pray for miracles, we should take care that we’re not asking for magic. There were plenty of self-proclaimed magicians...

Who sinned? From ancient times to now, illness and disability have often been attributed to sin—usually the sin of an individual. Science and medicine offer alternative explanations, and so does Jesus....

The point of the conversation Jesus has with the woman at the well is never about her having five husbands, yet readers of this text gravitate toward that point. We do...