31 Days of Scripture Art Journaling::Day 23: John 2, Creating Pockets

Start here.

Day 23: John 2; 
Creating Pockets

On Day 22 I talked about the process of reading a specific part of the Bible,
getting confused by it, rereading and rereading, and choosing a verse to journal.
Honestly, there's so much of it I don't understand. Especially in this chapter.
If I were journaling by myself, I'd skip it and move on,
but I'm here with you and that feels like cheating.

I have more questions than answers (as always). God isn't afraid of my questions.
I'm not looking for specific answers to every question,
but a greater understanding of who God is, who Jesus,
and what that means to me. Today.

I seriously don't get this miracle. so subtle, so quiet.
Why would Jesus' first miracle be one that appears to be so insignificant?
Why is Jesus so rude to his mom?
Why does he say his hour hasn't come, and then he does the miracle anyway?
And what is with the rage (turning over the money changers tables)?

 I can't believe I just found this. It's a commentary from Bible Gateway.
I try not to go to commentaries until after I read the scripture and try to
figure out what it means to me. But this chapter is a mystery to me.
I can't find one verse that stands out.
I found this about chapter 2:


What are we to make of a Jesus who responds to honest, open questions with cryptic words and deeds? Jesus is indeed compassionate, but there is always a wildness, an otherness, about him. Out of love he will use extraordinary means to break through our hardness of heart so that we might realize our need and come to him for life. The disciples did not understand what Jesus was doing, but they stuck with him and were open despite their questions; the Jewish leaders had only their questions. Spiritual growth demands questions. It is evident from this story that God wants us to have questions--we see his Son here, and throughout the story, raising one question after another through his words and deeds. The answer to all of these questions is found in the heart of God himself as Jesus reveals him. All of our language is but a pointer to the reality of God himself. John is writing not so we might understand all mysteries but so we might have life in his name (20:31).


What am I learning from this scripture?

Jesus likes wine. Ha!
Jesus is honest and wild and unafraid of what people think of him.
Life with Jesus  is unpredictable.
Jesus is constantly raising questions through his words and deeds.
Spiritual growth demands questions.(I love that.)
God wants me to have questions.
John is not writing for every question to be answered,
every letter on the scantron bubbled in.
No, he's writing so that I might have life.
real life. abundant life.

The other thing I notice is Mary.
She simply, quietly states the problem to Jesus.
She doesn't tell him what to do or how to solve it
or freak out or worry or beg. Like I do.
She trusts that he will do whatever is best.

When the wine was gone, 
Jesus’ mother said to him, 
“They have no more wine.”
John 2: 3

So this is my process. I know that was a long explanation.
I just wanted to go through my process with you,
and I learn a lot just by writing it down.

Get your verse and let's start journaling.
Today I'm going to add some cute little pockets to our page.
I don't know what I'll put in them, but let's get started:

Prep your journal page.
Step 1: Spread paint & gesso around the page with a paint brush or a paper towel.
Step 2: Glue big blocks of paper to the page with mod podge.

Step 3:Add blotches of contrasting color.
Dip a squished up paper towel in a contrasting color
(I chose yellow and red.)
Spread some gesso  around the page with a paper towel
& wipe it off to mute the pattern of the paper.

Step 4:Paint flowers.
Dip your fingers in gesso and paint circles all around the page.

Step 5 : Add color.
While the gesso is still wet, dip your fingers in a color
and blend it in with the white.

Step 6: Add details with paint.
Add yellow paint to the rest of the flowers.
Add lines in contrasting colors.
Add white scribbly circles with ink.

Step 7: Tear out a page from a book.
My mother-in-law found this great old book for me at a garage sale.
The pages are thick and weathered and perfect.

Step 8: Fold & cut the to make little pockets for your journal page.
Place them on the page, but don't glue them down yet.

Step 9: Paint an image from your scripture.
I chose a wine glass. It can be anything. A bird, a house, a flower.
Whatever you want. Try not to think too much about it.
Paint your verse in black ink with a teeny tiny brush.

Step 10: Paint your pockets.

Step 11: Paint details on the pockets

Step 12: Glue the pockets down.

Step 13: Cut out little scraps of paper to write notes on and put them in the pockets.

That's it.

See all 31 Days.