Scripture Readings - John

Gospel of Saint John

This Gospel, by the Beloved Disciple, speaks of the Mystery of the Person of Jesus. He is like other men, yet quite unlike them, for He was the Son of God. He was eternally present with God, active in creating the world, and was the source of the moral and spiritual nature of man (life and light). When He became man, He made known the eternal God Whom no one has ever seen (John 1:14,18). St. John records real events, but goes beyond the other Evangelists in interpreting them. He uses symbols from common experience bread, water, light, life, shepherd, door, etc. as well as contrasts light and darkness, truth and lies, love and hatred, etc. to make the meaning of Christ clear. For this reason he is aptly called by the Church the Theologian.

The Gospel is divided in the following manner: Prologue (Ch. 1:1-18 In the beginning was the Word…); Jesus Christ as the object of Faith (Ch. 1:19-4:54); Conflicts with unbelievers (Ch. 5-12); Fellowship with believers (Ch. 13-17 (14-17 are generally known as the Farewell Discourses)); Death and Resurrection (Ch. 18-20); and (Ch. 21) An Epilogue.

The Gospel of St. John is read liturgically from Pascha until Pentecost Sunday. This Gospel is read sequentially, for the most part, for the fifty day. There are, however, several exceptions to the sequential daily reading. On three days, the Gospel lessons are taken from other Gospels:

  • On Bright Tuesday, from Luke
  • On the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers, from Mark
  • On Ascension Day, from Luke

Sunday readings: The Gospel lessons on the Sundays during this period (except the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers) are all taken from John, but they do not follow any particular sequence. On certain other days during the fifty-day period, the strict sequential reading from John is broken.

Reading Read Time Hit Count
John 6:40-44 (For the departed – Thursday) 1 min 4,115
John 6:40-44 (3rd Thursday after Pascha) 1 min 4,844
John 6:48-54 (For Burial of Priests) 1 min 4,716
John 6:56-69 (4th Monday after Pascha) 1 min 4,978
John 7:1-13 (4th Tuesday after Pascha) 1 min 4,928
John 7:14-30 (4th Wednesday after Pascha) 2 mins 4,605
John 7:37-52; 8:12 (Holy Pentecost) 2 mins 5,995
John 8:12-20 (4th Thursday after Pascha) 1 min 5,131
John 8:21-30 (4th Friday after Pascha) 1 min 4,763
John 8:31-42 (4th Saturday after Pascha) 1 min 5,721
John 8:42-51 (5th Monday after Pascha) 1 min 4,727
John 8:51-59 (5th Tuesday after Pascha) 1 min 4,856
John 9:1-38 (6th Sunday after Pascha) 4 mins 4,885
John 9:39-10:9 (5th Thursday after Pascha) 1 min 4,187
John 10:1-9 (for Saints) 1 min 5,920
John 10:9-16 (Saint) 1 min 6,938
John 10:17-28 (5th Friday after Pascha) 1 min 5,020
John 10:27-38 (5th Saturday after Pascha) 1 min 5,946
John 11:1-45 (Lazarus Saturday) 4 mins 7,844
John 11:47-57 (6th Monday after Pascha) 1 min 4,712
John 12:1-18 (Palm Sunday) 2 mins 8,332
John 12:17-50 (Holy Wednesday Matins) 4 mins 4,623
John 12:19-36 (6th Tuesday after Pascha) 2 mins 4,756
John 12:28-36 (Matins – Exaltation of the Cross) 1 min 4,682