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 12:36-47 (6th Wednesday after Pascha) 1 min 4,633
John 13:3-17 (Holy Thursday) 2 mins 5,838
John 13:31-18:1 (1st Passion Gospel) 15 mins 8,900
John 14:1-11 (6th Friday after Pascha) 1 min 5,318
John 14:1-14 (For Travelers by Land) 2 mins 3,790
John 14:10-21 (6th Saturday after Pascha) 1 min 5,815
John 14:21-24 (Apostle Jude) 1 min 2,959
John 14:27-15:7 (7th Monday after Pascha) 1 min 4,953
John 15:17-27; 16:1-2 (St. George) 2 mins 5,053
John 15:17-27; 16:1-2 (3rd Saturday after Pascha) 2 mins 6,865
John 16:2-13 (7th Tuesday after Pascha) 1 min 4,820
John 16:15-23 (7th Wednesday after Pascha) 1 min 4,905
John 16:23-33 (7th Thursday after Pascha) 1 min 4,540
John 17:1-13 (7th Sunday after Pascha) 2 mins 5,131
John 17:18-26 (7th Friday after Pascha) 1 min 4,527
John 18:1-28 (2nd Passion Gospel) 3 mins 7,432
John 18:28-19:16 (4th Passion Gospel) 4 mins 7,159
John 18:28-19:37 (Holy Friday Royal Hours – Sixth Hour) 6 mins 3,937
John 19:6-11; 13-20; 5-28; 30-35 (Exaltation of the Precious Cross) 3 mins 4,770
John 19:25-27; 21:24-25 (St. John) 1 min 4,797
John 19:25-37 (9th Passion Gospel) 2 mins 7,572
John 19:31-37 (Holy Friday Vespers) 1 min 4,515
John 19:38-42 (11th Passion Gospel) 1 min 6,694
John 20:1-10 (7th Matins Resurrection Gospel) 1 min 5,579