Reading John in Lent: Recent Episodes
Catholic Bishops' Conference
During the weekdays and Saturdays of Lent, we're bringing you daily podcasts from the Gospel of John - "the disciple whom Jesus loved". Starting with an introduction from Canon Christopher Thomas on Shrove Tuesday, 'Reading John in Lent' starts in earnest on Ash Wednesday with John 1: 1-18, telling us how "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" - Jesus Christ, the only Son from the Father. We then follow the Gospel through all 22 chapters concluding on the Friday of Easter Week. Join us as for 'Reading John in Lent'. Taken from the English Standard Version of the Bible.
Today we complete our journey through the Gospel of John. Jesus asks Simon Peter three times if he loves him. Each time he responds in the affirmative. The third time, Simon Peter replies, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus says to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to […]
Jesus reveals himself for the third time to the disciples after his death, by the Sea of the Tiberias. Just as the day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He […]
Jesus appears to his disciples and shows them his hands and his side. He breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Reading John in Lent has become Reading John in Easter and concludes on Easter Friday. […]
In today’s episode, Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene. Jesus says to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’.” Reading John in Lent has […]
We continue reading the Gospel of John into Easter Week so Reading John in Lent has become Reading John in Easter for the final five episodes. Today, Mary Magdalene visits the tomb early and sees the stone had been taken away. She runs to Simon Peter and the other disciple and says, “They have taken […]
Jesus’s body is taken and bound in linen cloths with spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since […]
In today’s episode, we experience the Death of our Saviour, Jesus. Knowing that all was now finished, Jesus said (to fulfil the Scripture), “I thirst.” So they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop brand and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It […]
So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull. There there crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side and Jesus between them. Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister. When Jesus saw his […]
Pilate has Jesus flogged and the soldiers twist together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. During Lent, we’re reading the Gospel of John every weekday and Saturday of the season. In fact, the series […]
The officers of the Jews took Jesus to the governor’s headquarters. Pilate asked Jesus what it was he had done, to which he responded, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But […]
In this episode, we witness the arrest of Jesus and Peter’s denial. When questioned about his teachings, Jesus answered, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret” During Lent, we’re reading the Gospel of John […]
In today’s episode, we listen to the High Priestly Prayer Jesus spoke as he lifted up his eyes to heaven. “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may […]
The disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'”. Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will […]
In today’s episode we learn about the work of the Holy Spirit: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” During […]
In today’s episode, Jesus says to the disciples, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so […]
In today’s episode, we learn the power of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus promises to the disciples. “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance […]
Today we learn that Jesus and the Father are one. Thomas said to Jesus, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had […]
Jesus knew his hour to depart the world and be with the Father had come. Before the Feast of the Passover, during supper, Jesus washed the feet of the disciples. At that moment, the disciples did not understand this act. Jesus said to them, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, […]
People still do not believe in Jesus, despite the many signs he has shown them, for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. Today we listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with […]
In today’s episode, Jesus enters Jerusalem. When the news spread that Jesus was coming, people went out to meet him and crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” During Lent, we’re reading the Gospel of John every weekday and Saturday of the season. […]
In today’s episode, we listen as the Pharisees plot to kill Jesus. “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” During Lent, we’re reading the Gospel of John every weekday and Saturday of […]
Today we hear about the death of Lazarus. Jesus visits his sisters Martha and Mary, and weeps. Jesus raises Lazarus. He cries out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to […]
It is winter and on the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, Jesus is walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. The Jews ask him once again if he is the Christ: “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of […]
Today Jesus tells the Pharisees near him that he is the Good Shepherd. “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” During Lent, we’re reading the Gospel of John every weekday and Saturday of the season. In […]
Today we listen to all of Chapter 9. It’s the story of Jesus healing the man born blind. The Jews question the man and ask whether he wants to become one of Jesus’s disciples: “Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this […]
Jesus tells the Jews who believe in him that the truth will set them free. He says to the Jews who seek to kill him: “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why […]
Today we listen to the story of the woman caught in adultery. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” We then learn that Jesus is […]
On the last day of the feast, Jesus cries out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” He tells people that if they believe, out of their hearts will flow “living water”. There are still doubts about Christ and his teaching. There is division among the people. During Lent, we’re reading the […]
It was the Feast of Booths and the Jews were seeking to kill Jesus. Not even his brothers, his disciples, believed in him so Jesus said to them: “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that […]
Today, after much grumbling, the disciples acknowledge that Jesus has the words of eternal life. Simon Peter says: “You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” During Lent, we’re reading the Gospel of John every weekday and Saturday of […]
The Jews grumble about Jesus for saying he is “the bread that came down from heaven.” Harder still for them to fathom, Jesus says that the bread that he gives for the life of the world is his flesh. “For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on […]
The crowd found Jesus on the other side of the sea after the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus talks about the bread of God – he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. Jesus says to them: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, […]
Jesus goes up a mountain near the Sea of Galilee and performs the only miracle recorded in all four gospels – the feeding of the five thousand. When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake to cross to Capernaum. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on […]
This reading from John sees the authority of the Son affirmed. Jesus says to the Jews: “For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honour the Son, just as they honour the Father. Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent […]
Jesus encounters a sick man at a pool called Bethesda in Jerusalem. He had been unable to walk for 38 years. Jesus says to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” The Jews persecute Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, but he says, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” […]
The disciples are urging Jesus to eat, but he says to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” Meanwhile the woman of Samaria has given her testimony and many Samaritans visit Jesus. They believed because of his word. During Lent, we’re reading the Gospel […]
Today we hear the account of Jesus’s encounter with the woman of Samaria. Jesus says, “The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Whoever drinks this water will never be thirsty again. His disciples return and marvel that he has been talking with […]
Many people were being baptised by John at Aenon near Salim, as water was plentiful there. John exalts Christ and says: “I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.” During Lent, we’re reading the Gospel of John every weekday and Saturday of the season. In fact, the series concludes on the […]
Today we encounter a man of the Pharisees called Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and is told he must be born again and believe. We then learn the eternal truth: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should […]
During the Passover, Jesus goes to Jerusalem and visits the temple. He cleanses the temple and says, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The sellers and money-changers don’t realise he is talking about the temple of his body. During Lent, we’re reading the Gospel of John every weekday and […]
Today, we’re in Galilee for the Wedding at Cana. We can hear the account of the first of the ‘signs’ – how Jesus turns the water into wine when the latter runs out. This sign manifested His glory and the disciples believed in him. During Lent, we’re reading the Gospel of John every weekday and […]
Today we listen as Jesus calls the first disciples. Of the men who start to follow Jesus, Andrew said to his brother Simon, “We have found the Messiah.” Then, Jesus goes to Galilee and calls Philip and Nathanael. During Lent, we’re reading the Gospel of John every weekday and Saturday of the season. In fact, […]
Today we hear the testimony of John the Baptist: “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord'”. Behold, the Lamb of God. John sees Jesus and declares, “I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God.” During Lent, we’re reading the […]
It’s Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, and this year we’re reading the Gospel of John every weekday and Saturday of the season. In fact, the series concludes on the Friday of Easter Week. Using the English Standard Version of the Bible (ESV) we’ll journey through John deeping our relationship with the Risen Christ. In […]
Canon Christopher Thomas, General Secretary of the Bishops' Conference, introduces us to the Gospel of John. The purpose of John's Gospel is not to present a narrative of Jesus's life, we have these accounts in the other Gospels, but to underline who He is.
John draws us into a deeper relationship with the Risen Christ and seeks to strengthen our belief.
You can divide John's Gospel into two sections - the Book of Signs and the Book of Glory. Listen as Canon Chris explains…
'Reading John in Lent' is a full reading of the Gospel on the weekdays and Saturdays of Lent concluding on the Friday of Easter Week.