Narrative Lectionary

photo of a crucifix in a city square
Commentary on John 19:16b-22

[NOTE: If you are looking for material with connections to John 12, Jesus’s Triumphal Entry, [...]

black and white photo of crown of thorns
Commentary on John 19:1-16a

Pontius Pilate cuts a curious figure in the Gospels. Aside from a dating reference at [...]

photo of statues of Jesus and Pilate
Commentary on John 18:28-40

Pilate begins his encounter with the high priests of Jerusalem by making a concession. Although [...]

photo of a rooster
Commentary on John 18:12-27

The contrast between Jesus’s candor and courage and Peter’s secrecy and cowardice provides the narrative [...]

black and white photo of feet washing
Commentary on John 13:1-17

This passage for the second Sunday in Lent in the Narrative Lectionary is deceptively simple [...]

Detail from Eduard von Gebhardt's
Commentary on John 11:1-44

John 11:1–44 is the reading for the first Sunday of Lent in 2026. Any preacher [...]

photo of a man with ashes on his forehead
Commentary on John 10:1-18

John 10:1–18 may be one of those texts that is best read with two frameworks [...]

Photo of an ivory box cover with the
Commentary on John 9:1-41

How do we know what we know about ourselves and about each other? Who gets [...]

Detail from
Commentary on John 4:46-54

The healing story that follows Jesus’ encounter with the woman of Samaria takes place when [...]

Detail from
Commentary on John 4:1-42

In a blaze of light, Jesus encounters a woman of Samaria at a well. This [...]