Farewell Service

Hymns, readings and a printed program for a Christian funeral

John 19:17–18, 25–39

A Catholic funeral reading (Gospel), with the full text in the King James Version and the Douay-Rheims.

Reads in about 3 minutes17 versesCatholic: Gospel

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King James Version

  1. 17And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
  2. 18Where they crucified him, and two others with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
  3. 25Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
  4. 26When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
  5. 27Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
  6. 28After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
  7. 29Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
  8. 30When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
  9. 31The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
  10. 32Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
  11. 33But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
  12. 34But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
  13. 35And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
  14. 36For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
  15. 37And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
  16. 38And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
  17. 39And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

Douay-Rheims

  1. 17And bearing his own cross, he went forth to the place which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew Golgotha.
  2. 18Where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, and Jesus in the midst.
  3. 25Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen.
  4. 26When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son.
  5. 27After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.
  6. 28Afterwards, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said: I thirst.
  7. 29Now there was a vessel set there, full of vinegar. And they, putting a sponge full of vinegar about hyssop, put it to his mouth.
  8. 30Jesus therefore, when he had taken the vinegar, said: It is consummated. And bowing his head, he gave up the ghost.
  9. 31Then the Jews (because it was the parasceve), that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day (for that was a great sabbath day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken: and that they might be taken away.
  10. 32The soldiers therefore came: and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him.
  11. 33But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.
  12. 34But one of the soldiers with a spear opened his side: and immediately there came out blood and water.
  13. 35And he that saw it hath given testimony: and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true: that you also may believe.
  14. 36For these things were done that the scripture might be fulfilled: You shall not break a bone of him.
  15. 37And again another scripture saith: They shall look on him whom they pierced.
  16. 38And after these things, Joseph of Arimathea (because he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews), besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave leave. He came therefore and took away the body of Jesus.
  17. 39And Nicodemus also came (he who at the first came to Jesus by night), bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

Most Catholic parishes in the US read the New American Bible. Read John 19 in the NABRE at usccb.org.

Where this reading is used

  • Catholic: Gospel (Lectionary for Mass, no. 1016)

Hymns based on it

Scripture: King James Version (1769 text) and Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (Project Gutenberg #1581); both public domain. Citation as listed in the Lectionary for Mass.