Funeral reading
John 14:1–6, 27
King James Bible
“John 14:1–6, 27” (King James Bible) is a scripture reading read at a funeral or memorial service. It takes about a minute and a half read aloud, usually by a guest reader. It is in the public domain, so the full text is printed on this page and goes straight into a ceremony script.
The full text
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Public domain, so these words can be printed in a ceremony script or an order of service.
Where it comes from
John 14 continues the conversation at the last supper, and the question Jesus answers here is asked by Thomas, who says they do not know the way.
What it says
Let not your heart be troubled. In my Father’s house are many mansions; I go to prepare a place for you, and I will come again and receive you. Thomas says they do not know the way, and Jesus answers: I am the way, the truth and the life. The selection ends with peace: my peace I give to you, not as the world gives; do not let your heart be troubled or afraid.
The most-read funeral gospel. "In my Father’s house are many mansions." Read at a funeral or memorial service. Themes: many mansions · a place prepared · peace · let not your heart be troubled.
Who it suits
One of the most chosen Gospel readings at Christian funerals, for almost anyone. It suits families who want to hear that the person has gone ahead to a prepared place, and services where peace is the note the family wants.
Where it goes in the ceremony
As the Gospel reading, read by the minister or priest, or as the last reading before the address. A family member can read it in a less formal service.
Reading it aloud
The text on this page is 149 words. At a ceremony pace of about 130 words a minute, which is slower than conversation, that comes to about a minute and a half of reading.
- “Let not your heart be troubled” opens and closes the selection. Read it gently both times.
- Thomas’s question is a real question. Give it a slightly puzzled tone, then answer it plainly.
- The “many mansions” verse is the one people remember. Do not rush it.
Questions about reading it aloud
How long does “John 14:1–6, 27” take to read aloud?
“John 14:1–6, 27” takes about a minute and a half read aloud at a ceremony pace, which is slower than conversation — roughly 130 words a minute. That is the figure the run-sheet uses when it works out the timing for the whole service.
Who usually reads “John 14:1–6, 27”?
Usually a guest reader rather than the officiant. “John 14:1–6, 27” runs about a minute and a half, which is a manageable amount to hand to a friend or family member. Give them a printed copy of their own, in a size they can read without their glasses, and tell them where to stand and how you will introduce them.
Can “John 14:1–6, 27” be printed in a ceremony script?
Yes. It is in the public domain, so the full text is on this page and can be printed in a script or an order of service.
Where this text was checked
Checked word for word against a full-text edition that is itself the authority — a Project Gutenberg or Wikisource transcription, a publisher’s own edition, or the issuing body’s page.
Checked
A reading is two minutes of the hour.
The rest is the welcome, the life, the remembrances, the committal — and knowing what comes next. Answer some questions about them and get the whole service, written out, with this reading in its place.
Other readings that suit the same service
- John 11:21–2755 secondsI am the resurrection and the life
- Revelation 21:1–5aa minute and a halfThe new heaven and new earth
- 2 Corinthians 4:16–18, 5:150 secondsA house not made with hands
- Ruth 1:16–17a30 secondsKing James Bible
- 1 John 4:7–12a minute and a halfKing James Bible
- Psalm 10040 secondsKing James Bible