As I noted in my article entitled “What are the Gospels?” each of the four Gospels tells the story of Jesus’ life in a different way. The Gospel of John, however, is very different. Matthew, Mark and Luke are referred to as the Synoptic Gospels. Literally, synoptic means “with one eye.” This means although there are differences in their stories, these three Gospels have much in common with each other. John does not mention several of the important events that are highlighted in the other three Gospels. Events such as Jesus’ baptism, the Last Supper (although there is a final meal), Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness and in Gethsemane, and the Transfiguration are not mentioned in John. On the other hand, there are many events mentioned in John that are unique to his story. The miracle of turning water into wine (John 2), Jesus’ conversations with Nicodemus (John 3) and with the Samaritan woman (John 4:1-42), the stories abut Jesus healing the man who was ill for 38 years (John 5), the healing of the man born blind (John 9), and the raising of Lazarus (John 11) are all unique to John.
In the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus’ ministry begins in Galilee for what appears to be a year-long ministry and journey that ends in Jerusalem. In John, however, Jesus’ ministry appears to be three years in length with Jesus moving back and forth between Galilee and Jerusalem. John highlights at least three visits to Jerusalem (John 2:13, 5:1 and 7:10). In John’s Gospel, Jesus’ challenge of the religious authorities begins on his very first visit to Jerusalem (John 2:13-17) when he enters the Temple and throws out all the money changers and people selling cattle and doves. In the Synoptic Gospels, this same event is said to have happened during Jesus’ only visit to Jerusalem during the last week of his life. This story emphasizes the rejection of Jesus, and particularly the rejection by the religious authorities. Many modern day readers have trouble reading this Gospel because of what they refer to as its anti-Semitic overtone. As you read John, you will discover that there are many references to “the Jews” which are stated in a negative tone. However, these are not meant to be anti-Jewish statements. We have to remember that this story was written to a faith community that had been kicked out of their synagogue. They themselves were Jewish and they had been rejected by their own leaders, and John’s term of “the Jews” was really meant to call out those who had rejected Jesus. It was truly an “inside” term that was aimed at anyone, especially the Jewish leadership that had rejected Jesus.
Another key element of this Gospel has to do with how Jesus speaks. In the Synoptics, we hear a lot about the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven. In John’s Gospel, Jesus speaks much more about himself and his relationship with God and his relationship with us. The most famous of these sayings are the “I am” statements: “I am the bread of life” (6:35), “I am the light of the world” (8:12), “I am the gate” (10:9), “I am the good shepherd” (10:11, “I am the resurrection and the life” (11:25), “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (14:6), and “I am the true vine” (15:1). Each of these “I am” statements says not only something about our relationship with Jesus, but his relationship with the Father. In essence, this Gospel writer claims that the words and works of Jesus are the words and works of God.
In fact, this Gospel writer begins his story with “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and lived among us…” (John 1:1-18). From the very beginning of this story, the writer wants us to understand that Jesus can reveal God because Jesus is the very Word of God and has been with God from “the beginning.” Jesus came down from God and was sent from God. Jesus is the living Word of God.
Lastly, this Gospel writer makes it very clear as to why this story was written. The story was not written so that we could know the history of Jesus or for any reason except that those who read the story “may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah…” (John 20:30-31).
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