Overview of John

John

Author: John

Time: A.D. 26–30

Summary: John says that he wrote so that people might come to believe in Christ

(20:30–31). He was not as interested in the historical order of the events

in the life of Christ, or in his deeds, as he was in the inner meaning of

his teaching. John emphasises Jesus as the son of God, sent by God to

be the saviour of the earth.

There are several key words in John’s Gospel, including “believe” which

occurs over eighty times. The word implies a belief that has developed

into faith or conviction. Another peculiarity is the frequent use of the

word “Jew”. It is only found once in Matthew, twice in Mark and in

Luke, but over sixty times in John.

John concerns himself more with the Judean ministry which Matthew

and Mark hardly touch upon, and he records only eight miracles (which

he terms “signs”) to show that Jesus was the Son of God. John is the

only book of the four Gospels that does not cite any parables.

Key verses: “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry”

(6:35).

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live”

(11:25).

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father

except through me.” (14:6)

“These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the

Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

(20:31).

1. Prologue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1–18

2. Beginnings of Jesus’ ministry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:19–51

a) His forerunner 1:19–34

b) Jesus’ introduction to some future disciples 1:35–51

3. Jesus’ ministry: signs and discourses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–11

a) Changing water into wine 2:1–11

b) Cleansing the temple 2:12–25

c) Interview with Nicodemus 3:1–21

d) Parallel ministry with John the Baptist 3:22–4:3

e) Journey through Samaria: woman at the well 4:4–42

f ) Healing of the official’s son 4:43–54

g) Trip to Jerusalem 5

h) Feeding of the 5000 and sermon on the bread of life 6

i) Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles 7–8

j) Healing of the man born blind 9

k) Parable of the Good Shepherd 10:1–21

l) Debating at the Feast of Dedication 10:22–39

m) Ministry in Perea 10:40–42

n) The raising of Lazarus 11

4. Jesus’ last week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12–19

a) The anointing of Jesus’ feet 12:1–11

b) The triumphal entry 12:12–19

c) The coming of the Greeks 12:20–36

d) Continued Jewish unbelief 12:37–50

e) Discourse at the Last Supper 13–14

f ) Discourse on the way to Gethsemane 15–16

g) Jesus’ prayer of intercession 17

h) His arrest, trial and crucifixion 18:1–19:42

5. The resurrection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20:1–29

6. Epilogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20:30–21:25