The Gospel According to John
Background
• Attributed to Apostle John• Written after synoptic
gospels• Written 90-100
Audience
• Community in Ephesus• Written for Christians
Differences
• Different order of events• New Titles for Jesus• Focuses on Jesus’ divinity• Interprets, rather than
reports
Structure
• Prologue (1:1-18)• Book of Signs (1:19-12:50)• Book of Glory (13:1-20:31)
Prologue
• Eagle represents John
Book of Signs
• 1:19-12:50• 7 Miracle stories• Miracles followed by
detailed explanations • All point to Jesus’ identity
Signs found in Synoptic Gospels
• Curing official’s son (4:46-54)
• Multiplication of bread and fish (6:1-14)
• Walking on Water (6:16-21)
Unique to John
• Wedding of Cana (2:1-12)
• Healing a paralyzed man (5:1-47)
• Curing a blind man (9:1-12)
• Raising of Lazarus (11:1-44)
Book of Glory
• Different from Synoptic Gospels
• Timing of Last Supper• Jesus fully in control
Last Supper
• Foot Washing• Series of speeches • Less focused on the
Eucharistic prayer• Judas, puppet of Satan• Jesus, the Way and the Truth
Prayer of Unity
Promises to Send Help
• Will send a guide to support them
• Holy Spirit
Jesus, the High Priest
• Jesus, sacrificial Lamb• Eternal sacrifice• All priests imitate Jesus
Passion
• Jesus is fully in control• When soldiers try to arrest
Jesus, fall over• “Shall I not drink the cup
that the Father gave me?” • Dies at the moment he
determines
Resurrection
• Reveals God’s true Glory• Encounters Mary
Magdelene• Physically different• Sin and death no longer
have power over Jesus• 40 Days Preparing the
Apostles
John’s Ending
• Commissions Peter• The Beloved Apostles