The Gospel of John seeks to evoke faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to effect salvation (John 20:30-31). John never uses the noun "belief," but he uses 40% of the New Testament's terminology of the verb "believing." In other words, faith is an action of personal trust in Christ rather than simple passive agreement.
John's literary structure is unique. He omits much material the Synoptics include, and he includes much that the Synoptics do not include. His "signs" (seven miracles) and "I am" statements of Jesus Christ give new illumination into the identity and work of our Savior.
John distinctively uses words such as "amen," and comparison of polarities (light and darkness, etc.). He uses
1. Dialogues (Matthew uses Discourses such as the Sermon on the Mount, Commissioning Jesus' disciples (10), Parables (13), Sermon on the Mount (24-25). John has dialogue with Nicodemus (3), Samaritan woman (4), Sonship (5), Bread of Life (6), Light of the World (8), True Shepherd (10), Upper Room (13-17).
2. John uses metaphors instead of the 47 parables the Synoptics use. Jesus is the Bread of Life (6), the Light of the World (8), the Door of the Sheepfold (10), the Good Shepherd (10), the Resurrection and the Life (11), the Way/Truth/Life (14), the True Vine (15).
3. John's signs include turning water to wine (2), healing the nobleman's son (4), healing the paralytic (5), feeding 5000 (6), Man born blind (9), resurrection of Lazarus (11), and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (18-19).
The Scriptures testify of Christ (John 5:39).
4. John has 7 witnesses to Christ: the John the Baptist, the forerunner (5:33-35), Christ's works (5:36. cf. 3:2; 10:25).
2. Signs (miracles) |
