John 1-6

John’s Gospel definitely differs from Luke’s in style. John’s Gospel features Jesus teaching through long speeches, while Luke’s Gospel features Jesus teaching through responses to questions asked by those around him. John’s depiction of Jesus’ ministry is much less dependent on other people. In John’s Gospel, Jesus teaches more actively or individually. Examples of these instances are his lengthy responses to Nicodemus in chapter 3 or his speeches to the Samaritan woman. While Luke’s Gospel is written in a more conversational tone, to me, John’s gospel features more of a formal tone. In John’s gospel, the infancy narratives and Jesus’s childhood are glossed over. John’s Gospel focuses on Jesus as an adult. It also does not mention Mary or Elizabeth, which I think is interesting becase without these important women, Jesus’ life story is incomplete. The ordering of the events of Jesus’ life is also different in John and Luke’s Gospel. In John’s Gospel, Jesus teaches in Jerusalem before He teaches in Galilee. John also has much less of a focus on the disciples. The distinct theological teaching or message in which I see John advancing is that Jesus was sent to humanity by God to save us. In close to all of Jesus’ long speeches something along these lines is mentioned including, “For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son” (3:15), “since he whom God has sent speaks God’s own words” (3:33-34), and “whoever listens to my words, and believes in the one who sent me, has eternal life” (4:24-26).