Please read Chapters 1-11 of John's gospel, concentrating on the first four chapters. Cite one thing John includes that *isn't* in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). Suggest a reason that this material may have been more important to John than to the synoptic writers. What is John's purpose in including the "extra" material?Thursday, February 8, 2007
The Gospel of John--Session I
Please read Chapters 1-11 of John's gospel, concentrating on the first four chapters. Cite one thing John includes that *isn't* in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). Suggest a reason that this material may have been more important to John than to the synoptic writers. What is John's purpose in including the "extra" material?
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In the Book of John, there are many things that have been noticed not to be in the Synoptic Gospels. I would like to share this one as it means a lot to me.
The first is by a well when Jesus is resting there and a Samaritan woman comes to fill her water jug. When she gets close, he asks her for a drink. she only replys that he is a Jew and she is a Samaritan.
Starting in verse 13,
Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
She wants this water and as they continue to talk she sees that this man she is talking to is the Messiah. By this time, the disciples have returned with food. Then, she runs into town to talk to others.
You see, we all need this living water. Jesus was able to tell her everything about her and showed that even with all of that, God still loved her. When she ran back into town, she left something at the well :her water jug. She left the heavy burden there at the feet of Jesus, so that she could go and share the news of this wonderful man who didn't treat her badly because of something that she had done.
There are so many things that burden us daily. John may have included this particular story in order to show that it doesn't matter what you have done. He is going to forgive that and you will be set free. John is kind of giving a message of hope with this story, so that we can be like this woman, so joyful and excited about Him that we not only give our burdens to Him, but we leave them at His feet.
Amanda Blood
John's writings have a mysterious way about them. His word usage and expressions are more literary- not straight facts, or the most basic information. He starts with John's proclamation to being Christ (not mentioned in the Synoptic gospels) and follows into Jesus' baptism and beginnings of his ministry.
Another thing I noticed that John does in his gospel is that he gives an explanation of things to come. For example, in John 3 it talks about John the Baptist.
John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized-- for John had not yet been thrown into prison
He tells about what is going to happen in referral to what is happening at that moment. Very interesting and personal way of doing it.
amber eich
John's Gospel is different from the other Gospels because, one it has very little reference back to the Old Testament, such as Matthew does. John also has a different style of reading. The sections are longer, more dense, and carry significant meanings. Finally, there are fewer parables in the Gospel of John. However, they are the more famous ones that seem to stick in a person's mind.
One of the reasons why this material is more important to John is because he is writing later. The generations that would have directly known Jesus are gone and society has changed as well. This gospel does not have the abundance of parables as the other gospels. Instead, it is direct information that we need to do to receive the kingdom of Heaven, which is believe in God without having to see signs to believe.
John includes extra materials in his gospel like the woman who was to be stoned, and the wedding at Canna to confront certain issues of the day. The first miracle does not seem that important but it is a foreshadowing into change wine in his blood, and that Jesus would help the average person. I personally think the stoning of the woman has to be one of the best stories in the bible that carries an easy and understandable message.This extra material could also appeal to a wider audience that John is trying to reach out to.
In the Book of John, I noticed that "Jesus Cleanses the Temple" was included. I think some of the stories included in John's gospel show us a different side of Jesus that is possibly less appealing than the others. In the story of Jesus cleansing the temple, we see an aggressive side of Jesus as he defends his father's house. I think this story is included for those who question or challenge Jesus. Although this story may not be appealing to Christianity, I think it holds a strong message.
Alyson Guthrie
John Chapter 2 shows how Jesus turned water into wine for a wedding procession. There are other miricles similar and profound. John writes the deeds of Jesus in order to prove to the world that Jesus "is" the son of God. Matthew, Mark, and Luke mainly wrote about the word of Jesus and his legacy. The doctrines laid down by Jesus were well expressed but didn't cover many of the miricles Jesus performed to help the people. Healing is always good but there were many other miricles.
One thing John includes that is not in the synoptic gospels would be the story of Nicodemus.
The story of Nicodemus has to be about being born again. At first it seems like he is talking about the body being reborn, but actualy he is talking about the spirit being bborn again.
Most likely John added the story of Nicodemus so that they would have a better idea what is actually involved for being a Christian.
The major point he was probably making is the flesh and the spirit are not the same. And the spirit is what matters in concern for getting to heaven.
Margaret Schiley
While reviewing the Gospel of John, it is very clear how this work is very different from the synoptic books we discussed already this sememster. One general thing that hit me right from the start was how John began his work. It seems to me that John has a fundamental need to prove the divinity of Jesus. of course, the side notes helped me recognize this, but the concept is pretty clear for anyone to see. John also seems to want to get the idea across that John the Baptist should not take the place of Jesus in anyone's eyes because the first two stories deal with that. Specifically, one thing that really stuck out to me came in chapter two with the story of the Cleansing of the Temple. Verse 19 through 21 read like this: "Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple and in three days i will raise it up." The Jews said, "this temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it in three days?" But he was speaking about the temple of his body." I think the last part is truly significant because he makes it a point to explain the symbolizism that Jesus spoke. I may not be completely sure at JOhn's intent, but there is definately an underlying meaning that he wants to convey to his audience and proving Jesus' divinity seems to be one of those points.
Kyle Schwan
The Gospel of John tries to relate to an audience that does not study the Old Testament in depth like the readers of Matthew. John is reaching a different audience of people that can be affected by John's message of Christ coming to save all people.
John also uses debates between Jesus and others such as the Pharisees to illustrate the philosophical difference between Jesus and the elders of his time.
One of these arguments is in Chapter 8 versese 39-59. Jesus refutes the claim that some have of being children of God and Abraham by stating that they desired to kill Him. Some thought that Jesus was a Samaritan possessed by a demon. Jesus said that they were children of Satan and that they dishonored both God and Him by trying to silence and kill the Son of God.
John's objective in his writings is to present the logical arguments of Jesus, his ministry, and his status as the Son of God.
The Gospel of John has a very different way about it. When I read John I immediatly think I am reading a book from a great writter. His launguage is much more eloquant and beautiful than the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
John also focuses on detail. Where as the other synoptic Gospels tell short little stories or parables John focuses on a few stories rather than cramming a large amount of small stories together. A reason for this is perhaps that John allready read the other three Gospels since his is dated around 100 AD and the other three were dated around 60-70 AD. John may have seen the lack of some stories he thought to be important in the synoptic Gospels and decided to focus on them.
The verse I choose to include is from John 4: 14 which says, "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give give him shall be in him a well of water sprining up into everlasting life." I feel that this verse along with several others in John show what John is trying to convey. I beleive John is trying to show us that true divinity of God and the Life everlasting through him. John reiterates over and over again that Jesus is the son of God and the only way to eternal life is through him. John empahasizes that through the majority of his teachings including John 3:16 which is probably the most widely known verse in all of Christianity. John is most likely showing us the heavenlyness of Jesus as God's son.
-Matthew Scott
That last post was used, just to make sure my blog posting worked. I chose to comment on the passage "Jesus Heals the Officials Son" This story is a test of faith in Christ. After the official asked Jesus to heal his dying son, Jesus stated "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, you will never believe" The official still begs before Christ that Jesus will heal his son. Jesus just had to tell the official that his son will live. When the official arrived back at his home, his son was healing.
I like that Jesus tests the official's faith. The people of Galilee know Christ as a healer after witnessing some of his healings in Jerusalem. In this time period of history, many of the city officials were evil and corrupt. While several of them denounced the word of Christ. Jesus doesn't look at who the official is and reject his healings. He will heal anybody no matter who they are, just as long as they believe.
One text that is not found in the other Gospels is that of Nicodemus. It talks about Jesus' discussion with Nicodemus about being born anew. I think this is important, as others have already pointed out, because John is trying to give people an answer to a question they very likely have. I think John understands that this story is important to people of that time and felt that they needed a story to refer to that they could place themselves into and understand what being born again means.
One thing that John includes in his gospel that isnt included in the synoptic gospels is the story of Jesus teaching Nicodemus (Chapter 3). Nicodemus was a Pharisee who came to Jesus for information and to get confirmation that Jesus was from God. Some great sections are 3:5-7 and parts of 3:16-21 ---
3:5-6 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit."
3:16-18 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life...Whoever believes in him is not condemned..."
In these passages, John words things so that they are easy to understand and very well explained. Additionally, it is not filled with examples of prophecy from the Old Testament.
John probably used this story because of its lack of Old Testament scripture and because of Jesus' simple words. Why? His audience, like Luke's was Gentile believers. They wouldn't understand many of the references anyway . Jesus also explained his purpose and the correct way to salvation using simple language, making it easy for Gentiles to understand.
However, Luke also wrote to the Gentiles believers but chose not to include this story. Im not sure why John found this material more important than Luke did, but my Bible does say in its introduction to John that it was written Gentiles, "especially those struddling with predominant Greek philosophies of the day." I really dont know if that plays into John's inclusion of this story; hopefully you'll cover such things in class.
Rachelle Rasmussen
In john, it is written in a totally different way than the synoptic gospels. The synoptic gospels start with the birth of jesus, while john begins with the creation of the world. I notice the lack of parables in this gospel compared to the others. I remember alot of exorcisms and stuff in the synoptic gospels while John seems to leave that out. In reading it, it all flows, it's not just one-liner after one-liner like the first 3 gospels, i like it better this way. John includes fewer stories and different ones, but they are meaningful and get the job done.
-Landon Lawson
The Book of John has always seemed to me to be the most poetic Gospel. Although it is written later it seems to put past with the present. Instead of a simple foreshadowing or events that you have to connect together John tells what happens later in the context. Which although not the most technically correct is a great way of getting your message across.
Probably the best example of this is John's lack of number of parables but the includeing of events that were not in the general mind set of who we think as Jesus. The temple incident where Jesus defends the temple from being a "marketplace" is a rougher side of Jesus, his human side. This is what I really like.
John Schirado
Unlike the other gospels, which begin either with John the Baptist or the birth of Jesus, John goes all the way back to the beginning. John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." I think John does this because it shows that God has always had a plan from the beginning and the coming of John the Baptist was the beginning of that plan. This also begins to show that what was said in the old testament would come true. "He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not recieve him."
The Gospel According to John contains a series of signs that Jesus performed. 2,1-11 4,46-54 5,1-9 6,1-15 6,16-21 9,1-7 11,43-44. I don't think that these are mentioned in the other books. I do think that the Gospel according to John's purpose was to point out the divinity of Jesus, making this material important for the author.
In the book of John chapter 1:20-23. of John the baptist denial of being Christ is one that sticks in my mind. when the priest and Levites came to question and asked him who he was he was he said, verse 23:John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of the one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord. I think John felt this was very Important to add because he felt that it was necessary to show that his calling was to pave the way for christ or the lord and make it clear to everyone that he was not a prophet.
The stories that John chose to include that the other gospels didn't are stories that help the reader with a blue-print for salvation that is different than the other gospels. John puts a greater emphasis on the fact that one must believe that Jesus is the son of god in order to have eternal life.
One passage that helps support this is John 6: 35-40. In this passage Jesus says "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." Then in verse 40 Jesus says "This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life;"
I think John uses this passage and other passages not mentioned in the other three gospels to let people know that even though they know the stories, they won't be saved unless they really believe in Jesus.
Kevin Dahlberg
I agree with alyson, We see a side of jesus that isnt rarely told about in religon. Forcefully protecting his father's house. We don't wanna see this in christ, he should be viewed on a nonaggressive light (in our eyes) but this does show what happens to those who go against god and how they well ge dealt with.
Ka'Nova Williams
John writes a lot on how people did not believe that Jesus was sent by god to get these messages through people. John starts much differently than any other gospel.John 3:1-18 talks about the different reasons Jesus was sent to save the world. I think that John felt that this important because without the trust and belief the messages from Jesus would not be recieved. John writes about how Jesus had to prove that he was the son of God by showing signs and without those the Jews would not believe.(John 4:48) I think that the Gospel of John gives us a different perspective and view, which gives a different understanding.
-Maggie Madrid
On thing that John puts in his Gospel that is not in the Synoptoic Gospels is the story of the Jesus's diciples. The other gospels do not tell us how the diciples came to follow Jesus.
The tone of this gospel to me is differnt perhaps because it is written later. It seems to me that the main point is about proving that jesus is the prophet. Not that the others did not try to do this but they seemed to have all differnt audiences in mind. This book seems to want to prove to all that he is the prophit and that he is the son of God. Perhaps because of the violence towards christians at this time. And the Aposltes having been persucuted. I am not really sure though
I think one of the most pecular thing that John did was summarize the birth Christ.Matthew, Mark, and Luke told the Christmas story and here John takes us back to Genesis 3:16 and the promise of the savior. Its kind of weird to here a gospel start as "In the beginning" the same way as Genesis. This shows that Christ was and is the word spoken when god created the world and the same word was going to be the atonment for our sin.
Jessica Hinners
JinSeop Lee
The difference between the synoptic gospel - Matthew, Mark, and Luke and the gospel of John is the content of the gospel. The synoptic gospel said everything of Jesus saying and having, however, the gospel of John said something that the writer wanted to something tell to people. Thus, I can figure out that the difference between the beginning of the synoptic gospel and the gospel of John.
That is to say, in the gospel of matthew said that the record of Jesus' Ancestors in the beginning of the gospel, in the gospel of the Luke said that the backgrounds of the birth of Jesus. However, in the gospel of John, it said that Jesus who existed before the beginning of the world and also saying "Logos".......
Thus, the gospel of John is very different from the other gospels because it said that Jesus is the Lord.
My Exhaustive Concordance lists the word , “Grace” in John’s gospel several times, and is only mentioned once in any of the other three gospels. I personally feel that Grace is one of the main themes in John’s Gospel.
John’s Gospel seems to show the compassion and heart of Christ. There are many Miracles listed in this gospel that goes to support this. While the other gospels show the hostility between Christ and the teachers of the law, John shows how Christ spoke with a member of the Jewish ruling council, “Nicodemus”, and teaches him the foundations of salvation.
John calls himself “the one whom Christ loved”. I believe the fact that John was so close to Christ helps us see his grace filled personality and loving nature.
-Nate Mills
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