Which material is found in the Synoptic Gospels but not in John,
and what are the Johannine equivalents of Synoptic teaching? Why do you think
that John includes some materials in his Gospel that are not in the Synoptic
Gospels? How do these differences impact our understanding of the historical
value of these Gospels?
In the Johannine Gospel, Carson states that the
narrative parables, details of the transfiguration, the Lord’s supper, Jesus’ exorcisms,
and Jesus’ temptations are all excluded.[1] Also,
Jesus’ baptism and the Twelve’s call to discipleship were not detailed in John’s
account.[2] Nevertheless,
John’s Gospel entails Jesus’ first miracle of turning water into wine, the
conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, and Jesus’ work in Samaria which are
not mentioned in the Synoptic Gospels.[3] According
to Carson, John holds exclusivity with the stories of Lazarus’ resurrection,
Jesus’ Jerusalem visitations, Jesus’ private teachings to His disciples, discussions
and events surrounding the temple and synagogues.
I believe that John may have added some things
that are not in the Synoptic Gospels to give us a different aspect of Christ
that was not addressed by the other authors. Each author wrote what they had
seen and heard, but John, having been an eye witness to Jesus’ life, possibly already
knew what the others had written and wanted to give a different narrative than
the Synoptic Gospels due to the audience for which he was writing and the
time-period.[4]
John was writing during a different time when they audience needed to understand
who Christ was and the significance that His role played in their lives.
Therefore, this may account for the difference in writing as well as why we are
able to have a deeper understanding of Christ today.[5] The
early Christians new of the works that Jesus had done from the Synoptic
Gospels, but there seem to had been a need for them to have more insight as to
Him bring their personal Savior for the time they lived in after they no longer
had temples and synagogues.[6] Modern-day
Christians have the same need to know the relevance of Jesus in their lives as
well. Many people know the Jesus who performed miracles, but they do not
understand the Jesus who became flesh to save them from a world of sin.
Tozer writes that Jesus was accepted by nature
and yet, His own would not accept Him.[7]
When we read the Gospel of John, we are able to learn about the One who gave His
all, while knowing that He would be rejected by the very ones He created. Therefore,
I believe that John’s Gospel gives a unique perspective concerning Christ and His
infinite love for mankind.
2.
Why does John call Jesus the "Word" in the Prologue?
What are the potential sources for John's depiction of Jesus as the
"Word"? How does this depiction of Jesus as the "Word"
relate to John's Gospel as a whole? Using John 1, how would you explain the
role of Jesus to a modern reader of the Gospel?
John uses “Word” when referring to Jesus because He was in
the very beginning of time, representing its past, present and future, and was made
flesh to show the glory, grace and mercy of God to mankind.[8]
The rest of the Gospel is built upon this foundation. Some people have believed
that the Prologue was written by an unknown person and later than the rest of
the Gospel, while others have suggested that it was a poem from perhaps the
gnostic tradition or some other source that John used.[9]
There is not enough evidence as to give credence to the belief that John used
outside sources to develop the prologue.
John description of Jesus as the Word shows that He was from
the very beginning in that John did not start his Gospel with Jesus’ birth or
His ministry, but he began with the very beginning of all things as God’s embodiment
of His very being – the Word.[10]
John wanted Jesus to be known as the true Light of the world so that Jesus
becoming incarnate could speak to human beings on their level.[11]
John’s use of in the beginning points
the reader back to Genesis for God was in the beginning and before the
beginning as we as humans know it and yet, directs us to the new creation that
we become once we have accepted Christ.[12]
In summing up John 1 and Jesus’ role for the modern
believer, I would describe this chapter as being God’s intent for mankind as defined
in Genesis being manifested in the flesh. God made a world where man would have
life, but due to sin, that was disrupted so Jesus came to restore what was lost
for He is the Creator of life Who is also the Light shining in the darkness.[13]
Without Jesus coming to earth, we would have been eternally lost, but due to Him
becoming human as we are, man was able to see God’s love revealed through the
acts that Jesus did and experience God’s love, grace and mercy as shown through
His son, the Christ. Therefore, we can know that God cares for His creation by
the witness that Jesus bore when He was on earth to a world that was undeserving
and yet, He fulfilled His divine mission.
[1] Donald
Arthur Carson, The Gospel According to John
(Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2015), 21.
[2]
Ibid., 21-22.
[3] Ibid.,
22.
[4]
Ibid., 22-23.
[5] Dr.
Charles Dickinson, "Why is John's Gospel So Different? | Massachusetts
Bible Society," Welcome to the Massachusetts Bible Society! |
Massachusetts Bible Society, last modified 2018,
https://www.massbible.org/exploring-the-bible/ask-a-prof/answers/why-johns-gospel-so-different.
[6] Ibid.
[7] A. W.
Tozer and James L. Snyder, And He Dwelt Among Us:
Teachings from the Gospel of John (Bloomington: Bethany House Publishers, 2014), 67.
[8] Donald
Arthur Carson, The Gospel According to John (Grand Rapids:
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2015), 111.
[9] Ibid.,
112.
[10]
Ibid., 113.
[11]
Ibid.
[12]
Ibid., 113-114.
[13] John
1 (New International Version).
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