The fourth Gospel, also known as John’s Gospel or the Gospel of John, is distinct from the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) in theological depth, narrative style, unique content, and specific symbolic language. It offers its readers a more in-depth exploration of the identity and significance of Jesus. One unique specific of the Gospel of John is that theologically, it focuses more on Jesus as God and not just His humanity. It begins with the majestic prologue declaring Jesus as the Logos – the divine word who was with God and was God from the very beginning. This concept underscores Jesus' divine nature and his role in creation and redemption. We see more of the nature of God, the relationship between God the Father and Jesus the Son of God, and the significant belief in Jesus. It is interesting that in the Gospel of John, some several unique events and miracles are spoken about yet are not found in the other Gospels, as well as there are events and teachings of Jesus in a different chronological and geographical order. One such small distinction is that the location of Samaria is mentioned, and it is from this area that John writes and expounds on rich symbolism and allegories to emphasize spiritual truths.
As mentioned above in the introduction, one can see that the Gospel of John is quite unique. Several themes throughout the book are interesting and profound, and still apply to our current era. The themes, as Jesus points out, are to live in a new way, and they are still relevant today. According to N. T. Wright there are seven themes of the Book of John (Wright, N.T, n.d., sc. 0:24-0:33)
The themes are justice, relationships, spirituality, beauty, freedom, truth, and power. Broadly speaking, there are also outlines in the Book of John divided as follows:
1:1–6:71 - Part 1: The Protagonist Rises (Jesus rises)
7:1–12:50 - Part 2: The Protagonist Falls (death of Jesus)
13:1–21:25 - Part 3: The Protagonist Rises Again (resurrection of Jesus)
The Protagonist is the main character of this book, Jesus.
While each of these seven themes are featured throughout John, I believe there are five main central themes discussed as follows:
One of the central themes in John's Gospel is the concept of Jesus as the pre-existing Word of God who took on human form to convey divine truths and reveal God's glory. The truth represents the essence of God's being and character, a reality that Jesus testifies to. Throughout the narrative, the focus is on the signs and actions of Jesus, all of which are presented within the overarching narrative of salvation (Gundry 2012, 325).
The primary theme I would like to explore is the central one, focusing on belief and faith while touching on justice, relationships, spirituality, beauty, freedom, truth, and power. In the book of John, the terms "signs," "belief," and "life" serve as a logical framework. The signs indicate the revelation of God; belief denotes the expected response they should elicit; and life embodies the overarching theme. This integrates the appeal of the entire Gospel. (Tenney; Merrill C., n.d., 33–34).
The prologue
There are several encounters where individuals are invited to believe in Jesus as the Son of God, the promised Messiah. One to mention is the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus (a Pharisee and member of the Jewish council). We read in John 3, that Nicodemus seeks Jesus out at night to ask about his teachings. Jesus tells him to see the Kingdom of God, he needs to born again in a spiritual sense. Jesus presents himself as salvation and invites him to believe in him as the son of God. The other one worth mentioning is the encounter at the well of Sychar where 1Douglas Mangum, ed., Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament, Lexham Context Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020), Jn. Jesus interacts with a Samartian woman. Despite the societal barriers, Jesus talks to her and reveals he is the Messiah. Through this, many of the Samaritans came to believe in Jesus as the Saviour of the world. The contrast between these two personal encounters is insightful and deliberate on Jesus’ part. Nicodemus was a Jew; she was a Samaritan; he was a man, she was a woman; he was educated, she was not; he was morally upright, she was sinful; he was wealthy and had societal standing, she was poor and of ill-repute. Nicodemus intentionally sought Jesus out to answer some questions, whereas the Samaritan woman was indifferent and flippant in her response to Jesus – she was unaware of his significance. (Tenney; Merrill C., n.d., 92). Jesus is a true master of human nature, as demonstrated in these two opposite personal encounters. Of course, there were further encounters with others such as Lazarus, but by way of example, these two mentioned above reiterate the central theme of belief in Jesus as the promised Messiah and Son of God. To have a personal encounter with Jesus transforms individuals to respond and believe in him for salvation and eternal life.
We see Jesus is portrayed as the light of the world, which is a picture of bringing truth to humanity, illuminating the way and bringing clarity to confusion. The imagery contrasts knowledge and ignorance, truth and lies, salvation and condemnation. Through this imagery, John highlights humanity's fundamental choice: to embrace the light, Jesus Christ, and receive salvation (freedom and truth) or to remain in darkness and face condemnation.
The concept of Jesus as the light of the world underscores his universal significance and relevance to all people, regardless of background, demographic, gender, culture or circumstance. Just as light can penetrate even the deepest darkness, so does the message of Jesus have the power to reach into every corner of human experience, offering hope, healing, and redemption.
Ultimately, the imagery of Jesus as the light of the world in John's Gospel serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of divine truth and love. It calls believers to walk in the light of Christ, embody his teachings, and bear witness to his redemptive work in a world often shrouded in darkness.
Another theme is the “I am,” revealing Jesus’ understanding of his own identity and how we can relate to him. Declaring his identity through these metaphors and each of the “I am” reveals more aspects of Jesus’ attributes and his relationship with us. Each "I am" statement in John's Gospel offers profound insights into Jesus' divine nature and purpose, inviting believers to deepen their understanding of his identity and to place their trust in him as the source of life and salvation. “I am” – Jesus himself demands this Christological belief by making a series of I am in this gospel:
(Gundry 2012, 291)
For example, when Jesus proclaims, "I am the bread of life," he signifies that he is the ultimate sustenance for spiritual nourishment; he is enough. Through statements like "I am the resurrection and the life," Jesus asserts his power over death and his ability to grant eternal life to believers.
John often speaks about the promise of eternal life for those who believe in Jesus. This eternal life is not just a future reality but a present experience, characterized by a deep relationship with God and participation in his kingdom.
The importance of love in Jesus’ teachings and how he conducted himself is shown throughout the Gospel of John as another theme. Jesus’ sacrificial love, demonstrated through his death on the cross, is the ultimate expression of God’s love for humanity. This love is portrayed as the pinnacle of divine compassion and offers redemption and reconciliation to all who believe. Furthermore, Jesus instructs us as believers to live by his example and to love one another as he has loved us (John 13:34). This command to love is not merely a suggestion but a fundamental aspect of discipleship, reflecting God's unconditional love for the world and serving as a tangible expression of faith. Thus, in John's Gospel, love emerges as a central theme that encapsulates the essence of Jesus' message and mission, compelling believers to embody this love in their relationships and actions.
The Gospel of John offers a profound theological reflection on the identity of Jesus, the walk of faith, and the implications of discipleship. Jesus points to a new way of living and in doing so, we apply these themes to our current way of life by asking how we put these into practice. The rich symbolism and depth of theology continue to inspire and challenge readers today.