John

John was a little tougher read than the other three gospels.

At times, the book of John came across as a little more "preachy" than the other books.  Maybe because this was written by John the disciple.  (At least that is who I think wrote this book.)  He seemed to be trying to make Jesus sound more intellectual, more other-worldly.  He spent more time on Jesus defending himself to the Pharisees and less time on parables.

John did include some new details not included in the previous gospels.  He begins with John the Baptist, totally ignoring the birth of Jesus.  He moves right to the adult Jesus and his first miracle - turning water into wine at the wedding, per his mother's request.  This is the first time we hear of the Samaritan women by the well.  He had the story of Mary, Martha and Lazarus (who Jesus raised from the dead) and indicated that there was a special relationship between the four.

John spent a lot more time on Jesus's last days and the Pharisee's plot to kill him.  He talks more of the instructions Jesus gives to the disciples for after his death and resurrection.  He spent more time on the resurrection, including some details not in the other books.  Mary Magdalene finds the empty tomb, but this time she tells Peter and the one whom Jesus loved (John?) and they go to the tomb to look for themselves.  This is the first time we hear of Thomas not being there when Jesus first appeared in the room to the disciples and his need to see Jesus in person before he would believe.

John keeps referring to the disciple whom Jesus loved - was he talking about himself?  I think he was, for a variety of reasons.  Was there a feud between John and Peter?  The one whom Jesus loved is mentioned as bettering Peter a few times. (Peter ran to the tomb, but the one whom Jesus loved got there first.  The one whom Jesus loved sat next to Jesus at the last supper, leaning against him and asking who will betray you, Lord? Judas betrayed Jesus, but Peter denied him three times.)

This book filled in some details, but left out others.  Why?  Because John already knew what Matthew and Mark had to say so he didn't need to repeat them?  Or because, as it said at the end of the book, there are too many stories to tell...

My Dad's family:

(first row) Aunt Ina, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Mable

(second row) Uncle John, Uncle Owen, Aunt Vee, my Dad (Ross)