Micahel J. Kruger explains 7 traits that make the Gospel of John unique:
- John is the last gospel.
- John is the most personal gospel.
- John is the most beloved gospel.
- John is the most distinctive gospel.
- John is the most theological gospel.
- John is the most “Old Testament” Gospel.
- John is the most “plain” gospel (about the message of eternal life).
To be clear, all four of our gospels are special, inspired, and unique in their own ways. But, John offers a unique contribution to our vision of the ministry of Jesus. And he proves that Jesus’ person is so deep, so multi-faceted, so profound, that there are always more things to say about him.
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As to No. 1 — John is the last gospel — there may be various reasons for that:
One reason may be John’s age. He was young when called by Christ. He was not martyred, while the other apostles were martyred. John lived to be an old man. Therefore, he wrote a gospel, three epistles, and an end times prophecy. It does not appear that the other apostles wrote all three of these genres, not even the apostle Paul.
Another reason could be his spiritual gift of prophecy. And John was a seer. Through the Spirit’s endowment, John could look far into the future. Whereas Luke, most likely, interviewed people; Mark used intellectual property of the apostle Peter; and the apostle Matthew focused on Christ as King.
As for No. 2 — John is the most personal gospel — it may be that Jesus Christ had more affinity with a fisherman than with the other men.
As for No. 3 — John is the most beloved gospel. — no pun is intended but of the gospel writers, John focuses on love more than the others. John explained the meaning of love and differentiated it from hate. He taught love in relation to God, other brethren, evidenced by keeping commandments, distinquishes love of the world from love of the Father, verbal affirmations and more. (I John ch. 2, 3, 4, 5) So in turn, Christians are drawn to the gospel by him. John 3:16 is the most significant verse in the bible.
As for No. 4 — John is the most distinctive gospel. — we know for a fact that John was an apostle as was Matthew, so he met the qualifications for being one and that was to have been with Christ for the entire 3 and 1/2 years of ministry and seen him after the resurrection from the dead. Luke and Mark were not apostles. So John wrote things that the others could not.
Also, John was an eyewitness to Jesus’ ministry, as is said in 1 John 1. Things we have seen and heard we declare unto you. {paraphrase} And, of the twelve, Peter, James and John were the ones in Jesus’ inner circle. Jesus showed them things that he did not show the others. For example, he took the three up on the mount where he was transfigured and he talked with Moses and Elijah.
So these make for a different gospel account.
As for No. 5 – John is the most theological gospel. – there is no doubt that the apostle John was spiritual. With all of the things which he suffered, he had to be spiritual. John’s brother was killed by Herod. John’s friend Peter was martyred, as well. John, himself, was imprisoned for no crime he committed, after he had been scalded in hot oil, according to legend. In other words, he was persecuted for his faith in Christ. Brethren like Diotrephes rejected him, challenged his apostleship, and slandered his character. Suffice it to say, John suffered much and, in return, through humility, he received much grace. That made him spiritual and his theology was deep. He learned Christ by the things which he suffered. We fellowship with the LORD through suffering. So John’s gospel is very much a study of God.
As for No. 6 – John is the most Old Testament gospel. John knew the Hebrew scriptures so he had no problem remembering events and recording them. They facilitated his writing. John knew of Jacob’s well in ch. 4 and the law in ch. 8 when Jesus dialogued with the two women. He knew the intricacies of the Temple, the shenanigans which Jesus cleansed in his Father’s house, as well as the symbols when Jesus declared, i.e. “I am the light of the world”, as in candlestick. It was no problem for John to record the high priestly prayer because in Psa. 133 it is written, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” He knew that. Whereas, the inner circle were fishermen, John knew about shepherds, sheep, lamb, hireling, wolf, the occupations of O.T. men. And John knew the job of a prophet so well for he kept company with the best of them — Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, and saw Moses and Elijah. So he became one.
And as for No. 7 – John is the most plain gospel – that is true from the simple reading of the statements of Christ. Jesus said concerning himself,
I AM…
I am the way, the truth and the life.
I am the vine.
I am the true vine.
I am the good shepherd.
I am the door.
I am the resurrection and the life.
I am the light of the world (on two occasions)
There is no ambiquity concerning Jesus’ identity because he said who he was – even affirming his deity in “… because I said, I am the Son of God?” (John 10:36) It is plain and simple that the salvation of man is through Christ. His disciples understood because he used everyday language in teaching them. And John continued explaining the life of Christ beyond the gospel and into the apocalypse where Jesus said, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” He is God.