This is part of a year-long series. Learn more about this series here.

Below is a summary of the Gospel of John I wrote for a seminary class. The professor broke John into two sections, and we were instructed to outline the significant events and flow of thought for each section. The point of such an assignment is to grasp a big-picture view of John’s Gospel and to understand how the material he included drives his narrative forward. If you’ve never done so, I would encourage you to read the entire Gospel of John in one sitting so you can experience the flow of his story of Jesus.

John 1-12

The first section of John contains the prologue to the book and Jesus’ public ministry. The prologue (1:1-18) introduces Jesus as eternally God and the one through whom everything was created. Further, this identity of Jesus was confirmed by John the Baptist, resulting in two of his disciples following Jesus (1:19-51). Chapter two chronicles the first two of Jesus’ signs recorded in chs. 1-12. He turns water into wine at the wedding in Cana, and he cleanses the temple in Jerusalem. These two signs were particularly important for the disciples believing in Jesus (2:11, 22). Chapters 3-11 weave together a series of Jesus’ signs and discourses. Jesus describes the Son to Nicodemus (3:10-21), but he reveals himself as the Christ to the woman at the well (4:7-26). Between these two conversations is another testimony about Jesus from John the Baptist. This testimony reinforces Jesus’ comments to Nicodemus to the reader and enhances Jesus’ self-revelation to the woman at the well. Moving forward, Jesus’s signs and discourses continue to reveal him as Israel’s God incarnate, which is the undergirding emphasis of his “I am” statement in 8:58. This section winds down with Jesus contrasting his pastoral care for the people against the self-serving ways of the religious leaders (chs. 9-10). His pastoral care and the reality of his identity merge together in his profound sign of resurrecting Lazarus (ch. 11). This last sign is behind the Triumphal Entry (12:17). At 12:27, Jesus shifts his focus from public ministry to the hour of the cross. Chapter 12 concludes with Jesus giving a proclamation for salvation (12:44-50).

John 13-21

The second section of John chronicles Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection. Jesus is with his disciples in chs. 13-17, and his actions and teachings are steered towards preparing them for his departure, both his death and ascension. The narrative begins with Jesus washing his disciples feet, and then he predicts a series of events: Judas’ betrayal, the glorification of the Son, and Peter’s denial (13:1-38). He gives them the new commandment to love one another (13:34-35), and then Jesus’ teachings in chs. 14-16 focus on clarifying and explaining what is about to happen and what will happen afterward. He explains his connection with the Father (14:1-14), the coming of the Holy Spirit (14:15-31), and how their fruit glorifies the Father (15:1-17). The disciples will follow the path of their master, but they should rejoice in this because Jesus has overcome the world (ch. 16). Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer (ch. 17) is the culmination of his ministry, and the narrative then transitions to his arrest and trial (ch. 18). Pilate eventually delivers Jesus to be crucified (19:1-16). Jesus dies and is buried (19:17-42). John narrates a scene of confusion at the empty tomb, but Mary Magdalene eventually encounters the resurrected Jesus (20:1-18). Jesus then appears to the rest of his disciples (20:19-29). John briefly explains the purpose of his gospel (20:30-31), and then he includes an epilogue where Jesus again appears to the disciples by the beach. This narrative includes a scene where Peter is commissioned, as well as a moment of potential competition between Peter and the “disciple whom Jesus loved” (21:1-23). The gospel concludes a testimony that the written account of Jesus is true, and that many more things could have been included (21:24-25).