What follows is largely a precis of ‘A Fresh Look at the Gospel of John’, in Transforming Ministry (Central Readers’ Council) by Paul Burnham.  This itself is based on his book ‘The Eagle Returns: A Fresh Look at the Gospel of John‘.

There is a significant gap between the academic study of the Gospel of John and its use by most Christians.

It is important that we can believe that the Gospel records real events.

From the 2nd century AD up until about a hundred years ago, most have thought that this Gospel was written by John, son of Zebedee, one of the apostles from Galilee.

But this is odd, since most of what is recorded in this Gospel occurs in and around Jerusalem.

There is no mention of the three events of which John the son of Zebedee was a particular witness: the raising of Jairus’s daughter (Lk 8:51), the Transfiguration (Mk 9:2) and the prayers in Gethsemane (Mk 14:33).

Conversely, this Gospel gives detailed information about private meetings and conversations in Jerusalem (Jn 3:2; 7:45-53; 9:13-34; 11:46-53).

To attribute this Gospel to some ‘Johannine community’ is only to confuse the issue.  Richard Bauckham has argued that the author is the Beloved Disciple (who is not John the son of Zebedee), Jn 13:23; 21:20-24.

Enter ‘John Evangelist’, our well informed and sophisticated author.  He was a resident of Jerusalem.  He hosted the Last Supper.  He had probably originally been a disciple of John the Baptist (Jn 1:35-37).  He probably joined a small missionary party with Jesus, visiting Jerusalem, Judaea and Samaria, Jn 2-4.  If this involved a meeting with John the Baptist, this would place the missionary tour before the start of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee (the Synoptists agree that this occured after John the Baptist had been imprisoned).

Our Evangelist then returned to Jerusalem and hosted Jesus for a short visit (Jn 5).  He then went up to Galilee, where he was present for the feeding of the five thousand, the attempt to make Jesus a revolutionary leader, and the ‘bread of life’ teaching (Jn 6).

‘John Evangelist’ then returned to Jerusalem, with Jesus returning to stay with him for three short visits while based in Galilee.  He would have witnessed Jesus teaching in the Temple.

This author of the Fourth Gospel was probably a member of the religious establishment, perhaps even a member of the Sanhedrin alongside Nicodemus.  He was therefore in a position to record hostile discussions in private meetings.

Most of the Galilean disciples had probably not frequented his house, but he hosted the Last Supper there.

He was known to Annas, the High Priest who was replaced by his son Caiaphas.  He was thus able to be admitted to Annas’ house, whereas Peter could only get as far as the courtyard (Jn 18:15-17).  He could safely witness Pilate’s examination of Jesus and the crucifixion (Jn 18:33-38; 19:25-27).

He could offer to take the mother of Jesus into his own home.  He could also offer hospitality to the other disciples, thus encountering the risen Lord.

The risen Jesus had told the disciples that he would meet them up in Galilee.  ‘John Evangelist’ would have gone with them, meeting Jesus by the lakeside.

It is apparent, then, that ‘John Evangelist’ could have been an eyewitness of virtually everything that is recorded in his Gospel.  This would have included the five chapters covering Jesus’ teaching during and after the Last Supper.  For this record, he would also have had access to the recollections of the other disciples.

John carefully notes the festivals which Jesus attended during some of his visits to Jerusalem.  Thus, the Fourth Gospel helps us to establish a timeline for Jesus’ ministry.

He was obviously someone whom Jesus greatly loved.  This inimacy gave the opportunity, motivation and insight for him to pen a virtually independent records of Jesus’ ministry.