1. After the introduction, the content of John’s Gospel is organized around 7 “sign” miracles and 7 metaphorical “I am” teachings of Jesus. 

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2. John differs from the other Gospels in the time of the Temple cleansing (2, or if only one, which is in a historical context and which is in a theological/topical context?), in the number of trips to Jerusalem (only John makes it clear that Jesus’ ministry was at least 3 years in length), in John’s highlights from the events of the “Passion” week, and in the “dualism” imagery of Jesus’ teaching.

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3. John includes many personal conversations, including extended personal conversations with the closest disciples, which are not included in the other Gospels: with Philip and Nathaniel, with Thomas after the Resurrection, at the cross, with Nicodemus, with the Samaritan woman, with Lazarus’ sisters, with Peter and John after the Resurrection, and the conversation with the closest disciples before Jesus’ arrest. 

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4. As ‘public’ events, John includes only 7 miracles, each of which is particularly significant to John’s themes:

1st sign – At Cana turning water into wine (2:1-11)

2ndsign – At Cana healing the Official’s son (4:46-54)

3rd sign – Healing at the Pool of Bethesda – regarding the issue of Sabbath authority – in Jerusalem (5:1-15)

4th sign – 5000 fed – regarding the Bread of Life teaching (6:5-13)

5th sign – Jesus walks on water – same day as feeding 5000 – regarding power over Creation (6:16-21)

6th sign – Healing of a man born blind – regarding spiritual blindness teaching – in Jerusalem (9:1-7)

7th sign – Lazarus raised – regarding the Resurrection teaching (11:11-15)

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5. The account of the woman caught in adultery (John 7:53-8:11) was apparently not in the original text of John’s Gospel. It was inserted here in connection with the following teaching about the testimony of two witnesses regarding Jesus (8:17).

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6. There are seven metaphorical “I am” statements by Jesus (the bread of life, the light of the world, the door of the sheep, the good shepherd, the resurrection and the life, the way, truth and life, and the true vine). These are complemented by seven other instances of Jesus using the same wording (Gk. “ego eimi“- I AM) in identifying Himself with God, the great “I AM WHO I AM – YHWH): with the Samaritan woman (4:26), when walking on the water (6:20), in disputing with Jews about His Father (8:24, 28), as compared to Abraham (8:58), at the foot-washing (13:19), and at His arrest (18:5-8).

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Conclusion: John wrote independently of the others, at least in large part, and shaped his Gospel around key events, specific themes, and many personal conversations, all of which were recorded to encourage his readers to believe in and respond to Jesus as the one and only Son of God, Savior, and Lord.