Although the approach and vocabulary of John's gospel is different from that of Mark, it is clear that the aim is similar, if we compare Mark 1: 1 with John 20:30-31. Mark presents and interprets the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to his readers so that through faith in him they might enter the Kingdom of God. John's gospel was written 'in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and through your faith in him you may have life'. The assurance here that Jesus is the Messiah indicates that the gospel was written primarily for Jewish Christians for whom this would be a very important issue. It is important when studying John's gospel to realize that his different approach and distinctive language do not often express entirely new ideas not already found in the other New Testament writings studied. What the writer expresses in his own distinctive way may often be found to mean something similar to what has been said differently by Mark or Paul or Peter.

It is clear from both the gospels of Mark and John that each writer selected and interpreted what he wrote about Jesus. We have seen from Mark's gospel that it is not possible to work out how long the ministry of Jesus lasted or how much time elapsed between many of the events recorded. Neither Mark nor John was writing a modem-style biography in which it is important to show the order in which events happened and how much time elapses between them. We have noticed Mark's terse style which results in the reader being given only the minimum of information about some things (1 : 12, 1 :34, 1 :39, 4 :33) but with the implication that Mark knew that there were many others which could have been recorded. In John's gospel there is clear indication that a careful selection was made in what was presented (20:30,21 :25).