The Chiastic Structure for the book of John:
Download the expanded structure in pdf format.
The theme of the book reveals just who Jesus is. This is the only gospel in which Jesus is quoted saying that He is the Messiah, unlike the other gospels where He seems to sidestep the question.
The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” Joh 4:25-26
… to the Samaritan woman at the well.
Jesus calls Himself the Son of Man:
“No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Joh 3:13-15
He also says clearly that He is the Son of God:
“… do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?” Joh 10:36
This is the entire reason the chief priests give to Pilate, for bringing Him to the Romans:
The Jews answered him [Pilate], “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.” Joh 19:7
John is also home to all the I AM statements Jesus made about Himself:
I AM the Bread of Life (Joh 6:35)
I AM the Light of the world (Joh 8:12)
Before Abraham was, I AM (Joh 8:58)
I AM the Door of the sheep (Joh 10:7)
I AM the Good Shepherd (Joh 10:11)
I AM the Resurrection and the Life (Joh 11:25)
I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Joh 14:6)
I AM the True Vine (Joh 15:1)
I AM He (Joh 18:5)
I AM is the name YHVH gave for Himself to Moses at the burning bush (Exo 3:14-15).
These are all quotes, and not John’s commentary. John’s commentary is that Jesus is the Word, who was with God and who was God (Joh 1:1, 14), who was begotten, not made, and through whom all that was made, was made (Joh 1:3).
John establishes Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, and as God, without any doubt. The chiastic structure does not invent that identity, but it does throw it into stark relief.
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