I'm studying John for an upcoming sermon, and I found these two statements regarding the 'argument of the Gospel of John' to be insightful. Calvin, in the Preface to his Commentary on John, says:
But as the bare history [of what we call 'the Gospel'] would not be enough, and, indeed, would be of no advantage for salvation, the Evangelists do not merely relate that Christ was born, and that he died and vanquished death, but also explain for what purpose he was born, and died, and rose again, and what benefit we derive from those events.
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And as all of [the four NT Gospels] had the same object in view, to point out Christ, the three former exhibit his body, if we may be permitted to use the expression, but John exhibits his soul. On this account, I am accustomed to say that this Gospel is a key to open the door for understanding the rest; for whoever shall understand the power of Christ, as it is here strikingly portrayed, will afterwards read with advantage what the others relate about the Redeemer who was manifested.
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