Includes bibliographical references (pages 317-325) and indexes.

Introducing the Fourth Gospel. Setting the stage ; John : one Gospel, more than one author ; Separating John from the other Gospels ; Work of a Palestinian Jew ; Tracing the Jewish roots of the Prologue ; Permeating wisdom : the doorway into Jewish mysticism ; John, the non-literalist -- Book of Signs : mythological characters wrapped inside history. Mother of Jesus : introduction to the Book of Signs ; Nicodemus : what it means to be born of the spirit ; Samaritan woman by the well : a new dimension of the Jesus experience ; Gentile Official's Son : the meaning of God and faith ; Man crippled for thirty-eight years ; Andrew and Philip : the Red Sea and manna ; Brothers of Jesus: a debate on origins ; Man born blind : the split from Judaism is complete ; Lazarus : breaking the final barrier -- Farewell Discourses and the High Priestly Prayer. Peter and the commandment to love ; Not atonement, but glory! : John clarifies Jesus' death ; Analogy of the vine : God is indwelling, not external ; Prayer of Jesus : Gethsemane transformed -- Passion Narrative : from darkness to light, from death to life. A brief introduction to the climax of this Gospel ; Judas : the figure of darkness ; Peter : the struggle within the soul ; Pilate : the conflict between survival and truth ; At the Cross : the Mother of Jesus and the Beloved Disciple ; It is finished : water and blood flow together -- Resurrection : mystical oneness revealed. Introducing John's story of Easter ; Magdalene : do not cling to what is, journey into what can be ; Peter and the Beloved Disciple : resurrection dawns without a body ; Pentecost : the Second Coming of Jesus : it was "a little while" ; Thomas : the final witness, the ultimate claim ; Epilogue : resurrection is not physical, but it is real.