From: "The Parable of Joy: Reflections on the Wisdom of the Book of John"

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30 Jesus did many other signs before His disciples, which are not written down in this book. 31 But these things have been written so you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

John 20:30-31

 

  These words sound like a conclusion.  Many believe this is where John originally ended his account and that chapter 21, which vaguely refers to John's death, was written by his disciples after he died.  If this indeed was John's conclusion, it was a frustratingly cruel way to leave us.  In essence, he's saying, "There were many more signs Jesus did, many more interesting stories that I might have written for you to enjoy, but no."

  The purpose of the book is not to be a biography of Jesus.  John completely omitted His birth, childhood, and most of Jesus' life.  He gave an inordinate amount of time to the last week of Jesus' life, something a respectable biographer would never do.

  John's purpose is to give a testimony, not a biography.  The Gospel is not meant for our enjoyment or to satisfy our curiosity but that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ and thereby have life in His name.