What’s Up with the Gospel of John?

Question: "Does the Gospel of John go in chronological order of events? I am wondering because though I knew in my head that John focused on Jesus' time more in Judea than in Galilee, and it took me by surprise to see Jesus overturn tables at the temple in John, chapter two.

Answer: Probably more than 50% of scholars (of both those who are believers and those who are not) think not. The prevailing thought for a few centuries at least is that Matthew, Mark, and Luke are primarily chronological, and that the Gospel of John, within its chronological framework of Jesus’ coming to earth in chapter one and the Palm-Sunday–resurrection chapters of 11-21, are seven signs/miracles arranged without chronology, mostly, to make the point of the book, namely, (John 20:30-31) "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” So, the temple cleansing in John’s chapter two, for instance, may be the same one that appears as a late event in the other Gospels. Good question!