John’s gospel places much more emphasis on Jesus’s personal (one on one) ministry. Matthew, Mark, and Luke (the synoptic gospels) tend to place emphasis on Jesus’s public preaching and teachings ministry, and his healings and miracles.

In fact, there are 37 references to preaching in the synoptic gospels. This includes the preaching by Jesus, John the Baptist and Jesus’s disciples. There is mention of preaching in the book of John. We do have references to Jesus teaching in all 4 gospels. Now, I would consider Jesus preaching in John 7, where we read, In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) ~ v.37-39

In my opinion, that was preaching, but John doesn’t use the word preach to describe it. Either way, my point is, John’s gospel is different in that it’s personal. For example, the emphasis of the synoptic gospels after the resurrection of Jesus is that his followers take the gospel to the nations, however, the emphasis in John, after the resurrection, is that we would know of a surety that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. ~ John 20:30-31

Also. John has more emphasis on individuals seeking to know who Jesus is, or enquiring of him rather than crowds coming to hear Jesus preach/teach, and be healed by him as in the synoptic gospels.

In John 1 we have Nathanael encountering Jesus and saying, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel (v. 49). In John 2, we have Jesus attending a wedding and turning the water into wine. The scripture says, When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom (.9).

The servants knew ~ that’s the personal touch that John is emphasizing.

The individual relationship (i.e., the intimate knowledge of who Jesus is ) is one of the big themes in the book of John. All the gospels reveal that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and Lord of glory, but John shows it on a more intimate level. For example, in Matthew you get the Sermon on the Mount as Jesus addressed the multitude. In John you get Nicodemus coming to Jesus by night (John 3).

In John 4 Jesus sits and talks at the well with the woman of Samaria. In John 5, the man at the pool of Bethesda is healed. In John 6, Jesus teaches in such a way that it drives away those who are not committed.

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life ~ (v .66-68).

I could go on, but I hope you get the picture. The beauty of the gospel of John is that is more of an intimate gospel in which we come face to face with the God in the flesh!