The Jesus portrayed in the Synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) is so different from the Jesus of the Gospel of John. In the former, Jesus uses pithy aphorisms, hidden parables, etc. In the Gospel of John he engages in long monologues and discourses dripping with theology.
How is this to be reconciled? Alan Watts suggested that Synoptics Jesus was the public one, and Gospel of John records the words Jesus said to his close disciples.
Discuss.