Bookending John’s gospel are two accounts of scepticism being dispelled by the Lord Jesus, tucked just after the prologue and just before the epilogue. And they have significant parallels:
That would seem to fit perfectly with John's stated purpose for writing his gospel: "that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing may have life in his name." (20:31). And maybe they help to throw into sharp relief the frequent temporal faith seen in the gospel and offer hope that it can be overcome.
