diff --git a/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/json/AbstractJsonContentAssert.java b/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/json/AbstractJsonContentAssert.java
index 1f5cda8aa4e..f2992f1418c 100644
--- a/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/json/AbstractJsonContentAssert.java
+++ b/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/json/AbstractJsonContentAssert.java
@@ -24,8 +24,9 @@ import java.util.function.Consumer;
 
 import com.jayway.jsonpath.JsonPath;
 import com.jayway.jsonpath.PathNotFoundException;
-import org.assertj.core.api.AbstractStringAssert;
+import org.assertj.core.api.AbstractObjectAssert;
 import org.assertj.core.api.AssertProvider;
+import org.assertj.core.api.Assertions;
 import org.assertj.core.error.BasicErrorMessageFactory;
 import org.assertj.core.internal.Failures;
 
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ import org.springframework.util.Assert;
  * @param <SELF> the type of assertions
  */
 public abstract class AbstractJsonContentAssert<SELF extends AbstractJsonContentAssert<SELF>>
-		extends AbstractStringAssert<SELF> {
+		extends AbstractObjectAssert<SELF, JsonContent> {
 
 	private static final Failures failures = Failures.instance();
 
@@ -79,16 +80,12 @@ public abstract class AbstractJsonContentAssert<SELF extends AbstractJsonContent
 
 	/**
 	 * Create an assert for the given JSON document.
-	 * <p>Path can be converted to a value object using the given
-	 * {@linkplain GenericHttpMessageConverter JSON message converter}.
-	 * @param json the JSON document to assert
-	 * @param jsonMessageConverter the converter to use
+	 * @param actual the JSON document to assert
 	 * @param selfType the implementation type of this assert
 	 */
-	protected AbstractJsonContentAssert(@Nullable String json,
-			@Nullable GenericHttpMessageConverter<Object> jsonMessageConverter, Class<?> selfType) {
-		super(json, selfType);
-		this.jsonMessageConverter = jsonMessageConverter;
+	protected AbstractJsonContentAssert(@Nullable JsonContent actual, Class<?> selfType) {
+		super(actual, selfType);
+		this.jsonMessageConverter = (actual != null ? actual.getJsonMessageConverter() : null);
 		this.jsonLoader = new JsonLoader(null, null);
 		as("JSON content");
 	}
@@ -141,6 +138,19 @@ public abstract class AbstractJsonContentAssert<SELF extends AbstractJsonContent
 
 	// JsonAssert support
 
+	/**
+	 * Verify that the actual value is {@linkplain JsonCompareMode#STRICT strictly}
+	 * equal to the given JSON. The {@code expected} value can contain the JSON
+	 * itself or, if it ends with {@code .json}, the name of a resource to be
+	 * loaded from the classpath.
+	 * @param expected the expected JSON or the name of a resource containing
+	 * the expected JSON
+	 * @see #isEqualTo(CharSequence, JsonCompareMode)
+	 */
+	public SELF isEqualTo(@Nullable CharSequence expected) {
+		return isEqualTo(expected, JsonCompareMode.STRICT);
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Verify that the actual value is equal to the given JSON. The
 	 * {@code expected} value can contain the JSON itself or, if it ends with
@@ -257,6 +267,19 @@ public abstract class AbstractJsonContentAssert<SELF extends AbstractJsonContent
 		return isEqualTo(expected, JsonCompareMode.STRICT);
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Verify that the actual value is {@linkplain JsonCompareMode#STRICT strictly}
+	 * not equal to the given JSON. The {@code expected} value can contain the
+	 * JSON itself or, if it ends with {@code .json}, the name of a resource to
+	 * be loaded from the classpath.
+	 * @param expected the expected JSON or the name of a resource containing
+	 * the expected JSON
+	 * @see #isNotEqualTo(CharSequence, JsonCompareMode)
+	 */
+	public SELF isNotEqualTo(@Nullable CharSequence expected) {
+		return isNotEqualTo(expected, JsonCompareMode.STRICT);
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Verify that the actual value is not equal to the given JSON. The
 	 * {@code expected} value can contain the JSON itself or, if it ends with
@@ -399,13 +422,24 @@ public abstract class AbstractJsonContentAssert<SELF extends AbstractJsonContent
 		return this.myself;
 	}
 
+	@Nullable
+	private String toJsonString() {
+		return (this.actual != null ? this.actual.getJson() : null);
+	}
+
+	@SuppressWarnings("NullAway")
+	private String toNonNullJsonString() {
+		String jsonString = toJsonString();
+		Assertions.assertThat(jsonString).as("JSON content").isNotNull();
+		return jsonString;
+	}
 
 	private JsonComparison compare(@Nullable CharSequence expectedJson, JsonCompareMode compareMode) {
 		return compare(expectedJson, JsonAssert.comparator(compareMode));
 	}
 
 	private JsonComparison compare(@Nullable CharSequence expectedJson, JsonComparator comparator) {
-		return comparator.compare((expectedJson != null) ? expectedJson.toString() : null, this.actual);
+		return comparator.compare((expectedJson != null) ? expectedJson.toString() : null, toJsonString());
 	}
 
 	private SELF assertIsMatch(JsonComparison result) {
@@ -435,16 +469,15 @@ public abstract class AbstractJsonContentAssert<SELF extends AbstractJsonContent
 
 		private final String path;
 
-		private final JsonPath jsonPath;
-
 		private final String json;
 
+		private final JsonPath jsonPath;
+
 		JsonPathValue(String path) {
 			Assert.hasText(path, "'path' must not be null or empty");
-			isNotNull();
 			this.path = path;
+			this.json = toNonNullJsonString();
 			this.jsonPath = JsonPath.compile(this.path);
-			this.json = AbstractJsonContentAssert.this.actual;
 		}
 
 		@Nullable
diff --git a/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/json/JsonContent.java b/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/json/JsonContent.java
index c801a5fa5d6..383b2c3c3d2 100644
--- a/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/json/JsonContent.java
+++ b/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/json/JsonContent.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package org.springframework.test.json;
 
 import org.assertj.core.api.AssertProvider;
 
+import org.springframework.http.converter.GenericHttpMessageConverter;
 import org.springframework.lang.Nullable;
 import org.springframework.util.Assert;
 
@@ -34,38 +35,54 @@ public final class JsonContent implements AssertProvider<JsonContentAssert> {
 	private final String json;
 
 	@Nullable
-	private final Class<?> resourceLoadClass;
+	private final GenericHttpMessageConverter<Object> jsonMessageConverter;
+
+
+	/**
+	 * Create a new {@code JsonContent} instance with the message converter to
+	 * use to deserialize content.
+	 * @param json the actual JSON content
+	 * @param jsonMessageConverter the message converter to use
+	 */
+	public JsonContent(String json, @Nullable GenericHttpMessageConverter<Object> jsonMessageConverter) {
+		Assert.notNull(json, "JSON must not be null");
+		this.json = json;
+		this.jsonMessageConverter = jsonMessageConverter;
+	}
 
 
 	/**
 	 * Create a new {@code JsonContent} instance.
 	 * @param json the actual JSON content
-	 * @param resourceLoadClass the source class used to load resources
 	 */
-	JsonContent(String json, @Nullable Class<?> resourceLoadClass) {
-		Assert.notNull(json, "JSON must not be null");
-		this.json = json;
-		this.resourceLoadClass = resourceLoadClass;
+	public JsonContent(String json) {
+		this(json, null);
 	}
 
-
 	/**
 	 * Use AssertJ's {@link org.assertj.core.api.Assertions#assertThat assertThat}
 	 * instead.
 	 */
 	@Override
 	public JsonContentAssert assertThat() {
-		return new JsonContentAssert(this.json, null).withResourceLoadClass(this.resourceLoadClass);
+		return new JsonContentAssert(this);
 	}
 
 	/**
 	 * Return the actual JSON content string.
-	 * @return the JSON content
 	 */
 	public String getJson() {
 		return this.json;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Return the message converter to use to deserialize content.
+	 */
+	@Nullable
+	GenericHttpMessageConverter<Object> getJsonMessageConverter() {
+		return this.jsonMessageConverter;
+	}
+
 	@Override
 	public String toString() {
 		return "JsonContent " + this.json;
diff --git a/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/json/JsonContentAssert.java b/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/json/JsonContentAssert.java
index de4a35f80f9..9728a762496 100644
--- a/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/json/JsonContentAssert.java
+++ b/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/json/JsonContentAssert.java
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 
 package org.springframework.test.json;
 
-import org.springframework.http.converter.GenericHttpMessageConverter;
 import org.springframework.lang.Nullable;
 
 /**
@@ -29,13 +28,10 @@ public class JsonContentAssert extends AbstractJsonContentAssert<JsonContentAsse
 
 	/**
 	 * Create an assert for the given JSON document.
-	 * <p>Path can be converted to a value object using the given
-	 * {@linkplain GenericHttpMessageConverter JSON message converter}.
 	 * @param json the JSON document to assert
-	 * @param jsonMessageConverter the converter to use
 	 */
-	public JsonContentAssert(@Nullable String json, @Nullable GenericHttpMessageConverter<Object> jsonMessageConverter) {
-		super(json, jsonMessageConverter, JsonContentAssert.class);
+	public JsonContentAssert(@Nullable JsonContent json) {
+		super(json, JsonContentAssert.class);
 	}
 
 }
diff --git a/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/web/servlet/assertj/AbstractMockHttpServletResponseAssert.java b/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/web/servlet/assertj/AbstractMockHttpServletResponseAssert.java
index 9800b2865db..1bbfd051d94 100644
--- a/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/web/servlet/assertj/AbstractMockHttpServletResponseAssert.java
+++ b/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/web/servlet/assertj/AbstractMockHttpServletResponseAssert.java
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import org.springframework.http.converter.GenericHttpMessageConverter;
 import org.springframework.lang.Nullable;
 import org.springframework.mock.web.MockHttpServletResponse;
 import org.springframework.test.json.AbstractJsonContentAssert;
+import org.springframework.test.json.JsonContent;
 import org.springframework.test.json.JsonContentAssert;
 import org.springframework.test.web.UriAssert;
 
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractMockHttpServletResponseAssert<SELF extends Abstrac
 	 * </code></pre>
 	 */
 	public AbstractJsonContentAssert<?> bodyJson() {
-		return new JsonContentAssert(readBody(), this.jsonMessageConverter);
+		return new JsonContentAssert(new JsonContent(readBody(), this.jsonMessageConverter));
 	}
 
 	private String readBody() {
diff --git a/spring-test/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/json/AbstractJsonContentAssertTests.java b/spring-test/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/json/AbstractJsonContentAssertTests.java
index 37568a6d585..0c350c41357 100644
--- a/spring-test/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/json/AbstractJsonContentAssertTests.java
+++ b/spring-test/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/json/AbstractJsonContentAssertTests.java
@@ -92,6 +92,14 @@ class AbstractJsonContentAssertTests {
 		assertThat(forJson(null)).isNull();
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	void satisfiesAllowFurtherAssertions() {
+		assertThat(forJson(SIMPSONS)).satisfies(content -> {
+			assertThat(content).extractingPath("$.familyMembers[0].name").isEqualTo("Homer");
+			assertThat(content).extractingPath("$.familyMembers[1].name").isEqualTo("Marge");
+		});
+	}
+
 	@Nested
 	class HasPathTests {
 
@@ -831,7 +839,7 @@ class AbstractJsonContentAssertTests {
 	private static class TestJsonContentAssert extends AbstractJsonContentAssert<TestJsonContentAssert> {
 
 		public TestJsonContentAssert(@Nullable String json, @Nullable GenericHttpMessageConverter<Object> jsonMessageConverter) {
-			super(json, jsonMessageConverter, TestJsonContentAssert.class);
+			super((json != null ? new JsonContent(json, jsonMessageConverter) : null), TestJsonContentAssert.class);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/spring-test/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/json/JsonContentTests.java b/spring-test/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/json/JsonContentTests.java
index 6e4131c46f6..b87e8849b05 100644
--- a/spring-test/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/json/JsonContentTests.java
+++ b/spring-test/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/json/JsonContentTests.java
@@ -18,13 +18,17 @@ package org.springframework.test.json;
 
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
 
+import org.springframework.http.converter.json.MappingJackson2HttpMessageConverter;
+
 import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
 import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatIllegalArgumentException;
+import static org.mockito.Mockito.mock;
 
 /**
  * Tests for {@link JsonContent}.
  *
  * @author Phillip Webb
+ * @author Stephane Nicoll
  */
 class JsonContentTests {
 
@@ -34,27 +38,33 @@ class JsonContentTests {
 	void createWhenJsonIsNullShouldThrowException() {
 		assertThatIllegalArgumentException()
 				.isThrownBy(
-						() -> new JsonContent(null, null))
+						() -> new JsonContent(null))
 				.withMessageContaining("JSON must not be null");
 	}
 
 	@Test
-	@SuppressWarnings("deprecation")
 	void assertThatShouldReturnJsonContentAssert() {
-		JsonContent content = new JsonContent(JSON, getClass());
+		JsonContent content = new JsonContent(JSON);
 		assertThat(content.assertThat()).isInstanceOf(JsonContentAssert.class);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	void getJsonShouldReturnJson() {
-		JsonContent content = new JsonContent(JSON, getClass());
+		JsonContent content = new JsonContent(JSON);
 		assertThat(content.getJson()).isEqualTo(JSON);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	void toStringShouldReturnString() {
-		JsonContent content = new JsonContent(JSON, getClass());
+		JsonContent content = new JsonContent(JSON);
 		assertThat(content.toString()).isEqualTo("JsonContent " + JSON);
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	void getJsonMessageConverterShouldReturnConverter() {
+		MappingJackson2HttpMessageConverter converter = mock(MappingJackson2HttpMessageConverter.class);
+		JsonContent content = new JsonContent(JSON, converter);
+		assertThat(content.getJsonMessageConverter()).isSameAs(converter);
+	}
+
 }