The Great Commission that changed the world.
The Resurrection Changed Everything
The resurrection didn’t simply prove that Jesus conquered death.
It marked the beginning of God’s worldwide mission.
The frightened disciples hiding behind locked doors would soon become fearless witnesses who carried the gospel across the known world.
The same mission continues today.
Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He prepared His followers for the Great Commission—a mission that every believer is still called to fulfill.
Jesus Appears to Fearful Disciples (John 20:19)
Bible Study Guide
(Verse 19) The Great Commission was about to usher in a new age. It was a time period that would last approximately 60-70 years after the death of Christ. The world as the people of that day knew it to be would change. It would be called the Apostolic Age. We’ll look at it more closely in a bit.
There was not a soul in Jerusalem that didn’t know about the crucifixion. Many were greatly relieved of Christ’ death. His teachings and miracles were a burden to their way of life. Now that Jesus was dead, they could finally get back to their lives as usual.
Many others were filled with grief and mourning. They followed for three years, the One who came from God. He was going to save them from the oppression of Roman occupation. Instead, they found Him hanging on a cross. He was persecuted and put to death by the very regime they hoped would be defeated by Christ.
Darkness filled the land. It filled their hearts and the very rooms that they hid in while swallowed by their grief. The darkness was about to make way for the Light. The Light of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
No power of death could hold Him back.
Jesus Appears to Fearful Disciples (John 20:19-20)
(Verses 19-20) Before the Great Commission, Jesus appeared to His disciples over a span of forty days after His resurrection. The disciples, like many hid in the darkness of their room behind locked doors. They feared the Jewish leaders. There were still many things they didn’t understand. But that was about to change.
Fear locked the doors. Jesus walked through them anyway. No fear is too great for the risen Christ to overcome.
Alone, dark and afraid, Jesus appears to His disciples and says, “Peace be with you!” Christ understood that they were fearful. They must’ve been white like ghosts when Jesus first appeared. He tries to calm them with His peace.
Luke records in his account of the Acts of the Apostles, how Jesus gave them a very specific command in order that He might perform the Great Commission.
“On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-5)
Reflect & Apply:
The disciples were hiding behind locked doors because fear had taken hold of their hearts. Yet the risen Jesus entered the room with words of peace, not condemnation.
Ask yourself:
- What fears are keeping me from fully trusting Christ today?
- Am I allowing fear to keep me from serving Him boldly?
- Do I believe Jesus can bring peace into the situations that seem impossible?
The same Savior who stood among His frightened disciples still meets His people with His peace today.
The Great Commission Begins With Jesus (John 20:21)
(Verse 21) Many people think the Great Commission begins in Matthew 28. In reality, its foundation begins much earlier.
Jesus said,
“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21)
The mission of God started with the Father sending His Son into the world to accomplish our salvation. Now, with His work complete, Jesus sends His followers into the world to continue proclaiming that same gospel.
The Great Commission is the continuation of the Father’s plan of redemption. The Father sent the Son. The Son now sends His Church. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, that mission has continued for nearly two thousand years—and today, every believer is invited to take part in it.
Reflect & Apply:
Jesus didn’t save us simply so we could wait for heaven. He sends every believer into the world to point others to Him.
Ask yourself:
- Who has God placed in my life that needs to hear about Jesus?
- Am I actively participating in the Great Commission?
- If Jesus returned today, would I be found faithfully serving His mission?
The Great Commission isn’t only for missionaries or pastors. It belongs to every follower of Christ.
The Power of the Great Commission (John 20:22-23)
(Verses 22-23) Jesus breathed on His disciples. In the same way that God made all creation, Jesus re-created humanity through Himself. He made them new in His image. The old was gone and the new was brought to life.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
We receive the same gift of the Holy Spirit when we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. Then, the Holy Spirit sanctifies us on our Christian journey. He also produces good works in us. These good works are spreading the gospel of Jesus and being a witness to Him in our lives.
The power of the Holy Spirit would now help the disciples to understand all what Jesus taught and did. Jesus was about to leave and ascend to the Father. This meant that the responsibility of spreading the “good news” of Jesus Christ would be on the Apostles of Christ.
This would be the first step in receiving the power of the Holy Spirit. The full measure of the blessing of the Spirit would come in the upper room at the Great Commission in Acts 1-2.
Was Doubting Thomas Really a Doubter? (John 20:24-26)
(Verses 24-26) John’s gospel is the only book in the New Testament that offers any details about Thomas. We know very little about him. The other gospels only list his name as one of the twelve disciples. He makes a brief appearance in Acts of the Apostles, whose name is only listed as part of a group of apostles.
Was Thomas always a doubter?
John records Thomas on two previous occasions before the doubting Thomas verse.
“Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (John 11:16)
In this doubting Thomas verse, we see him demonstrating his lack of faith in Jesus being able to help Lazarus after Lazarus died.
“Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5)
Here again, we see in this doubting Thomas verse, his lack of faith and trust in Christ. Clearly, John demonstrates Thomas’s doubting characteristic well before the famous doubting verse. The story that wins Thomas the famous moniker, the “doubting Thomas.”
Thomas Was Honest About His Questions. Many people today struggle with their own doubts. Rising deception in these last days will increase this challenge.
Jesus wasn’t offended by Thomas’s doubts. He met Thomas in his doubt and drew him closer to belief. Christ can do the same for you today.
Blessed Are Those Who Believe Without Seeing (John 20:27-29)
(Verses 27-29) It took Jesus having to show His crucifixion wounds to doubting Thomas in order for him to believe. He only believed because he could see with his own eyes.
What if that was the only way people would come to believe in Christ today? No one would believe. It’s likely Thomas was saved for this very time. His story of doubt teaches us that there will be doubters in the world. Many will be in our own families. It’s important that we share the story of Christ with them using kindness and love in order to bring them to Christ.
Doubting Thomas’s verse was also a wonderful way for Christ to offer us today a blessing. Today’s Christians have not seen, but we believe. Blessed are all of us who believe and have not seen. It’s amazing to think that thousands of years ago, Jesus placed a blessing on us. What a blessing that is!
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17)
“Whoever has ears, let them hear.” (Matthew 11:15)
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
(Revelation 2:7)
Jesus invites Thomas to believe and strengthens the faith of His followers. This powerful resurrection account appears within our complete study of John chapters 11–21.
Thomas believed because he saw the risen Christ.
We believe because God has faithfully preserved His Word.
Jesus calls those who trust His Word without seeing especially blessed.
Every believer today lives by faith—not by sight. One day, faith will become sight when we stand before our risen Savior.
Reflect & Apply:
Thomas struggled with doubt until he saw Jesus. We don’t have the privilege of seeing Him with our physical eyes, yet Jesus calls those who believe without seeing “blessed.”
Ask yourself:
- Do I trust God’s Word even when I don’t understand everything?
- Am I waiting for proof before obeying God?
- Is my faith rooted in what I see—or in the promises of Scripture?
One day our faith will become sight, but until then we walk by faith in the risen Christ.
Great Commission: Why John Wrote His Gospel (John 20:30-31)
(Verses 30-31) John reminds us of the work that Christ performed when He was with them. It’s recorded in history that on many certain days, Jesus performed so many healing miracles they lost count.
His disciples sat in amazement of His power to heal and change lives. Jesus in turn reminded His disciples that they would do much greater things. Much more than physical healing, they would turn people to Christ. Not only that, but they would also turn other people into disciples. They would in turn, point people to Christ.
Because of this great work of the apostles given to themat the Great Commission by the power of God through the Holy Spirit during the Apostolic Age, we today are able to learn and share the story of our Lord and Savior.
It all began when Christ lit the flame of the Holy Spirit in His disciples at the Great Commission.
Reflect & Apply:
John tells us exactly why he wrote his Gospel: that we might believe Jesus is the Christ and receive life through His name.
Ask yourself:
- Have I truly placed my faith in Jesus?
- Am I growing deeper in my relationship with Him?
- Who can I invite to read John’s Gospel with me?
The greatest response to John’s Gospel is not simply to admire Jesus—but to believe Him, follow Him, and help others do the same.
Jesus Invites You to Believe Today
John tells us exactly why he wrote his Gospel: so that you may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31).
If you’ve never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, don’t wait. The risen Lord still calls people to Himself today. Turn from your sin, place your faith in Him, and begin the greatest journey you’ll ever know.
Then, as one of His followers, step into the Great Commission and help others discover the same eternal hope you have found. Learn how to follow Jesus today.
Closing Reflection (Last Days Connection)
The Great Commission Is Almost Complete
When Jesus gave the Great Commission, He entrusted His followers with the greatest mission in history—to take the gospel to every nation until He returned. For nearly two thousand years, believers have faithfully carried that message across the world.
Today, we are living near the close of the Church Age. The gospel has reached places the apostles could never have imagined, yet millions still need to hear the name of Jesus. Every passing day brings us one step closer to His return.
The risen Christ still calls His people to proclaim the good news while there is time. One day, the Great Commission will be complete, the fullness of the gentiles will have come in (Romans 11:25-26), the Church will be gathered to her Savior, and faith will become sight. Until then, may we live boldly, serve faithfully, and never lose sight of the mission Jesus placed in our hands.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for sending Your Son to accomplish the Great Commission and for allowing us to share in that mission today. Strengthen us through the power of Your Holy Spirit to live boldly, love faithfully, and proclaim the gospel without fear. Help us to believe without seeing, to trust Your Word completely, and to point others to the risen Christ while there is still time. As the day of Jesus’ return draws near, keep us faithful until we hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.