Thank you for the question on the “Great Commission” in the Gospel of John, “Does the Gospel of John contain any kind of “Great Commission,” instructing the disciples to go into all the world, preaching the gospel, etc.?”
The Gospel of John is the Great Commission Message and the followers are to sent to preach the Gospel Message.
Here are some thoughts for one’s consideration:
A. God wants the people of the world to know that he loves them and offers them eternal life. This necessitate that someone must proclaim the message of God’s love for the world.
John 3 says this, “16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God” (NIV).
It is reasonable to assume that if God wants the people of the world to believe in his Son, Jesus Christ, that God would send forth his messengers to proclaim the Good News of salvation. People are given the choice to believe or to reject the message of God.
B. Jesus declares that he is sending the 11 apostles into the world as the Father sent him into the world.
John 20 says this, “21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (NIV).
The sending of the 11 apostles is with power and authority. They are to receive the Holy Spirit who will empower them. They are given authority to forgive sins. Their silence in preaching the Good News means that there will be those who sins will not be forgiven and with their proclamation the hearers sins will be forgiven by believing in their message.
C. The Gospel of John is written so that readers or listeners of this book will believe and be saved.
John 20 states the purpose of the Gospel of John. He says this, “30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (NIV).
The Apostle John states that what is recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and that by believing one may have life in his name. It is implied in the statement that the book is not preserved for the followers of Jesus. It is written so that the unbelievers in their mist may know that the message that has been proclaimed is true and accurate. It is a letter of confirmation.
It can be reasonable concluded that if God loves the world people by sending his Son, Jesus Christ to die for the sins of the world that his followers would proclaim the love of God to the world’s people.
It can be reasonable concluded that by the time the Apostle John wrote this Gospel, the “Great Commission” was being preached to the known world and beyond. There wasn’t a need for a declaration for the believers were already doing it.
Summary: Jesus commanded his apostles to proclaim the message, with power and authority. As the Father sent him, so he is sending his followers.
-Kingston