When the Doors Were Shut
When the Doors Were Shut
Text: John 20:26–31
Fear has a way of driving people behind closed doors. When danger feels near, and uncertainty grows, isolation begins to look like wisdom. That was the condition of the disciples in John 20. Scripture tells us plainly, “the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews” (John 20:19). They had shut themselves in, not because they hated Christ, but because fear had taken control. What they did not yet understand is that locked doors cannot keep the risen Saviour out.
Then Came Jesus
Eight days later, the same conditions remained. The doors were still shut. The fear had not yet passed. Yet, John records, “Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst” (John 20:26). Jesus did not knock. He did not wait for permission. He simply came. As J. C. Ryle so aptly observed, “Man locks doors in fear; Christ passes through them in victory.” Resurrection power was not hindered by human barriers.
There is no place a person can hide where God cannot go, and no spirit of fear Christ cannot calm. Jesus himself declared, “Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Revelation 1:17–18). The gates of hell could neither lock him out nor lock him in. The psalmist affirmed this truth centuries earlier: “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there” (Psalm 139:8). He fills all things (Ephesians 1:23) and inhabits eternity itself (Isaiah 57:15).
Scripture also reminds us that there is no confinement God cannot unlock. Prison doors opened for Peter (Acts 12), and chains fell from Paul and Silas as they sang praises at midnight (Acts 16:25–26). Likewise, there is no pit so deep that God cannot pull someone out. Joseph was raised from a pit to a palace (Genesis 37–41). Jeremiah was lifted from the miry dungeon (Jeremiah 38:6–13). Daniel walked out of the lions’ den unharmed (Daniel 6). Wherever darkness seems to reign, Christ still shines, fulfilling the words of Matthew 4:16: “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.”
Then Came Peace
When Jesus entered that locked room, the first thing he brought was peace (John 20:26 - “Jesus saith unto them, Peace be unto you"), reminding us of a passage in the Old Testament addressed to the children of Israel: Numbers 6:24-26 - "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." These were frightened men, unsure of the future, yet Christ did not rebuke their fear; rather, he addressed it. He had already promised, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). This peace is not circumstantial; it is spiritual. It flows from the Spirit and kingdom of God within (Romans 14:17).
That peace reaches every condition of life. It comes in storms, when the disciples feared perishing at sea (John 6). It comes in sin, when the prodigal son came to himself and returned home (Luke 15:17–24). It comes in the form of separation, when the shepherd seeks the one lost sheep (Luke 15:4–7). It comes in sorrow, when Mary Magdalene wept at the tomb until Jesus spoke her name (John 20:15–16). It comes when the soul is sunk down, as Jeremiah experienced repeatedly. As Charles Spurgeon wisely noted, “The peace Christ gives is not the calm after the storm, but calm in the storm.” Peace is not the absence of trouble; it is the presence of Christ in the midst of it.
Then Came the Blessing
Finally, Jesus pronounced a blessing that extends far beyond that locked room. “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Faith does not rest on sight, but on the word of God. George Müller captured this truth when he said, “Faith does not rest on what it sees, but on what God has said.” Oswald Chambers added, “Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible.”
That faith is born and nourished by Scripture. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). The word becomes effectual when it is believed. John Bunyan wrote, “Blessed are those who believe God’s Word more than their own eyes.” This belief leads to salvation, the greatest blessing of all, and to life itself. John concludes this passage by stating the purpose of the gospel: “These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31).
The doors were shut, but Jesus came anyway. Fear was present, but peace followed. Doubt lingered, but blessing prevailed. As A. W. Pink so clearly stated, “God is never locked out of the life that trusts Him.” Whatever door you think you have closed, Christ can still enter. Whatever place you have shut yourself into, Jesus can still minister. You cannot shut God out. The only question that remains is not whether he can come in, but whether you will believe he is there when he does.
Text: John 20:26–31
Fear has a way of driving people behind closed doors. When danger feels near, and uncertainty grows, isolation begins to look like wisdom. That was the condition of the disciples in John 20. Scripture tells us plainly, “the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews” (John 20:19). They had shut themselves in, not because they hated Christ, but because fear had taken control. What they did not yet understand is that locked doors cannot keep the risen Saviour out.
Then Came Jesus
Eight days later, the same conditions remained. The doors were still shut. The fear had not yet passed. Yet, John records, “Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst” (John 20:26). Jesus did not knock. He did not wait for permission. He simply came. As J. C. Ryle so aptly observed, “Man locks doors in fear; Christ passes through them in victory.” Resurrection power was not hindered by human barriers.
There is no place a person can hide where God cannot go, and no spirit of fear Christ cannot calm. Jesus himself declared, “Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Revelation 1:17–18). The gates of hell could neither lock him out nor lock him in. The psalmist affirmed this truth centuries earlier: “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there” (Psalm 139:8). He fills all things (Ephesians 1:23) and inhabits eternity itself (Isaiah 57:15).
Scripture also reminds us that there is no confinement God cannot unlock. Prison doors opened for Peter (Acts 12), and chains fell from Paul and Silas as they sang praises at midnight (Acts 16:25–26). Likewise, there is no pit so deep that God cannot pull someone out. Joseph was raised from a pit to a palace (Genesis 37–41). Jeremiah was lifted from the miry dungeon (Jeremiah 38:6–13). Daniel walked out of the lions’ den unharmed (Daniel 6). Wherever darkness seems to reign, Christ still shines, fulfilling the words of Matthew 4:16: “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.”
Then Came Peace
When Jesus entered that locked room, the first thing he brought was peace (John 20:26 - “Jesus saith unto them, Peace be unto you"), reminding us of a passage in the Old Testament addressed to the children of Israel: Numbers 6:24-26 - "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." These were frightened men, unsure of the future, yet Christ did not rebuke their fear; rather, he addressed it. He had already promised, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). This peace is not circumstantial; it is spiritual. It flows from the Spirit and kingdom of God within (Romans 14:17).
That peace reaches every condition of life. It comes in storms, when the disciples feared perishing at sea (John 6). It comes in sin, when the prodigal son came to himself and returned home (Luke 15:17–24). It comes in the form of separation, when the shepherd seeks the one lost sheep (Luke 15:4–7). It comes in sorrow, when Mary Magdalene wept at the tomb until Jesus spoke her name (John 20:15–16). It comes when the soul is sunk down, as Jeremiah experienced repeatedly. As Charles Spurgeon wisely noted, “The peace Christ gives is not the calm after the storm, but calm in the storm.” Peace is not the absence of trouble; it is the presence of Christ in the midst of it.
Then Came the Blessing
Finally, Jesus pronounced a blessing that extends far beyond that locked room. “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Faith does not rest on sight, but on the word of God. George Müller captured this truth when he said, “Faith does not rest on what it sees, but on what God has said.” Oswald Chambers added, “Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible.”
That faith is born and nourished by Scripture. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). The word becomes effectual when it is believed. John Bunyan wrote, “Blessed are those who believe God’s Word more than their own eyes.” This belief leads to salvation, the greatest blessing of all, and to life itself. John concludes this passage by stating the purpose of the gospel: “These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31).
The doors were shut, but Jesus came anyway. Fear was present, but peace followed. Doubt lingered, but blessing prevailed. As A. W. Pink so clearly stated, “God is never locked out of the life that trusts Him.” Whatever door you think you have closed, Christ can still enter. Whatever place you have shut yourself into, Jesus can still minister. You cannot shut God out. The only question that remains is not whether he can come in, but whether you will believe he is there when he does.
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