Bible Study recap: Mt 28.26-30

Jesus is speaking some considerable force when he proclaims: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." This seems contrary to a notion of Christ who is empowering, eschews rank and status, and lives a message of serving others. Yet he is quite clear about who he is and what that means.

By contrast, his assurance that "surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" is a comfort and hope. In fact, we might so bold as to say there is no such thing as death. There is only a transformation to a new existence.

In the same vein, there is no such thing as nothing. Even the infinity of space has an expression of form and definition, albeit an infinitely abstract one.

Some big questions arose for us, namely: could you be Christian without believing in the resurrection? And, what is the worst thing that could happen if Jesus actually was married? Such thoughts and questions fly in the face of the church as an institution.

When we separate the institution from an individual's life of faith, we find ourselves in a void that could be frightening and liberating. Something that Christ encouraged was participation in one's own faith and not relying on priests and intercessors to navigate and interpret our faith for us.

So if we read with discomfort that aggressive instruction to "go and make disciples of all nations" through baptism and teaching (which has become understood as conversion, not only to a Christian life but also a Western sense of civility), we might understand the heart of his commission to be the fact that we are to share our faith and understanding, not to keep it to ourselves, horded as some great personal treasure.

Again, his teaching rests upon a balance of sharing oneself and encouraging others to learn more with respect for others' opinions and decision-making ability.