Why Doesn’t the Risen Jesus Appear to Each Generation?

Abstract

If Jesus is risen, why does he not manifest his risen flesh to each generation? This chapter’s answer is twofold. The first section of the chapter, drawing upon Hans Urs von Balthasar, explains that fallen humans cleave to our lives in this world. Since this is so, ascension—Jesus’ and ours—is necessary. Given our need to “ascend,” the second section examines the work of the biblical scholars Michael Morales and Brant Pitre. Morales’s Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord? carefully explores how Jesus fulfills the Temple sacrifices. Pitre’s Jesus and the Last Supper describes a New Passover and New Exodus by which the crucified, risen, and ascended Jesus seeks to draw Israel and the nations into his transcendent kingdom. Ascending with and toward Jesus in self-sacrificial love, we are sustained eucharistically by Jesus so that our Passover may be complete.