Eastertide: #34  ̶ Ascension Thursday.

This same Jesus.

(Acts 1:11)

Reading again, this morning by the fire pit, the story of Christ’s Ascension; I was struck by the humanness of this supernatural scene. Jesus is still Jesus. His title, “Christ,” does not appear. His earthly name remains. He remains the One “born of a woman,” coming through to us on Christmas morning through the birth canal of Mary. “This same Jesus,” the angels explain to the bewildered disciples, “who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Ac 1:11).

Isn’t that something? Jesus never stops being Jesus. He keeps his earthly name. Easter and Ascension, and even his second coming that awaits us; does not turn Jesus into someone other than Jesus. This same Jesus of Christmas Morning, Good Friday, Easter Sunday is the same Jesus now ascended to his eternal home. He never leaves his humanity behind.