Made Alive in Christ: From Tomb-Sweeping Day to Resurrection Day

By Daisy Zhao

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:3–4)

Ching Ming

“A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day;

The mourner’s heart is going to break on his way.”

These lines from a classical Chinese poem describe the gloominess of the Tomb-Sweeping Day also called Ching Ming, which is Friday, April 4, this year.

Chinese people walk the streets stricken with heartbrokenness as they think about their deceased loved ones. To ensure that the deceased would not be tortured, but be able to enjoy a good life underground, people burn paper villas, pictures of the latest iPhone model, or fake money with the hope that their departed ones will receive these gifts in the underworld to live in wealth and superiority.

Chinese people repeat this practice every year. They experience not only sadness for the loss of loved ones, but also fear of their own deaths, since hope is nowhere to be found. They ask, “Why not compensate the hopelessness and helplessness with our efforts of sending the deceased illusory wealth?”

Resurrection Day

During the same season as Ching Ming, Christians celebrate the Resurrection Day of Jesus Christ. Jesus died, but was raised from the dead. His tomb is empty!

Because He lives, we celebrate a bright and happy day instead of a gloomy, sad one. Our happiness does not imply that we do not mourn for our deceased loved ones. The difference is that desperation is replaced by hope, and fear by peace.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing us out of the abyss of fear and desperation, and giving us hope from the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the living hope of new life!

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