Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again!

Last week I received news of the sudden passing of Bishop Dr Wong Tik Wah. Bishop Wong was the Bishop of the Chinese Annual Conference of the Methodist Church in West Malaysia. He was called home while on the way to conduct their annual pastors school. I represented our Chinese Annual Conference and attended the wake and funeral services in Ipoh.

Jesus once said I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. (John 11:25)

During the services, many people came forward to share how much Bishop Wong had impacted their lives. Words of sympathy were also received from leaders of the Methodist churches in Asia and Australia. From their sharing it became clear that many people were still in shock. They still could not believe that his life was cut short at such a young age. They were still mourning the lost of their Bishop, pastor, teacher and friend. Rev Kan, Pastor Poh Ing and Brother KC told me that Bishop Wong had spent time ministering in our church years ago. I also had a few interactions with him as we served together in the World Federation of Chinese Methodist Churches (WFCMC).

Everyday when we open the newspaper, we are confronted with news and announcements of death. There is a war raging in Ukraine with many lives lost. Not forgetting people are still dying from Covid-19 infection. But these deaths seems quite far away and it affects us only in a small way.

But when someone we know or is close to us experienced death then the issue of grief and death take on a whole new dimension. What does the Scriptures say concerning death? Jesus once said I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:25). Soon after He raised Lazarus from the dead.

The Lord Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday. And in the process showed that he had overcome sin and death. The outcome of Christ’s victory means we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him (1 Thessalonians 4:14). This is the hope that every believer has in Christ.

Indeed, as the West Malaysia churches grieved the loss of their Bishop, I observed that there was no hint of despair but they displayed hope. In fact, they aptly named the funeral service as a Home Going Celebration Service, for they turned their sorrows into a determination to carry on the good work that Bishop Wong had started.

I went away from this event having experienced what it really means when Paul said Brothers and Sisters, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again!