You Only Have Two Problems

May 11, 2025

I was watching a comedian that could easily have been a preacher. He said you know in life we only really have two problems. Are you healthy or are you sick. If you’re healthy, you have no problem but if you’re sick, you have two problems.

And they are, am I gonna get better or am I gonna die. If you get better then you’ve got no problem But, if you’re gonna die, you got two problems. You’re either gonna go to heaven or you are  gonna go to hell. If you go to heaven, you got no problems. But if you go to hell, you’ve only got two problems. Are you going to be original or extra crispy?

Now the reason that I tell that joke, is that it seems that in the gospel lesson today that Jesus is talking about heaven and hell. Specifically, the part where Jesus says about his followers that “I will give them eternal life, and they shall not perish.” Now this is an important theme in the gospel of John. In fact, many would say that this theme it saturates the whole gospel. The problem is when we read John today. We have a very clear concept of heaven and hell. And so, we think of those who perish, who are snatched away from Jesus as going to hell. But in truth, first century Jews did not have the same developed concept of heaven and hell. That is, places that a person actually went to after death. They were more likely to think of perishing as being forced to live in their present oppressive time. In that sense hell was living under the thumb of the Roman empire and then participating in or living according to the oppressive rules of empire. Whereas eternal life imagines living as if the kingdom of God was present. Which is why Jesus talks so much about the kingdom of God as being here. Not as in some far-off time or place but the Kingdom of God is here and now. 

So, we only have two problems: in which kingdom do you want to live? A kingdom of oppression, selfishness, brokenness and sadness? Or a kingdom of life, promise and hope? This is really a quality-of-life question, not a where ‘do you go’ after you die, question. It is so important that we are attuned to the voice of the Shepherd because if we are tuned to the voice of the Shepherd, then the Shepherd will lead us to places like the one imagined in Psalm 23. A place of refreshment and a place of support and of community. A place of love and acceptance, reconciliation and connection is the norm not the exception. But if we don’t believe that we are living in the kingdom of God, here and now, then it’s clear you’re not listening to the voice of the Shepherd.

We have a powerful example of God’s Kingdom living in the reading from the Acts of the apostles today. It is the story of the raising of Dorcas. It is pointed that her name in Greek is Gazelle. It is clear, that Dorcas lived in the kingdom of God. We know this because she chose to live a life of generosity, compassion, and caring. We don’t know if Dorcas was married or had children, but her maternal caring for those whom society had disadvantaged, made her the mother of the Christian community in Joppa. And not just within the Christian community, the fact that she is referred to by her Greek name, would suggest that her generosity was not limited to Christians only. What’s more we witness along with the widows of Joppa that she met their needs in tangible ways. They were able to hold up the tunics and clothing that Dorcas had made for them. Literally making things that shielded them from the harshness of the climate and society. 

But we are left with a mystery of how Dorcas was raised and returned to the widows. Did Peter inherit the power of Jesus to thwart death? Therefore, as Christians do you have that power or do I? Well, it seems to me we have two problems. We know that every ‘body’ dies, so how can there be everlasting life? Remember what Jesus said, that to perish is to live according to the rules of an oppressive society, a selfish society, a society where only oneself matters and all decisions are based on what’s best for me and me alone. To perish would mean that we have left nothing behind that speaks of love, care, joy nor the compassion of the kingdom of God. But to live, and I would suggest live everlastingly, is to leave a heritage or a legacy of lives changed, of generosity expressed in meaningful ways, and compassion shown not just in words, but in deeds. These things live on long after the body is gone.

Many of you know that my mother passed away last year. And I have two problems: either to see that she is dead, and her life has come to an end or to see where she lives. Before worship usually begins on a Sunday morning, I go out and I greet people and I say ‘hi’ to as many people as possible. Perhaps this morning I said hi to you. Well, that’s my mom. How I tell a story, that’s my mom. The way I can laugh at myself that’s my mom. My willingness to bake or make something for the Winterlude craft sale, that’s my mom. (Granted she would have done a much better job.) These are but a couple of her gifts that I have strived to hand to my children and now grandchildren. So even though you never met my mother in person, you have met her in me. None of you knew her, but all of you know her. And she is not alone. All of our mothers, we have met in each other, in how we live. If you are here this morning, it’s probably because your mom lived and lives in the Kingdom of God. And it that is true you really have no problem. Amen