A Different Corner

My close companions abhor me, and those whom I love have turned against me.  Job 19:19

The song lyric: “Turn a different corner and we never would have met” is like an ear worm to me (and sorry if I just made it yours and to save you googling it, it’s from George Michael, A Different Corner).  I am a great believer in God-incidences, and being in the right place at the right time.  Life is full of what if moments, and for some the concept of parallel universes is a genuine possibility.  What if I walked rather than take the car?  What if I had been accepted at Glasgow University?  Where would I be today?

Today we read of the encounter between Jesus and Judas where it is blatantly obvious to Jesus what Judas will do.  The others seem somewhat ignorant of it and quite surprised in the end, so Judas wasn’t one to wear his heart on his sleeve.   And it is easy to hate Judas here but let’s just pause for a moment.  Rewind the conversation and ponder.

If we had been Jesus would we not have been tempted to change course?  Would we have not at least attempted to persuade Judas not to do it?  Would we have taken evasive action or arranged a relocation of Judas in some way?  Turn a different corner and Judas might have ended up converted rather than dead by his own hand.

There are times when we don’t agree with the path we are on. Sometimes we have ended up on it by our own hand, but often we are influenced, shaped, directed by forces outwith our control.  Sometimes God calls us to people and places that make us uncomfortable, that unsettle us in some way, outside our comfort zone.  We are called to work with a new minister or colleague, welcome a new member of the family through marriage, take on a new role or support another rather than lead, through circumstances not ours to control. What do we do in those circumstances?  What is your reaction?  Look for a different corner or embrace it?

Jesus knew what Judas was about to do and did nothing to stop it.  Yet, Jesus could have and we know from the temptations in the wilderness, to his grief in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus could have stepped away.  But he doesn’t because he knows that ultimately God has a plan and that plan will be worth the hardship, the shame, the betrayal, the pain and even death itself.

The author of Hebrews sums it up wonderfully, and you can apply this to Christ as well as to us when he writes:  So let us run the race that is before us and never give up.  

Jesus knew the joy of God, and that joy of God is something that can help us run the race, get through the darkest moments and look beyond the here and now to the eternal future.  “Think about Jesus’ example.  He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him.  So do not get tired and stop trying.”

Often we are not called to turn a different corner, no matter how we much pray for that to happen. Sometimes, maybe most of the time, we are called to embrace the track we are on and run the race without giving up.  And that is hard, because we’d rather believe the grass is greener on the other side, that this route cannot be for us.

Imagine if Jesus had turned a different corner – our faith would be very different.  As we go through Holy Week, and draw ever closer to Good Friday, let’s thank the Lord that he ran the race and did not quit.

For ourselves, has looking for a different path, a different race track, meant that you haven’t ran well the race that is yours?  Is time for you to have God help you run your race, even if it includes sorrow, suffering and hardship?  Remember with God none of these will have the last word, even if we cannot comprehend it or make sense of it now.  And the finish line will be a celebration moment for us all, ultimately because Jesus didn’t quit.

‘We are surrounded by a great cloud of people who lives tell us what faith means.’ 
Remember them.  Remember Him.  Don’t quit.
God bless.



Collect: Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ withdrew to the quietness of Bethany to prepare himself for his passion.  In the fellowship of his suffering, strengthen us to be more than conquerors in our trials and temptations, that whether betrayed by friends or hurt by enemies, we may remain steadfast in our faith unto the end through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 70
Hebrews 12:1-3
John 13:21-32