Could Jesus have succumbed to a Charlie Brown attitude?

The Scribes and the Pharisees often would hold the football for him to kick.

Jesus never attempted the running toward the football held by the Lucy’s of the time. Instead he magically switched places with the cunning and held the football with the laces out.

He switched places with questions. He asked a lot of them. He asked the lot of them.

He didn’t do it for kicks. I don’t believe he would have pulled the ball away either.

His goal was to allow them to kick it and kick it through the uprights. His questions were always leading questions to aim the kickers to the truth. That was the “kicker” always, to place-kick the truth through the uprights.

Jesus gave the opportunity for the Scribes and Pharisees to see themselves in between the goal posts of false piety and humble confession.

When I am feeling like Charlie Brown at least I know Jesus will hold the ball still and reveal some truth about who I am. He holds the questions steady and an honest answer will kick it through the uprights.

John 8:1-12 is a good example.

Lucy, Charlie Brown, Jesus…which one would you wish to be like?