[b]He never sought to amuse them!
(Archibald Brown, "The Devil's Mission of Amusement")
Jesus pitied sinners, pleaded with them, sighed over them,
warned them, and wept over them; but He never sought
to amuse them!
When many of His disciples turned away, because of the
searching nature of His preaching--I do not find there was
any attempt to bring them back, by resorting to something
more pleasant to the flesh. I do not hear Him saying, "We
must keep up the gatherings at any cost! So run after the
people, Peter, and tell them we will have a different style
of service tomorrow! Something very short and attractive,
with little, if any, preaching. Today was a service for God
--but tomorrow we will have a pleasant evening for the
people! Tell them they will be sure to enjoy it, and have
a pleasant time. Be quick, Peter! We must get the people
somehow; if not by Gospel--then by entertainment!"
No, this was not how He argued. Gazing in sorrow on
those who would not hear the Word--He simply turns
to the twelve, and asks, "Will you go away also?"