Matthew 14:13-14
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick.
It’s easy to forget that this episode comes on the heels of John the Baptist’s beheading. It is so different in character, tenor, and tone. But it does. After John’s disciples take what’s left of John’s body away they go and tell Jesus what happened. And when Jesus hears it, he gets in a boat and sails away, heading toward a deserted place to be by himself.
Does he escape for the sake of expressing his grief, pondering his future, evading enemies he shared with John? We don’t know. We do know, however, that the crowds will not leave him alone. They follow him even to this deserted place, walking around the lake he sailed across in order to find him.
And when he sees them there, bringing their hopes, hurts, and needs, he puts away all his own grief and worry and heals them. Why? Because he sees their need and has compassion for them. This, finally, is what Jesus came to do – to see our need and respond to it – and he will keep to that mission no matter what.
Prayer: Dear God, whenever we seek you out, you are there, eager to greet us with mercy, compassion, and healing. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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