Matt.14:13,14 – Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard about this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. When He came ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.
This passage has always grabbed my attention. What stands out to me is the way Jesus responded to the death of his cousin, the prophet John the Baptist. His first response to John’s death was to get away and reflect about the implications of his death, unfortunately He was not allowed that privelege. The crowds were surging to Jesus after John’s death, many were coming in need of a miracle. Jesus could not turn away from the desperate multitudes, looking at their need He was moved with compassion. If you read the rest of the story you will see the amazing events of that day; many were healed of their diseases, the multitudes were fed fish and bread, and Jesus rescued His disciples who were caught in a storm. Matthew Henry has some interesting insight about how the hurting people effected Christ; check out his quote.
“The tender compassion of our LORD Jesus toward those who followed him. He went out and appeared publicly among them. He went out from his seclusion when he saw that people wanted to hear him, as one who, for the good of souls, was willing both to exert himself and to give of himself. When he saw the multitude, he had compassion on them. The sight of a vast crowd may justly move compassion. No one has pity for souls like Christ does: his compassions fail not. He not only pitied them but also helped them; many of them were sick, and he, in compassion to them, healed them. After a while, they were all hungry, and he, in compassion to them, fed them.”
I love this glimpse into the motivation of Jesus ministry, He was moved with compassion. He couldn’t turn away the sick, He couldn’t ignore the hungry, and He certainly couldn’t abandon His struggling disciples. Today it is still the same, He watches over each one of His sons and daughters and is moved with compassion for each one of us. That’s the way it is with Jesus, even when overwhelmed with crowds His attention would be on the one. Today He has His eye on you. He is moved with compassion when He sees your struggles. The compassion of Jesus is the very strength of our lives.
