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 story gives us a glimpse into the very heart of the miracle ministry of Jesus. This was obviously a very large crowd with a large number of very desperate people who were there hoping for a miracle. As Jesus looked over the crowd that day He was overcome with compassion, His heart was touched by the desperation He saw in the faces of all the people. He saw the blind, the lame, and probably some lepers that had snuck into the crowd. What was the Lord’s response to the hurting people that He saw? His love for these people moved Him deeply on the inside and He began to heal the sick. Here is how Matthew Henry describes this moment.

“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.”

With only a quick scan it became obvious to the Lord what He needed to do. Matthew said that Jesus healed the sick that were there that day, I wonder how many people got healed in that one event? Mark added another part to the response of Jesus to the hurting crowd that He saw, Mark said that Jesus began to “teach them many things”. Jesus taught like no one else, His words were the true food that day feeding hungry souls. Finally Jesus took a little boy’s lunch and fed the whole crowd, they all ate until they were fully satisfied.

Jesus displayed three responses that day to meet the pressing need found in the crowd. He healed those who were sick, He taught those who were despondent and brought real help into their lives, finally He fed the hungry. This is a great directive for the church today; heal the sick, teach the word of God, and feed the hungry; if you do these things you will see an expansion of the kingdom of God.