Matthew 14:13-21 — Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand (Ep.050), A. Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

"When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place." What had happened? What did Jesus hear? Well, if you read, uh, the previous verses in chapter fourteen, we hear about John the Baptist being killed, John the Baptist being killed.

And remember, Jesus was related to John the Baptist, um, and also Jesus knew him, and he cared about John the Baptist very much.

John the Baptist prepared the way.

He helped people to know that J-- about Jesus.

He was very, a very important prophet.

But now John the Baptist has been killed, which must have been very shocking and sad news for Jesus.

So one more time, verse thirteen: "When Jesus heard what had happened," you know, that John the Baptist was killed, "he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place." So he withdrew means he went away from the people to be by himself.

Solitary is to be alone.

He went to a solitary place.

He wanted, he wanted to be alone.

By-- and he went by boat.

"Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns." So Jesus went away by boat.

The crowds followed, walking by foot.

They wanted to find Jesus.

Now, I wonder how Jesus felt.

He's trying to be alone.

His friend just died.

Someone he cared about just died, a relative, and now people are following him.

Verse fourteen: "When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick." When Jesus landed, when his boat docked, or when he got off of his boat and went onto land, he saw the people and, you know, maybe for me, I would have been upset.

I'm trying to be alone.

I'm trying to get away from people.

John the Baptist just died, and now I have to deal with all these people that keep following me.

I need a break, right? Jesus wanted a break.

He wanted to be alone.

Probably he wanted to be alone so he could pray, because there's several times in the New Testament where Jesus goes alone to pray, and he can't.