This section begins with a swift transition. Jesus is moving quickly by telling His disciples to go to the other side of the sea and then dismissing the crowds. Matthew is silent as to why Jesus is rushing for a new location, but John tells us that the crowds wanted to “make Jesus king” (6:15). Their motivation was not spiritual, nor part of God’s will. Jesus protected his disciples from this mob mentality and withdrew to the mountain where He could finally enjoy some solitude with His Father.