The passage begins with a moment of personal sorrow for Jesus, for He has just received news of the death of John the Baptist. We see that Jesus “withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself” (verse 13). Yet even in His grief, we observe the unrelenting love and compassion of Christ. When the crowds follow Him, “He saw a great crowd, and He had compassion on them” (verse 14). Notice that Jesus does not dismiss the crowds or send them away. Instead, He takes pity on them, healing their sick and addressing their physical and spiritual needs.