Matthew 14:13-14…“Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.” vs. 13
When Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been killed, he withdrew to a deserted place where he could be alone. He needed time for reflection and prayer. But when the crowds had heard the news of John’s death, they wanted to be with Jesus, and even though he was in a boat they could easily follow him by land. They knew where his boat was going, and they got there first!
We might imagine that Jesus would have been irritated to see the crowd when he’d planned to be by himself, but if he was, the feeling was quickly replaced by compassion. His own needs were forgotten as he tended to the crowd. After all, they were looking for a shepherd, and they needed his comforting words and his healing touch. So there sitting beside the still waters In a green pasture, oblivious to the passage of time, the crowd feasted on his presence.
We too need those times of comfort and consolation, and when they come, we hang on hard. Maybe it’s a sermon that touches our deepest needs that we hope will never end! Or maybe it’s the presence of a friend who sees our pain and who offers an ear and a hug. Time stands still, and healing begins! So it was with the crowds and so it is for us.
Thought for the Day: Times when I’ve needed a hug or words of love!
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