Jesus puts others over Himself Matthew 14:1-21
In Matthew 14, we encounter the grim news of John the Baptist’s beheading. John, Jesus’ cousin, was the prophesied forerunner, proclaiming, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord,’ urging repentance and guiding many hearts back to God.
We see Jesus’ response to this terrible news:
Matthew 14:13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.
Jesus needed some space. He decided to get some alone time, but everybody wanted to be with Him. They followed Him as He was going to be alone. We can’t fully understand what was going on in His heart and mind, but we can see clearly how much He loved people.
Matthew 14:14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Unbelievable, He had every right to say, ‘I need my space, a moment to collect my thoughts, to grieve.’ But Jesus, in His boundless compassion, was moved for the people. He didn’t just heal the sick among them; He immersed Himself in their suffering. But it gets even better. You’d think after showing compassion, healing the sick—after doing all that, He’d be done. But no, the perfect excuse to retreat, to rest, presented itself, and yet…
Matthew 14: 15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
Hey, you know, I am tired, had a long day, I’ve just served everyone, helped them, and on top of that, I’ve lost a friend to a cruel death. I need my space… But watch what Jesus does: Instead of retreating,
Matthew 14:16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
Unbelievable! Instead of taking the easy way out, Jesus loves and serves, miraculously feeding thousands with just a few loaves and fish when He had every reason to send them home.
Jesus prioritized others’ needs above His own. There’s a profound lesson here for us all. Even in our pain, in our need for solitude, can we be moved by compassion for others?
Father, mold us more into the likeness of Your Son. Grant us a love that places others before ourselves.”
