His Beautiful Mess

Matthew 14:10-14 Herod sent and had John beheaded in the prison,   and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.   And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.  Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.   When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.  I've been studying the book of Matthew this week and this passage has really impacted me. In this text, John the Baptist, Jesus's cousin and one of His best friends has just been murdered. Jesus goes away to mourn for the loss of his friend but then the crowds come after Him. They are in need. How does Jesus respond? He gets up and goes to them and meets their needs. Later in the passage, he teaches them and feeds all of them. Jesus' re...