Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 14:13

"Now when Jesus heard [it], he withdrew from thence in a boat, to a desert place apart: and when the multitudes heard [thereof,] they followed him on foot from the cities." — Matthew 14:13 (ASV)

When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by a ship into a desert place apart:

It is well for us to get alone with God when he takes home the best and most faithful of his servants. Neither the Church nor the world could afford to lose such a man as John the Baptist; so it was well for Christ's disciples to retire with him to a desert place that he might teach them the lesson of that proto-martyr's death.

Our Lord could not allow such a sad event as the death of His Forerunner to pass without special devotion. Perhaps He also judged it wise to be out of Herod's territory at this time. When such a tiger once tastes blood, he tends to thirst for more. Moreover, rest was needed both by Himself and by the small group that accompanied Him, and our Lord was no hard taskmaster, overworking His servants.

Therefore, as soon as Jesus heard of John’s death, He went with His followers to an isolated place beyond Herod’s jurisdiction, “a desert place apart.” He went there by ship, to put the sea between Himself and the crowd. It was difficult for Him to find seclusion, but He used common-sense ways of achieving it. He knew the absolute need for privacy and He earnestly sought it. The wise use of solitude still needs to be learned by many workers.

The crowd would not allow Him to rest. They were curious, anxious, and needy, so they were soon following Him on foot. While He sailed by sea, they hurried along the shore. It is a good sign when there is an eagerness to hear the Word of God. May the Lord send us more of it in these days of religious indifference.