It’s very important to note that the phrase, “Now when Jesus heard this…” immediately follows Jesus being told that John had been murdered by King Herod. That’s John the Baptist to you and me, the one who baptized Jesus. But to Jesus he was also “Cousin John.”

So Jesus withdraws to a deserted place—by himself. He goes away to grieve, most likely. But we find Jesus in the habit of going away, and there seems to be always this reason: in order to give himself away in service.

The crowd follows Jesus. They want his service; they need his touch. Jesus knows their need is great. To have enough inner resources for ministry, he has to allow for a time of rest before.

by Nick Foster from d365.org