John the Baptist was dead. Beheaded. It was unjust, brutal, and senseless.
On hearing the news, Jesus left what He was doing and went with His disciples to a solitary place. He must have wanted to mourn, and pray, away from the crowds. But when He arrived, there was no solitude: somehow, word had spread about where He was going, and now a large crowd was waiting for Him.
Matthew records that Jesus didn’t send them away or throw Himself a pity party – "he had compassion on them and healed their sick." They were suffering, too.
