“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dispersed the crowds.” (Matthew 14:22)
This is not something I ever learned or was told in my thirty years of being a Christian. IMMEDIATELY after the crazy, eye-popping, jaw-dropping, miracle-making feast on the hill, with millions of men, women, and children eating foods that came from nowhere, Jesus compelled, he COMPELLED, his disciples to leave the bustling scene. Meanwhile, the Son stayed behind to dismiss the crowd. Usually, it is the minister and preacher we see leaving a meeting first, and the workers would stay behind for the clean-up work. Not this time with Jesus.
“Perhaps Jesus wanted to spare His disciples from this attractive temptation.” A commentator named Lenski made this observation. It is very grounding to know they were not in it for fame and popularity. Their mission was to serve the people. When you see a multitude responding to God and reveling in great joy, you don’t stay to bask in the glory of such success. You get up and move on to the next thing. It was also evident that Jesus was in need of rest, and He too wanted his disciples to rest after a very long and tiring day of ministry.
Well, the story only gets more exciting even as it looks like Jesus was just wrapping up. He was about to WALK ON WATER.