Jesus wants to be near us

Jesus wants to be near us. That’s something I believe. When I start the day, or when I’m in the car with my friend, about to go somewhere, there’s this thing we ask in prayer… “Jesus be with us today, or on the road, or…” And I’m always reminded that He already ís with us. He promised. So maybe a better prayer is: “Jesus, I want to be with You today.” When I was reading the story of John the Baptist’s death, it struck me again. Jesus wants us around.

You can read this story in Matthew 14: When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about Jesus, he said to his advisers, “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead! That is why he can do such miracles.” _{^{(verse 1-2)}}

The story continues and we see that Herod had imprisoned John for openly questioning his actions, and one day at a party, Herod lets himself be tricked into actually having John killed. Herod isn’t really happy with it, but does it anyway.

Then they went and told Jesus what had happened. As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. ^{_(verse12-13)}

Jesus wanted to be alone for a bit after this news.
John had died, His cousin, His announcer, The Voice in the desert that prepared the way.

But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.” “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered. “Bring them here,” he said. Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children! ^{_{(verse 13-21)}}

No time to be alone, the crowds had followed Him. As soon as He sees them, Jesus leaves the boat and we are told He has compassion on them. Not frustration, not annoyance, no irritation, no big sigh, He had compassion and healed their sick.
When the disciples then try to make Him send the crowd away, He says: “That isn’t necessary.” “Bring [the food] here.”
Of course, I have no idea what His thoughts are, but if I try to place myself in this setting and see His actions, I get this idea:

Jesus is sad, He retreats, the crowd follows and He shows – and has – compassion on them, heals them. The crowd is hungry? Well, don’t send them away, not just yet! You can feed them. No? You don’t have enough food? Ok, I’ll feed them, but please don’t send them away yet! In all His grief, Jesus still has His priorities. He wants us around.

If not only from this passage, for sure from the rest of Scripture… The more I learn about Him, the more I see that when I’m alone, He wants to be near me and He sends others to represent Him. When others are alone, He sends me to represent Him. When I look at the whole bigger story, Jesus saw mankind and became a kind Man. To be near us, to show compassion and to heal and feed us. Jesus wants to be near us.