Notes

1

The first Pascha was shortly after Baptism, when the Lord expelled the merchants from the temple (John 2:13-25). The second Pascha, when the Lord healed a 38-year-old paralytic (John 5:1). The Lord does not go to celebrate the third Passover in Jerusalem, but dwells in Galilee and celebrates it with the miraculous feeding of the five loaves of bread and the preaching of the bread of heaven in the synagogue of Capernaum.

2

For from what follows it is clear that He immediately got into a boat with the Apostles (Matt. 14:13: Mk. 6:32).

3

There were probably several reasons to leave. First, Christ Himself tells the Apostles (Mark 6-31) that they need to rest from fatigue and the constant influx of people.

Secondly, Jesus Himself felt the need for solitude, as He says: Matthew 14:13 and Luke 9:10.

After the murder of John, after the rumors that Herod considered Him to be the resurrected John, a critical moment in the life of the Lord apparently came. With the death of John, His connection with the Old Testament sphere is broken. The eyes of all who seek righteousness are now fixed on Him. He must act completely and independently. He must present his special mission in relief and definiteness now, with the death of the Prophet. In decisive moments, the Lord always resorted to solitary prayer; and since the Apostles also needed to rest, He took advantage of this to store up spiritual strength in a desolate place.

Then there was a third reason, no less important, and moreover, which determined the place where one could retire.

If Herod considered Jesus to be the resurrected John and seeks to see Him, it is certainly not for a good purpose; if we add to this the enmity of the Herodians towards Jesus, who had made an alliance with the Pharisees, then, of course, the Lord's stay within the borders of Tiberias, i.e. in the possessions of Herod Antipas, was not safe, and the Lord knew that it was too early for Him to finish His feat; so He chooses a desolate place within the boundaries of Bethsaida Julias, that is, in the possession of Philip.

4

Matthew 14:13: "And when Jesus heard this, he departed from there in a boat to a desert place alone; and when the people heard of it, they followed Him out of the cities on foot."

Mark 6:31-32: "He said to them, 'Go ye alone into a desert place, and rest a little. For there were many who came and went, for they had no time to eat. And they went to a deserted place in a boat alone."

Luke 9:10: "The apostles returned, and told him what they had done; and he took them with him, and withdrew especially to a desolate place, near the city called Bethsaida."

John 6:1: "After these things Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Tiberias."