What does Matthew 14:14 mean?

Jesus has travelled with His disciples by boat for the specific purpose of getting away from the ever-present crowds of people wanting to be healed and to hear His teaching. The people figured out where Jesus was headed and ran along the shore on foot to be in Bethsaida when He arrived. Bethsaida was on the northeast shore of the Sea of Galilee.

How would Jesus respond? It would seem reasonable to us and, perhaps to the disciples, that Jesus would find another way to escape the demanding crowds. Perhaps they could sail on to another lonely place. After all, that's why they left Capernaum.

Jesus, though, seeing the great crowd waiting for Him on shore is filled with compassion. Paul described Jesus as the "image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15). He shows us what God the Father is like. Jesus reveals in this moment and countless others that God is the "Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction" (2 Corinthians 1:3–4). Jesus had come, in part, to minister to Israel, and here were the people of Israel waiting for Him. He would not turn them away, no matter how great His desire to be alone by Himself.