Two views of why Jesus withdrew to a desolate place when he heard of the death of John the Baptist:
This report reached Jesus at the end of the mission of the disciples through Israel (see Mark 6:30–32). Jesus now moved to the less populated area east of the Sea of Galilee, since on the western side, it was hard to find a place to be alone. They arrived at Bethsaida Julias (Luke 9:10), a small town on the lake’s northeastern shore. When John was arrested, Jesus began his public work in Galilee (Matthew 4:12). When John was killed, Jesus began to withdraw from public life, to devote himself to the training of the disciples (Matthew 16:5, Matthew 16:13, Matthew 16:21, Matthew 16:24;Matthew 17:22, Matthew 17:25; Matthew 18:1, Matthew 18:21; Matthew 19:10, Matthew 19:23). This departure from Capernaum and Galilee also began his journey toward Jerusalem.
The news that reached Jesus likely concerned not only John’s death, but also Herod’s motives and attitude. The fact that Herod places him and John on the same level is enough to make him withdraw. Jesus avoids Herod because his hour has not yet come. His work on earth is not yet finished, so he cannot yet expose himself to danger (see Matthew 2:22; Matthew 4:12; Matthew 12:15).
Interpretation 1:
The moment this report reached Jesus coincided with the end of the mission of the twelve disciples through Israel (see Mark 6:30–32). Jesus now withdrew to the region east of the Sea of Galilee. This area was sparsely populated, in contrast to the western side, where it was very difficult to find a place to be alone. The place where they arrived was Bethsaida Julias (Luke 9:10), a small town on the northeastern shore of the lake. And so, when John was imprisoned, Jesus began his public ministry in Galilee (Matthew 4:12), and when John was killed, he began to withdraw from public life in order to devote himself solely to the training of the disciples (Matthew 16:5, Matthew 16:13, Matthew 16:21, Matthew 16:24; Matthew 17:22, Matthew 17:25; Matthew 18:1, Matthew 18:21; Matthew 19:10, Matthew 19:23). Secondly, this withdrawal also meant a departure from Capernaum and Galilee, thereby marking the beginning of his journey toward Jerusalem.1
Interpretation 2:
The news that reached Jesus likely pertained not only to the death of John, but also to the motives and disposition of Herod. The very fact that Herod places him and John the Baptist on the same level is enough to make him withdraw. Jesus avoids Herod because his hour has not yet come. His work on earth is not yet finished, and he cannot as yet expose himself to danger (see Matthew 2:22; Matthew 4:12; Matthew 12:15).2
13 A cette nouvelle, Jésus partit de là dans une barque, pour se retirer à l'écart dans un lieu désert; et la foule, l'ayant su, sortit des villes et le suivit à pied.