The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.  He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while."  For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.  And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.  Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.  As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

We must never stop seeking out Jesus, even when he seems to have departed from us.  One commentator says the trip across the lake at this point was about four miles while it was about ten miles on foot around the top.  On a day with little wind one could beat a boat on foot.  So the crowd saw enough in Jesus to warrant a hurried ten mile trip on foot with the sick and lame.  What effort do we put forth?

Our great need opens up the compassionate heart of Christ.  The great throng were like sheep without a shepherd.  This means they were wandering aimlessly, looking for pasture.  But they were following Christ -- they had found their shepherd, so what does this mean?  A little after this event Jesus tells the people "you are looking for me because you ate your fill of the loaves.  Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life."  (John 6.26-27)  Jesus feeds us and heals us to confirm who he is, but the essence of his mission is to teach us.  That is why his compassion for the crowd manifests itself in teaching them.  Jesus says "and they shall all be taught by God."  (John 6.45)

Jesus teaches them "many things."  As with the miracle of the wine at Cana, as with the miracle of the loaves, Jesus gives in superabundance.