The disciples came back to Jesus after their successful mission. They knew from whom they got the power and authority to teach and heal and they returned to him to report about their successes. Probably the people would have expected that the apostles continued their work on their own. Since the power and authority was with them they could have continued on their own. They were aware that these were from Jesus and they wanted to be accountable to Jesus.
Jesus wanted his apostles to rest a while. He did not want them to be work oriented. Work was important and in fact it was he who had said that the harvest is plenty. Even though the mission was enormous yet he did not want his apostles to be burned up before time. And it was Jesus who took them to a deserted place to rest and be without disturbances from the people.
But when Jesus saw the crowd following and searching for them, Jesus could not but go to be of help to them. People became his main and only concern. When people long for assistance Jesus is ready offer even though it might be demanding. Jesus was ready to sacrifice anything for the people who search for him. And that was his compassion.
