He did not retire into the desert through fear of death, as some suppose, but in mercy to His enemies, that they might not add murder to murder; putting off His death till the day of His passion; on which day the lamb is to be slain as the sacrament, and the posts of them that believe to be sprinkled with the blood.
Or, He retired to leave us an example to shun that rashness which leads men to surrender themselves voluntarily, because not all persevere with like constancy under torture with the which they offered themselves to it. For this reason He says in another place, “When they shall persecute you in one city, flee ye to another.” Whence the Evangelist says not ‘fled,’ but elegantly, “departed thence,” (or, ‘withdrew,’) shewing that He shunned rather than feared persecution.
Or for another reason He might have withdrawn into a desert place on hearing of John’s death, namely, to prove the faith of the believers.
Reproduced in full. Translation: Oxford 1841 (Newman), public domain (Public domain).