They were roadsigns pointing ahead down the road to the cross, the grave, the open tomb, to His own death and resurrection. Jesus knew where He was going, and He was bidding the crowds to follow Him through His death to the resurrection to eternal life. He was teaching, preaching, and healing them to death, drawing them into His death, so that they would rise to live forever under Him in His kingdom. Jesus' preaching, teaching, and healing flowed from His compassion. He had compassion on the crowds.
Compassion is a word that has to do with the guts.
In the Bible's way of speaking, the guts are where the feelings are. We speak that way sometimes. It made me sick to my stomach. Jesus looked on that crowds that followed him and clammored for His attention that swarming, sweaty, sinning mob filled with disease and demons and death. He saw in their faces the deep lines of anxiety over work, family, health.