(if this is a little scattered, I was retrieving Levi a couple times during this writing)
There has to be something up with John 6.4
There are a lot of similarities between Jesus feeding the 5000 and the “Last Supper.”
Jesus broke the bread and gave thanks and passed it out to people that would thank him for it and then turn on him. The disciples passed it out as he gave thanks, and then, maybe for the first time, compared himself to that bread. He was the bread that came out of nowhere, and the bread that was in such abundance that there were always leftovers.
Bread is serious business all over the middle eastern world. Bread/ with salt/ is a symbol of hospitality. Jesus could have fed them many things, but bread says, “you are welcome here with me.” When Melchizadec showed up in Abraham’s life, it was bread and wine. When the Passover was celebrated, the meal hinged on specialized bread.
Jesus welcomes us into his presence, and provides for our needs, knowing full well that we are fickle, moody sheep. He is not a fiery fearful terror that causes the people to beg for a moderator. The 5000 people were there because they had seen Him heal the sick. I can just see that many of them may have been the ones healed, and weren’t sure what to do now that they were well except follow Jesus (ie. The Pool Guy and others…)