Loaves and Fishes

When Jesus provided it was never in the way people expected. In feeding the 5000, his disciples were perplexed – they were too far away from any city, they had no food trucks, no money to feed the mass of people, but Jesus insisted that they extend hospitality to these hungry folk. You know the story – in the end, everyone was stuffed and there was food left over. Was it simply a reaction to a few grumbling bellies, or was there a greater purpose to this miracle, and others like it?