This crowd of thousands was not the hard core of tested disciples but the first wave of inquirers coming to see if this kingdom which the twelve had been announcing was for real.

As the devil had said it would, the distribution of bread moved the crowd to acclaim Jesus as the New Moses, the provider, the Welfare King whom they had been waiting for.

His withdrawal from their acclamation is (in all the Gospels) the occasion for his first statement that his ministry was to be one of suffering and that his disciples would need to be ready to bear with him that cross.

from The Politics of Jesus: Vicit Agnus Noster