Who expressed dismay over how to feed the five thousand?

Answer 1

All the disciples were a bit incredulous when Jesus told them to give the 5000 men something to eat - see Mark 6.37 The disciples expressed dismay because they did not understand what Jesus could do. The story of Jesus feeding the 5000 is one of a contiguous series of miracles and discourses in which food is a principal theme and lack of understandng on the part of the disciples is a minor theme (Mark 6:33-8:21 ):

• Feeding the 5000
• When Jesus walked on water the disciples were amazed, for they considered not the miracle of the loaves
• Pharisees complain about the disciples eating with unwashed hands
• Discourse - what goes into a man goes into his belly and does not defile
• Greek woman metaphorically begs for crumbs from the table
• Feeding the 4000
• Disciples are hungry and have only one loaf of bread
• Jesus warns the disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees and they reason, "It is because we have no bread," showing they do not understand
• Summary by Jesus of the two feasts - feeding the 5000 and the 4000

These all form one part of a pair the framework, parallel structure of Mark's Gospel, with the matching event being the Last Supper, where once again the disciples do not understand.