John 6:11

‘Jesus therefore took the loaves, and having given thanks, he distributed to those who were set down, likewise also of the fishes as much as they would.'

As Jesus handed the bread and fishes to the disciples for distribution there was always more in His hands, until finally everyone was satisfied. The incident is mentioned in all four Gospels. The accounts reveal quite clearly that the disciples saw this as a remarkable miracle, as indeed it was.

It was normal for the head of the feast to give thanks and distribute some of the food to the guests. It was merely a commonplace, and there is no real need to see this as intending to depict the Last Supper. It gains its meaning from the One Who did it, and it rather therefore depicts Jesus' dependence on and union with His Father. The Last Supper, although wider in meaning, simply helps to illustrate this.

‘As much as they would.' It is expressly stated that there was enough to satisfy everyone with more to spare. Thus it is being emphasised that both bread and fish were amplified and that it was these that met the needs of the crowd. Any suggestion of a merely ‘symbolic meal' goes against the narrative. The people were satisfactorily fed.