Some passages of scripture paint a vivid picture of what is transpiring and this is one of them.  We can almost see the puzzlement on the faces of the disciples as they turn to one another to enquire whether someone brought Jesus food while they were in town, but their question is posed in such a way as to expect a negative answer.

Their problem is that they are thinking entirely of the physical and material and not of the spiritual.  As Augustine points out, “What wonder if that woman did not understand about the water?  See; the disciples do not yet understand the meat” (qt’d in Morris p. 277)

However, their complete misunderstanding becomes the opportunity for Jesus to give them great spiritual teaching.  Jesus often says things in a way that will cause misunderstanding, and after the disciples, or to whomever He has spoken, have thought on it, He will use the situation to impart important truth. For example, He told Nicodemus that he must be “born again” and the woman at the well that she should ask for “living water.” The effectiveness of this method is apparent from the obvious impression it made on the writer of this gospel.  Jesus is the greatest Rabbi (or teacher) ever because of the importance of His message, but also due to His wonderful methodology of teaching. He knew the perfect manner in which to reach anyone.