Why Here?

John 6:4 KJV

And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

The mention of the Passover seems spurious and out of place to me. There is very little apparent purpose for the mention except as a possible reference to time. Could it be that the Lord leaves us this clue simply to help us keep a more accurate account of the timing of the events of Christ's life?

Robert Hawker adds a second possibility when he connects the nearness of the Passover with the magnanimous blessing of the feeding of the five thousand. He writes in his Poor Man's Commentary, "...observe, that the compassion of Jesus, manifested at those seasons, in working a miracle to supply the pressing wants of the body, and for a multitude, which the Lord then knew, and afterward proved, were none of His, in the covenant of redemption, (see John 6:66.) should be a constant source of comfort, both for the wants of body and soul, to his people, during the whole of their time upon the earth. My brother! I would say to every child of God, let nothing tempt you to cast away your faith or suffer you to be cast down with fear; both your bread that perisheth with using, and that which endureth to everlasting life, shall be given, and your water sure"