Zero Loaves and Zero Fish 🥖🐟

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You were probably taught that the little boy was a generous and willing participant in the feeding of the five thousand. That’s what is taught in Sunday School, and I think there's a high probably that's what happened... but it’s not in the bible. If you read all four accounts of the story, and consider the historical context, another plausible narrative is that the disciples found him, commandeered his lunch, and then brought it to Jesus.

Children had no social status, and in Mark 10:13-16, we see that some disciples thought kids were a waste of Jesus' time. Which is why it must have astonished people when Jesus welcomed the children into His arms, and said “the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Not convinced? That's okay – it's just a comic... A silly hypothetical. One that happened to anger more than a few people on Instagram. In their defense, I see two strong arguments against this hypothetical: first, Scripture says that "everyone was satisfied" after the meal. And second, in the Gospel of John's account, it appears that the boy was at least in Jesus' presence. And if Jesus saw him, we can be sure He took care of him.

All four accounts of the feeding of the five thousand:

Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-14

Mark 10:13-16 

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.