Where did the 12 baskets come from after Jesus fed the multitude of people?

Answer 1

The story is either a miracle or metaphor.

If a miracle then the baskets are irrelevant as the could have been 'conjured' up along with any foodstuff required.

If a metaphor then the baskets are of no importance because they are not the point of the metaphor.

Answer 2

After Jesus fed the multitude of people with five loaves and two fish, there were 12 baskets of leftover fragments picked up by the disciples. These baskets were filled with the remaining food that had miraculously multiplied during the feeding of the multitudes.

Answer 3

One would expect that if the people had brought twelve baskets, they would have brought food in those baskets, but The Bible clearly says there were only a few loaves and fishes, too few to fill those baskets. There must be a symbolism in the twelve baskets that is deeper than a superficial reading of the gospels would indicate. The story of feeding the multitude first appears in Mark's Gospel, so it is there that we should look for a deeper meaning.

Dennis R. MacDonald (The Homeric Epics and the Gospel of Mark) draws a close parallel between Mark's story of feeding the multitude and a sacred feast described in Homer's Odyssey. Among other parallels:

1. Jesus and his disciples, like Telemachus and Athena, sailed and disembarked.

2. They found a crowd of thousands of males - of 5000 (Mark)/4500 (Homer).

3. Jesus ordered them to sit in groups of 100's and 50's, much like the crowd met by Telemachus that sat in 9 groups of 500 each.

4. Mark used the words for "drinking group by drinking group" to describe the groupings, while Homer used the word "symposia" (a special type of Greek drinking gathering for men)

5. Both feasts were sacred meals: as Jesus gave thanks to God and took the loaves and fish (a simple repast by contrast with the lavish meal in Homer?) and divided them, so Nestor sacrificed while others prayed and they all took the meat and divided the food.

6. In both stories everyone ate and was filled (by the power of Jesus in one story, by the fabulous wealth of the host in the other), but the gospel went one better by having baskets of food left over.

In MacDonald's view, the story was inspired by The Odyssey and the baskets were a literary invention, designed to make the gospel feast appear more miraculous. In isolation, MacDonald's analysis of this narrative could be dismissed on the grounds of coincidence, but he finds so many clear and persuasive parallels throughout the gospel that his view should be taken seriously.