Provider / Mark 6:35-44

“There’s an old story called “Acres of Diamonds” that originates back to 1869.

The story is about an African farmer who’d heard about other farmers who had made millions of dollars by discovering diamond mines.

These stories got the farmer so excited that he could hardly wait to sell his own farm and go prospecting for diamonds himself.

Enthused by the idea of becoming an instant millionaire, he sold his farm and began searching for diamond mines…

Well, he ended up spending the rest of his life wandering around the African continent searching for these diamond mines—to no avail.

It seems this farmer wasn’t as lucky as the others he’d heard about; and eventually, tired and depressed, the farmer threw himself into a river and drowned to death.

Meanwhile, the man who had bought his farm happened to be crossing a small stream on his property one afternoon, when suddenly a bright glimmer of colorful light caught his eye—it was coming from the bottom of the stream…

So, he bent down to see what it was. He reached into the water and picked up a stone. It was a fairly large stone, bright and beautiful. He paused for a moment and held it up, admiring it as it shined and glimmered against the sunlight. Then, he took the stone home and placed it on the mantel over his fireplace as a decoration of sorts.

Several weeks later a friend of his came by to visit. The glimmering stone over the fireplace caught his eye, so he picked up to get a closer look.

As he felt the weight of the stone in his hands, he was in absolute shock.

He looked up at his farmer friend and said, “Do you have any idea what this is?”

The farmer replied, “No, I found it awhile back and thought it was just a pretty piece of crystal.”

The visitor paused and said, “You’ve just found one of the largest diamonds ever discovered.”

The farmer had a hard time believing that.

He told his friend that his creek was full of stones just like that one, not all as large as the one on the mantel, but the stones were sprinkled generously throughout the bottom of the stream right here on his property.

The farm the first farmer had sold, so that he might find a diamond mine, turned out to be one of the most productive diamond mines on the entire African continent.

The first farmer had owned—free and clear—acres of diamonds.

But he had sold them for practically nothing, in order to look for them elsewhere.” - Dean Bokhari

What if you have more than enough, but don’t know it?

Those realities were true of the disciples. In our story tonight, we are going to learn, that if we have Christ, we have all that we need.

Here are two lessons from the feeding of the 5000.

Jesus is the way when there is no way.

35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

Before we judge the disciples for lacking faith. Put yourself in their sandals. The were doing so much ministry, they didn’t have time to eat. Their plan to rest was interrupted by a massive crowd of needy people. The setting was barren and desolate (there were no fast food restaurants or grocery stores near by) and it was late.

The disciples were done. They wanted to be done with ministry for the night. They wanted to be done with people. They were done. But not according to Jesus...

37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.”

Why does Jesus give them a task when they are already tired? Perhaps God gives us more when we’re at our limit to show us our need for him. This lesson is never fun and we hear the weariness in the disciples response.

And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”

200 denarii represented payment for 200 days of work. They are communicating to Jesus, “not only does your idea to feed them seem impossible, it appears to be unwise!”

Their eyes were on what they lacked. Jesus’ eyes were on what they had. Sadly, this is often true of us.

God calls you to give. “But I’m living pay check to paycheck”

God calls you to serve. “But I have no time.”

God calls you to share his message. “But I’m not good with words.”

Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, focus on what God can do with what you do have.

38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”

Not much. But let’s see what Jesus can do with the little we bring.

Jesus provides more than enough to satisfy.

39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties.

Remember at this time, he still only had a handful of food. They must have been questioning, “why are we being organized?”

41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing

In front of all, he reveals his source of power, God. It was custom to look down while praying out of respect. But Jesus is one with the father. As he says a blessing he looks up for all to see where the provision was going to come from.

When we pray before meals, we do not need to bless the food. Like, “Father, make this cheeto a Christian cheeto.” We bless God and thank him. Because every good gift we own has come from him.

God is our source of provision. And he provides more than enough.

and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

After feeding over 5000 people, there were exactly 12 baskets of leftovers. The exact amount of disciples. Do you think they got the message? Our task is to bring God what we have, trust him, and watch him provide more than enough.

You may be like the farmer in the opening story. You are searching the world for riches when true satisfaction is right in front of you.

Whatever your needs are, God can provide. But remember, the greatest provision is the gift of his son. A gift that is offered to all.