Jesus Our Provider

Disciples Return from Missions Work  The disciples are testifying to Jesus about their first preaching mission.  Jesus wants to take the disciples to a desolate place to rest.  The people recognized Jesus and his disciples in the boat and ran on foot to meet them at their destination.

Arrival At Bethsaida  A large crowd has gathered to see Jesus and his disciples.  Jesus had compassion on the crowd of people because he saw them as sheep without a shepherd.  Jesus began to teach them and he did so at great length.

Jesus and His Disciples  The disciples ask Jesus to send the crowd away so the crowd can go get something to eat.  Jesus responds imperatively “You” provide food for the crowd.  The disciples sarcastically respond by asking Jesus if they should spend almost a year’s worth of wages to purchase bread.  Jesus then tells the disciples to find out how much food is available.

The Preparation for the Provision  Jesus is told that they have five loaves and two fish.  Jesus then commands the disciples to have the crowd sit in organized groups.  Jesus looks to heaven and blesses the loaves and the fish.

The Miraculous Provision  Jesus miraculously multiplies the loaves and fish and distributes them to his disciples.  The disciples distributed the loaves and the fish to ‘all’ of the people – everyone ate and was satisfied.  Twelve baskets of leftovers were collected.  The people wanted to take Jesus by force and make him king. (John)

Moses Typified in this Miracle 1.Jesus took his disciples to a ‘desolate’ place just as Moses led Israel into the desert. 2.Jesus refers to the large crowd as ‘sheep without a shepherd’ just as Moses referred to Israel as ‘sheep without a shepherd’. 3.Jesus divided the crowd into groups just as Moses divided Israel into groups.

Moses Typified in this Miracle 4.Jesus taught the Scriptures to the crowd just as Moses taught the Law to the Israelites. 5.Jesus fed the people with bread just as Moses fed Israel the manna from the Lord. Exodus 16:12: ‘so that you may know that I am the Lord your God’ ‘It is the bread the Lord has provided’

Truths About the Provision of Jesus 1)Jesus has compassion for you – whatever it is you are going through. 2)Jesus uses believers to bring the Bread of Life to the world. 3)Jesus uses the very small to do the very big. 4)We must give our strengths and our weaknesses to the Lord – He will use both! 5)Jesus provides complete, total and satisfying provision.

Jesus Separates from His Disciples  Jesus makes his disciples leave on a boat while he dismisses the crowd.  Jesus goes by himself to a mountain to pray.  Jesus notices the disciples struggling with their boat in the midst of the Sea of Galilee.

Jesus Walks on the Sea of Galilee  In the middle of the night, Jesus comes to his disciples walking on the water intending to pass by them.  The disciples saw him, they thought he was a ghost and they cried out in terror.  Jesus immediately speaks and identifies himself to his disciples.

Jesus Provides Calm in the Storm  Jesus then gets into the boat and the wind stops blowing.  The disciples were astounded. Mark tells us they did not understand the miracle of the loaves because their hearts were hardened.

Jesus’ Provision in the Storms of Life 1.Sometimes obedience to Jesus leads us into the storms of life. 2.Jesus meets us in the midst of our storms, in our deepest despair. 3.You will not recognize Jesus in the midst of your storm if you are not faithfully expecting to see him.

What About YOU?  Do you see Jesus as Your provider?  Do you realize how much compassion Jesus has for You?  Do you realize how much Jesus could use you if you just give yourself to him?  Are you in the midst of a storm?  Jesus Is YOUR Provider!