A Miracle Ex Aliquo

“Ex nihilo”  

Have you heard that before? It’s Latin. I don’t know Latin, but since this phrase is often used in connection with creation, I know that it means, “from nothing.” In eternity past, there was nothing, except God. Then, by the power of his word, all that exists came into existence. God created everything ex nihilo – from nothing. (Genesis 1; Psalm 33)

In the New Testament it is revealed that Jesus, the eternal Son of God, is the Word through whom all things were made. Jesus possesses the power to create from nothing. (John 1; Colossians 1; Hebrews 1)

Isn’t it interesting, then, that when Jesus fed the 4,000 in Mark 8, he used something instead of nothing? Out of Jesus’ compassion for the crowd, he determined to feed them because they had “nothing to eat.” (Mark 8:2) But how did he determine what to feed them? The miraculous menu that day was set by what they had – seven loaves and a few small fish. The same was true in the feeding of the 5,000 in Mark 6. Presumably, if all they had on them had been grapes and figs, then the production company for The Chosen would be named Grapes & Figgies instead of Loaves & Fishes. 

There’s nothing that limited Jesus in what he could have done in this scenario. He could have fed them whatever he wanted! But, rather than creation, Jesus chose multiplication. Instead of a meal from nothing, he chose to use the something they had. If creation was a miracle ex nihilo then the feeding of the 4,000 was a miracle ex aliquo – from something.

 My point in making this observation is to say that this is just one instance that gives us an important insight into all of Jesus’ work in this world. Though he can and has done whatever he wants ex nihilo, he has purposed in this world to do his present work ex aliquo – and we are his primary aliquo.

We are commanded to pray. We are commanded to give. We are commanded to make disciples. God needs nothing from us to do what he does. Yet, God has purposed to use our prayers, gifts, and discipleship as the means through which he does his work. We may question the efficacy and efficiency of this approach, but its evidence throughout scripture is undeniable. What has God done that is not from something of what he has created from nothing?

It is because of the bread and fish that the feeding of the 4,000 happened the way that it did. It was a miracle by Jesus inseparably shaped by the something placed into his hands.  

We may think of ourselves as the seven loaves and few fishes – insufficient to meet the need. And that is correct! But if we withhold our aliquo, we should expect nihilo to follow. Yet, when we place ourselves into Jesus’ hands, we can be confident that we will be the something through which nothing will be impossible for him.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20–21

~ Andy Barker grew up in Boston, Ma. and relocated to Charlotte in 2008. He currently serves as an elder at LIFE Fellowship. He and his wife Melanie have five children and have attended LIFE Fellowship for ten years.