“Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.” – Mark 6:6-7, NIV
During His ministry, Jesus sent out His disciples to preach to the surrounding towns. He explained that He wanted them to take nothing but a staff and the shoes on their feet. Everything else would be provided along the way.
But that’s not the only interesting thing about how Jesus commanded them to go. He also wanted them to travel and preach in groups of two.
It’s mentioned in the text that Jesus gave the disciples power over impure or demonic spirits as well as the supernatural ability to heal the sick (Luke 9:1). But for all the power He gave, He still wanted them to minister together.
There are many reasons Jesus may have done this. Perhaps because He knew that when one became discouraged, the other could lift his spirits. Maybe He didn’t want his disciples becoming lonely. Another reason may have simply been that Jesus knows ministry is more fun when you have a community around you.
You don’t have to go it alone any more than the disciples did. If you’re feeling weary in your ministry, ask God to send a friend to help you. You might just be surprised by how God answers your request!
Prayer:
God, thank You for sending out the disciples in pairs. Just like they needed community, so do I. Please surround me with other Christians who love You and are eager to follow Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
