We’re Called to Go Two-by-Two

Mark 6:7-13

“Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. These were his instructions: ‘Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’ They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.”

Luke 10:1-20

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.

“Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

John 15:26-27

“‘When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.’”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

When Jesus was preparing His disciples for ministry, He instructed them to go out into the world two by two. There are a number of reasons Jesus chose the two-by-two model and why it is beneficial to continue to spread the Gospel in such a way as we put our faith into action.

Two are Better than One

Two are better than one for many reasons. First, it is easier to maintain focus and stay on task when there is another person to help hold you accountable. The story of Jonah exemplifies this well. When Jonah is called by God to preach to the people of Nineveh, he doesn’t want to do it. So, instead of following God’s instructions, he tries to flee from God by boarding a ship bound for Tarshish. Of course, thanks to God’s mercy and grace, it all works out in the end. Nevertheless, having someone to keep you accountable for doing what God has called you to do is highly beneficial.

A partner also provides confidence. Jesus’ disciples were sharing the Gospel with people in places that were reluctant to hear it. It is much easier to approach strangers and share about Jesus when you have someone by your side for support. If someone asks a question and you don’t know the answer, you can turn to your partner for help. This is relevant in today’s world, where many people have not only rejected Jesus and the Gospel but, in some cases, physically harm Christians. Two people can defend themselves in every sense of the word.

Having someone with you can provide support and encouragement when you need it most. Jesus sent His disciples out with nothing but a staff and each other. There is no doubt the going was going to get tough. It is easier to make it through hard times when you have someone by your side. If one person falls down, the other can help them up.

And lastly, when you work together as a team, you can accomplish more than you ever could on your own. Two people have a better return on their labor.

A Cord of Three Strands is Not Quickly Broken

In the two-by-two ministry model, who or what is the third “strand?” None other than the Holy Spirit–God himself. The three-fold principle is apparent in the way Jesus sent forth his disciples. In John 15:26, Jesus promised the disciples that when He returned to his Father, He would send the Holy Spirit to go out with disciples as their guide. Together, these three make up the three-fold cord: two disciples going forth (as they were sent by Jesus), plus the Holy Spirit. When Jesus sent forth 70 other disciples, He sent them the same way.

The two-by-two ministry is not simply a better way of doing things, but it has always been part of the plan that originated in the mind of God and is reflected in his Word. We see the Divine origin of the three-fold model in…

• Trinity - Most importantly, it is seen in the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• Jesus - Jesus came to fill a three-fold office: Prophet, Priest, and King.
• Marriage - It is also evident in God’s plan for a strong marriage, which consists of three: a husband, a wife, and God.
• Man - Man was created as a three-fold being: body, soul, and spirit.

As Christians, we are still called to spread the Gospel. And Jesus’s instructions still apply today: go out two by two and share the good news with the world, and the Holy Spirit will be with you, creating a threefold strand of strength and unity.