the power of 2

As Christ followers, one of the joys of that relationship is getting to share the gospel with others. Here at home, in other countries, next door...the "where" would be agreed upon by many that to the ends of the earth is as far as we should go.

But "how" exactly takes numerous diversions and there are many opinions out there on "how" best to go out and share the gospel. I don't claim to have the right answer, but I wanted to offer an observation that I think holds Truth.

Wise King Solomon thought: "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV)

Is it coincidence that Jesus sent His disciples out 2x2 and we see other instances of Jesus' followers accomplishing things in twos?

Mark records "Calling the Twelve to Him, He sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits." (Mark 6:7)

Luke picks up on the same detail with the 72 that get sent out after the twelve: "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." (Luke 10:1)

This two by two principle continued with Jesus' followers after His death.

Matthew writes "After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to look at the tomb." (Matthew 28:1) Two Marys.

Luke records "Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seventy miles from Jerusalem..." (Luke 24:13)

Sure, safety might have been an issue during their day, but I think it is no accident that this detail of two by two occurs quite frequently and is recorded by at least three gospel writers. Both men and women went out two by two. So what is this getting at?

I think this is a detail that Jesus wants us to recognize for ministry. Sure, going out to serve Him as an individual is good, but even better is going out with a partner in ministry. There are many more advantages to going out together and having a brother or sister to "tag-team" in gospel sharing.

As Proverbs 27:17 offers: "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."