Jesus’s Disciples Had Partners
David W Palmer
(Luke 5:4, 6–7 NKJV) When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” ... {6} And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. {7} So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
Peter had partners in the fishing business. Many people today have business partners, and we often use the same word for our spouses: marriage “partners.” In the original Greek, the word means: participant, a sharer; by implication an associate—fellow, partaker, partner. It implies belonging together and sharing. Certainly, in the above passage, the partners shared the work and the rewards.
Partners usually come together because each can supply to their mutual objective what the other partner needs but cannot supply. For example—in God’s ideal scenario—in marriage, a man takes a woman as a marriage partner; she brings to the partnership what he cannot, the ability to bear children. He brings his ability to father offspring, along with his strength, love, covering, and provision. They each bring different but complementing personalities, perspectives, skill sets, and functions. Together, their partnership forms the foundation of a family.
We often say, “opposites attract.” This is because a person is attracted to characteristics in prospective partners that they do not have or cannot provide, and vice versa.
In business, partners come together for mutual benefit. Even musicians form bands with others of complementing skills and talents. For example, a guitarist may join with a drummer and bass player. Together they can make music at a level and complexity that none of them could achieve separately.
When we travelled in our band, Rosanna could sing, play guitar, and write songs. Her brother Henry, could not only play drums, but loved trucks; he supplied and drove the band truck. Henry also had a great personality; he quickly and easily made friends with everyone at each new destination. I played bass guitar and looked after all the sound equipment, etc. We were great partners: equal commitment, similar workload, but vastly different skills, talents, personalities, training, and input to the team. Together we made great music, enjoyed life on the road, and helped each other make a living doing what we loved. We each willingly supplied what we were good at and could offer into the mix, and we each enjoyed an equal share of the rewards.
When Jesus sent his apprentices out on their first supervised mission, he sent them two by two. In other words, each had a partner in the mission onto which Jesus sent them:
(Mark 6:7 MSG) Jesus called the Twelve to him, and sent them out in pairs. He gave them authority and power to deal with the evil opposition.
(Luke 10:1 NLT) The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit.
Although the following passage is most often applied to marriage, it certainly explains why Jesus would send his apprentices out in pairs:
(Ecclesiastes 4:9–10, 12 NKJV) Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. {10} For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. ... {12} Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Without doubt, “two are better than one.” With a partner, not only do you both supply complementing abilities for fulfilling the mission; but also you are safer, and you can provide mutual encouragement. Together, you can stay strong; and with God’s help, you are much more effective in prayer, ministry, faith projects, etc.:
