Jesus’s Disciples Had Partners
JESUS’S DISCIPLES HAD PARTNERS
(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 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 a 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 children, along with his strength, love, covering, and provision. They each bring different but complementing personalities, perspectives, skill sets, and functions.
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 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 etc.:
(Matthew 18:19 NKJV) “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.”
In the book of Acts, we see the apostles still operating with partners in ministry:
Peter and John:
(Acts 3:1 NKJV) Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
(Acts 8:14 NKJV) Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
Barnabas and Saul:
(Acts 13:2-3 NKJV) As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (3) Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
Paul and Silas:
(Acts 15:40-41 NKJV) But Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. (41) And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Whether you are aware of it or not, you need partners; you need partners of various types, duration, and proximity:
We need permanent partners, like marriage partners, to be with us throughout all of life’s journeys.
Project partners are also needed from time to time, like the partners Jesus appointed to each of his trainee apostles when he sent them on short-term missions. Like Barnabas and Saul, or Paul and Silas, we need certain partners on specific projects or missions, but who are not needed for the whole of our life and ministry.
Marriage partners, business partners, and project partners are in close proximity, walking side by side, and having regular personal interaction. These partners are good and necessary, and we all need them—even if some of them (except marriage partners) are by our side for short-term endeavors.
However, in ministry we see another level of partnership. Paul had partners in a remote location, with whom he didn’t have daily interaction, but who devoted themselves to providing into his ministry what he could not. Complimentarily, Paul provided something for them that they could not provide for themselves: gifted apostolic covering, grace for ministry, and his developed knowledge, faith, and prayer. Together, they partnered in a very powerful ministry for the Lord Jesus Christ; they mutually shared the costs, benefits, and rewards. Consequently, they were successful at publishing and spreading God’s word—his kingdom rule. We will look at this in detail in the next chapter.
Today, I encourage you to be fully aware of God’s plan for his people to form partnerships. This is so that together, they can help achieve his purposes—especially his vision to spread his authoritative word worldwide:
“Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” (Rom. 10:18 ESV)
(Psalm 68:11 WEB) The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
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