Hope Now: 27 Days to Peace, Healing, and Justiceਨਮੂਨਾ

Hope and the community of Jesus

Jesus sent teams of two into the harvest. Teams were sent in addition to the original 12 disciples. Why teams? Why two by two? He could have sent his followers to 72 locations, but narrowed his scope in half and only sent them to 36 places in teams of two.

Charles Swindoll recalls his training in the United States Marine Corps when reflecting on this verse.

He says, “We were taught in the Marines that when you dig a foxhole before a battle, always dig it big enough for two men. Two men fighting in the trenches strengthen and encourage each other.”

Throughout the Bible, there are many examples of pairs: Moses and Aaron, Joshua and Caleb, Naomi and Ruth, and Adam and Eve.

There are many benefits to teams of two. In the beginning when God created Adam, he said it’s not good for man to be alone. Adam and Eve were the first team, the first two-by-two team in all creation. Yet, this isn’t the first example of community in the biblical record.

When the biblical writer recorded the first sentences of human history, God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness” (Gen. 1:26 NIV). In God, the Creator, is expressed a plurality of persons. In the beginning there was one God in three persons: Father, Son and Spirit.

People need community too. We need each other. In those relationships and circles, we can find support, community and hope for the most difficult moments in life. The basis of our hope is found in the community of the redeemed, a redeemed community on mission and life in the community of the King.

But I don’t believe just any ordinary community will do. What kind of community satisfies the deepest needs of our souls?

Questions for Reflection:

• Have you ever been on a team?
• What did you learn from being on a team of two or more?