LEARNING DAILY

John 1:40, One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter 's brother.

John MacArthur in his book on The Twelve Disciples broke the disciples into groups. Andrew joins Peter in that first group. I found doing a little research that Andrew is a Greek name, indicating the influence of the Greek culture in Israel. He was enthusiastic in following Jesus and introduced both his brother Peter and Philip to Jesus. Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist and heard him speak often of the coming of the Messiah. Andrew was with John the Baptist on a day that Jesus walked by; John pointed Jesus out as the Lamb of God. From that time, Andrew followed Jesus. The first person he introduced to Jesus was Peter. John 1:40 highlights Andrew’s importance as a key witness to Jesus and His ministry.

Andrew did not seek out public attention or any recognition; he was often in the background. He never seemed to have a problem with all the attention Peter received nor the commendation Peter got from Jesus. I do not know of anywhere in Scripture that anything negative is said about Andrew. MacArthur wrote, “Andrew’s name means ‘manly’…he was bold, decisive, and deliberate and nothing was feeble or extreme wimpish…he’s driven by a passion for truth, and he was willing to subject himself to the most extreme kinds of hardships in pursuit of that objective”.

Andrew would be best known for his work with individuals and never addressing large crowds. When Jesus fed the 5,000 plus, it was Andrew who spoke up and said there was a boy who had some fish and bread. Jesus took what the boy had, blessed and broke it, and fed all the people with it. Another time, found in John 12:21, there were Greeks at a feast; Philip went to Andrew to tell him about the Greeks because he knew Andrew would take them to Jesus. He did!

Pastor Ed Newton says quite often it is not only his responsibility to tell people about Jesus; it is the responsibility of each Believer. The most effective way to witness is for each Believer to tell another person about what Jesus Christ has done in their life – how He saved and changed him/her. Most people who come to Christ come as a result of the influence of another person. They watch to see if what he/she says matches the individual’s lifestyle.

MacArthur brings out that “Andrew is the very picture of the many people who labor quietly in humble places…the person who is willing to take second place…who does not mind being hidden as long as the work was being done, to be in the position of support. Jesus would say in Mark 9:35, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all”. That was Andrew. He never wrote a letter that became part of the Bible. He never preached to multitudes nor started a church.

Tradition has said it is possible Andrew took the gospel north into Russia or possibly Scotland. MacArthur wrote, “There is an account that Andrew led the wife of a provincial Roman governor to Christ, which infuriated the governor. She was asked to renounce Christ, which she would not do. For that Andrew was crucified on a X-shaped cross, tied to it rather than nailed. His death would take several days; as he hung there, he exhorted passersby to turn to Christ for salvation.”

Andrew’s life invites each Believer to think about personal evangelism and telling others how Jesus Christ has changed him/her can spread the gospel. His life is an encouragement to be active in bringing others to Jesus Christ.

“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). God uses insignificant people with insignificant gifts and abilities into somebody, to serve as He desires. Someday they will hear Him say, “Well Done”!