The School Of Andrew

THE SCHOOL OF ANDREW

"35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).

40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone)." John 1:35-42.

In Greek Andrew means 'manly' or "courageous". He was one of the twelve disciples and apostles of the Lord Jesus; also the brother of Simon Peter. Andrew was first a disciple of John the Baptist when he encountered and decided to follow Jesus. He was a man of strong conviction; not only did he accepted Jesus as the Messiah, but he introduced Peter as well to Him. Andrew convinced and encouraged Peter to become Christ's disciple.

He was Jesus' first convert and disciple. Yet the writers of the Scriptures wrote very little about him and his evangelistic journey. Despite his seemingly important role as the first follower of our Lord Jesus, Andrew is only mentioned a few times in the New Testament, but on each of those occasions we see him introducing others to Jesus. It was Andrew who sought and brought the boy with the loaves and fishes to Jesus before the feeding of the five thousands. John 6:8-9. But Matthew, Mark, and Luke didn’t think that was important enough to get a mention. Only John recorded the role he played. A second instance is when he and the other key disciples (Peter, James and John) questioned Jesus about His statement that the stones of the temple will be pulled down. Mark 13:1-4. In another time, Andrew served as a bridge between Jewish and Gentile followers of Jesus. John 12:23-24. According to the account of John, after Jesus entered Jerusalem, just before the Passover, some Greeks who believe in God approach Philip and asked to see Jesus. Philip brought them to Andrew. Once again it was Andrew who brought them to the Lord. It is quite likely he spoke both Aramaic and Greek. Finally, like most of the other apostles, Andrew abandoned Jesus after he was arrested. But he returned, and was with the other disciples in the Upper room after the Lord Jesus ascended to heaven. Acts 1:12-13.

Like the other apostles, Andrew fulfilled his ministry. Though he was not as popular and conspicuous as the others, Andrew laboured quietly and with deep commitment. He was more concerned with serving God than building his reputation. Even, when Luke describes Peter, James, and John as pillars of the church, Andrew goes unrecognised despite being the first apostle. There were times when some of the apostles would argue over who would be the greatest, but he was not involved in these dispute. Andrew never lobbied position, press for a prominent place of honour beside the three major apostles, or engaged in church politics. He laboured quietly, preaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus and was not a people pleaser. Ephesians 6:6; Colossians 3:22.

While the Bible doesn’t record much of Andrew’s personal ministry activities, historians, scholars and tradition believes he brought the gospel to various countries. It is believed that he later on travelled to the ancient city of Byzantium where he established a church. Modern Scottish tradition believes that Andrew preached to their ancestors. Though there is no account of his death in the New Testament, it is believes he was first stoned then crucified around 60 AD at Patras in Achaea on an X-shaped cross. Like his brother, Simon Peter, he allegedly didn’t consider himself worthy to die in the same way as the Lord Jesus. Tradition says he continued to preach until his last breath. Today, if you look closely at the flag of Scotland, you will see the X-shaped cross. This is a memory to the man, who though was the first disciple of Jesus, yet served God committedly in obscurity.

SOUL WINNING: THE HEARTBEAT OF GOD

Like his brother Simon Peter, Andrew was initially a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee. But they later became fishers of men. Do you have loved ones who are not saved? Are you doing something to bring them to the Lord? Andrew was a soul winner! To be in the school of Andrew is to be a soul winner. Its to share the Gospel, even in obscurity. Are you comfortable with the spiritual state of those close to you? What are you doing to bring them to Christ? There are many Peters around us who are waiting to be found and led to the Lord. Will you be their Andrew? Andrew formed a bridge between the Messiah and his brother. He led Peter to the Jesus. Where would Simon Peter have been if it had not been for Andrew’s personal effort and evangelism?