If there was ever a person who had a reason to be frustrated about being known as “the brother of… it was one of Jesus’s disciples named Andrew. Think about this: Peter is mentioned just about 240 times while Andrew is mentioned about 12 times. That could make some people a little jealous, even bitter. But not Andrew. God had an amazing plan for Peter: things like walk on water with Jesus, preach on the Day of Pentecost where over 3,000 people make a profession of faith in Christ, write two books of the New Testament, and a whole lot more. When the list of apostles is given in the bible Peter is always at the top with Andrew being listed second, even fourth one time.
Andrew’s life doesn’t appear to be quite so dramatic as his brother Peter. But as we look at the life of Andrew we discover something pretty unique about his ministry and mission. Andrew is always bringing someone to Jesus. We see this for the first time in the Book of John chapter 1, verse 40-41.
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his brother, Simon (Peter), and told him, “We have found the Messiah”.
John 1:40-41
That’s the way it should be. When you discover that Jesus is the Savior and the joy of knowing Him, you want to tell others, especially those closest to you, like family and friends. Before Peter can reach the multitudes for Jesus there had to be someone who told him. Before Billy Graham could preach to millions there had to be someone who told him about Jesus. I don’t know his name but God does and we can be thankful for that person who told Billy Graham that Jesus was the Savior of the world.
The next time we see Andrew is also in the Book of John. Jesus has just finished preaching to thousands of people (the bible says there were over 5,000 men not counting women and children). It was a large crowd of people and it was late in the day when people were tired and hungry. There were not fast food places available then, so how could these people be fed? Well you’ve probably heard the story of Jesus feeding this multitude with only “five barley loaves of bread and two small fish.” Andrew was a part of Jesus’ solution.
One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish…”
John 6:8-9
This is the second time we see Andrew bring someone to Jesus. I think we are starting to see a pattern in Andrew’s life.
The third time we see Andrew is in the Book of John Chapter 12, verses 20-22.
Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
John 12:20-22
Some non-Jewish people had heard about Jesus and wished to speak with him. At this point in Jesus’ ministry some of the disciples may have turned them away but not Andrew. He knew that they needed to see Jesus and set it up.
What a great legacy Andrew left – he was all about bringing people to Jesus – family, children, foreigners, it made no difference because he knew the vitally important truth – that people need to know Jesus – The Savior of the World.
Your name may not be at the top of the list but if you have trusted Jesus as your Savior, He wants you and I to do as “Andrew, Peter’s brother” did. He wants us to bring people to him
“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.”
Mark 16:15
Ask God to help you be faithful like Andrew and tell someone about Jesus this week.
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