We all have character traits we have picked up from those we are around. Sometimes, it is intentional, and at other times, the familiarity causes us to act a certain way. Most of the time, we pick up the actions and attitudes of others without even noticing them. Almost like osmosis, it just filters through and becomes part of us. It is so important that we pay attention to those we are around. It is vital to watch and listen when you become part of a new group, maybe through employment, church, or marriage. There will be traits you want to have in your life, and there will be those you know are not best for you as a Christian. I believe Andrew was a man who paid attention. He didn’t just follow the pattern of those around him. Andrew was a follower of Jesus, and that was his pattern.
We first find Andrew following John the Baptist. He was seeking to find the Messiah. In John chapter 1, John had been preaching about Jesus. He sees Jesus approaching and declares, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Andrew was probably in the crowd the day before, listening to John preach about the coming of one whom John did not feel worthy even to tie His shoe. Andrew listens closely to John the Baptist. He was a follower of John the Baptist, and now John directs Andrew to Jesus. Verse 37 says there are two that follow Jesus. We are not told who the other person is, but it is probably John, the author of this gospel. It was common for him to conceal his name.
John 1:37 “And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.”
Upon finding the Messiah, there was no hesitation in following. As they followed Him, Jesus turned and asked them what they were seeking. They immediately identified Jesus as their Master. They called him Rabbi, which means Master or teacher. The title they gave him indicated they were coming to Him to be taught by Him. Andrew didn’t need convincing or time to do his own thing before he committed. In Jesus, he found what he sought and embraced it.
When he found Jesus, Andrew wanted to know where Jesus lived. He wanted to know everything he could about Jesus. When Jesus extended an invitation to come and see where He lived, there were no reservations to go with Jesus. Not only did he go, he stayed all day with Jesus. Many scholars believe they spent the evening, that night, and the next day with Jesus. The Jewish 10th hour would have made it 4:00 p.m. It would have been too late to start home, especially since some believe this could have been the day the Sabbath would have started. The Jews were not allowed to travel after sundown when the Sabbath started.
Andrew was a fisherman by trade, no doubt there were fish to be caught, but at that moment when he found the one he had been looking for, no amount of fish could pull him away. Can you imagine how he felt? As a Jewish boy, he would have heard about the coming Messiah. By the time he was a young man, he would have spent many hours in the temple listening to scripture that prophesied about the Messiah. Now, he listens and follows John to hear more about the coming Messiah. Finally, the day came when all his pursuits of the Messiah, all his teachings of the Messiah, would be fulfilled sitting at the feet of the Messiah.
John 1:38-39 “Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.”
After spending time with Jesus, Andrew knew he had to find his brother. After all, when you discover the best thing that could ever happen to you, you must tell someone! That is what Andrew did. He found Simon Peter, his brother. I have no clue exactly what happened at their meeting, but there are only two possibilities. I imagine Andrew being so excited that he went as fast as possible to find Peter. Upon finding him, he proceeded to tell him, with great excitement, “We have found the Messiah!” Peter probably questioned him and tried to downplay what his brother had experienced. However, thinking about Peter’s personality, I think he was perhaps “gong ho” to discover what Andrew was talking about.
John 1:40-42 “One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is interpreted as Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.”
Andrew brought his brother to Jesus. He could not wait to tell the ones he loved about Jesus. Note that Andrew spent time with Jesus; therefore, he had something to tell Peter. When he took Peter to Jesus, he was not taking him because he thought he had found the Messiah and wanted Peter to verify it. He knew Jesus was the Messiah. He had personal time with Jesus.
There is not as much written about Andrew as there is about Peter. However, I wonder if Andrew had not been obedient to follow, find, go, and tell about Jesus if Peter would have ever known the truth? Would Peter have remained a Jewish man who followed traditions and lived like a good Jewish man? There are some things we do know about Andrew. Andrew was with Jesus when the multitude was fed. He introduced some Greeks to Jesus with Philip. He was at the Last Supper with Jesus before the crucifixion. He was in the upper room when the Holy Spirit was given. Andrew was not the “out front” guy, but he was just as important as any others. Thousands were saved because of his desire to tell Peter about the Messiah. Thankfully, Andrew loved Christ and obeyed the command to go and tell.
We are all to be an Andrew. The last commandment that Jesus gave to those who follow Him was to go and tell. The very least any Christian can do is tell their story. If you have been saved, you should be able to tell someone else what happened to you. Determine to tell those who are your family about Jesus. When those have been told, branch out. Determine you will tell everyone that God gives you the opportunity to tell. Keep Christ first and foremost on your mind. Be an Andrew!
