Have you ever met one of those people who seemed to always get things done, yet they were not seeking the limelight? They did not say much about what they did, but you could always tell where they had been. Andrew was this kind of disciple. He was a great disciple, but he is only mentioned 12 times in the Bible. Andrew was one of the first disciples to be called by Jesus.
Andrew was a Jew and had heard all of his life about the coming Messiah. He heard John the Baptist speak and began to follow him. Andrew was a seeker. He wanted to know all he could about the one that John was promoting. In John chapter 1, we find that Andrew was a disciple of John. In verse 36, John saw Jesus walking toward them as he taught his disciples. John looks and proclaims, “Behold the Lamb of God!” Because Andrew was teachable, he knew that John was introducing them to the Messiah. Andrew was a student, a learner, a seeker of Jesus. Andrew and another disciple left John and followed Jesus. This is precisely what John was preparing these men to do. He was teaching them to follow the Messiah. This is what all ministers of the gospel are to do. We are not to follow preachers, but they should be continually pointing us to Jesus. Many believers have been led astray because of pastors who sought personal fame.
John 1:35-37 “Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.”
We see next that Jesus turns and asks what these men are seeking. They call Him Rabbi, which means Master, and they ask where he was staying. They wanted to know where to go to learn more from Him. We learn in verse 40 that one of these men was Andrew.
John 1:38-40 “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. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.”
What is the first thing that Andrew did after he understood that Jesus was the one they had been waiting for? He goes and tells his brother Peter! Do not miss this beautiful truth that is being taught by the actions of Andrew. He had a concern for others’ spiritual well-being. He did not go home and think about it. He did not put it on his list of things to do; instead, he went and found his brother and brought him to Jesus. He starts at home, telling his brother he has found the Messiah. Because of Andrew’s zeal for Jesus and concern for others, Peter finds Jesus. Notice, he was not satisfied to tell Peter he brought him to Jesus.
John 1:41-42 “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the 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.”
In Matthew chapter 4, Jesus begins His public ministry. Now, He will begin calling and training men to be his disciples. These men will spread the truth of who He is and how they can inherit eternal life after He has gone back to Heaven. In Matthew 4:18-20, Jesus sees Andrew and Peter fishing, and He calls them to come and follow Him. They had already exhibited their desire to follow Jesus, but now it will be their profession to be with Jesus for the next 3 years. They will learn of Him so they can continue His ministry after He is gone. Andrew and Peter did not hesitate to give up their profession of fishing when Jesus called. They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
Matthew 4:18-20 “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”
What character traits do we need to replicate from Andrew? First, he is teachable. A person who is not teachable will not go very far in their Christian life. We are to be students of the word, daily gleaning all we can to help us be successful disciples of Jesus here today. Every day I read His word, and every day there is something the Holy Spirit teaches me that I had not paid attention to previously. A teachable person is not combative or argumentative. They are seeking to learn because they are humble enough to realize they don’t know it all!
Second, Andrew shows us that we are to be seekers. We must never stop looking for Jesus’ presence in all situations. He will open doors for us to share Him if we will pay attention. Do not miss an opportunity to speak up for Him because you were too focused on what you desire.
Third, Andrew immediately went to tell his brother. What was the first thing you did after you were saved? I remember well running to find my friend after I prayed to receive Christ. The church service was over, and people were coming to tell me how excited they were for me. She was almost at her car when I ran to talk to her. Andrew started where he was and continued to tell others, and so should we.
Fourth, we must be willing to change. Andrew’s occupation was catching and selling fish; however, when Jesus called, he gave up his occupation to follow Jesus. God may not call us to change jobs, but salvation should change our perspective on that job. As a Christian, our first obligation is to tell others about Jesus. We should be praying for coworkers. We must be concerned about their souls.
What do you need to change in your life as a believer in Jesus? Are you teachable? Are you continuing to seek Him by studying His word daily? Do you obey immediately without hesitation, and are you willing to change to reflect God’s glory in your life?
