Do You Underestimate the Power of an Andrew?
Good Morning Friends,
Today is the feast day of Saint Andrew and those of the Roman Catholic faith and those from countries that are blessed to have him as a patron saint are celebrating. Well some are for he was never as highly regarded as a Peter, James or John. Maybe it pays to have a good publicist but frankly I have always liked the Apostle Andrew. He demonstrates the power of small things done with great love. He exemplifies the meaning of being a fisher of men and the influence of connecting people and purpose. He may not have been the greatest of the disciples, but he sure could influence someone else to come to Christ. Andrew did that in a big way. Andrew introduced Peter to Jesus. Andrew introduced a little boy with some loaves and fish to Jesus. The effect of these two events boggles the mind. The beauty is that Andrew shows no interest in being great. He wrote no book that is given his name. Still, Do You Underestimate the Power of an Andrew?
Scripture: As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Matthew 4:18-22 (NRSV)
But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ But not all have obeyed the good news; for Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our message?’ So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for ‘Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.’
Romans 10:8b-18 (NRSV)
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets.
John 6:1-13 (NRSV)
Message: Andrew never wrote a gospel or an epistle and never had one addressed to him. He never did anything ‘outstanding’, save the fact that Andrew was one of the first to recognize Jesus as the Promised One. Andrew was an early adopter of those who believed in Jesus as the Messiah and somehow knew that the first would be last when worldly accolades were being passed out. Andrew is notable because he responded to Jesus’ call to follow him and become a fisher of men instead of a catcher of fish. Without Andrew there may have never been a great Simon Peter, who preached the first Christian sermon at Pentecost which influenced thousands and then in turn these thousands influenced hundreds of thousands and eventually millions and the whole world. The beauty is that Andrew is a good role model and example for all believers. Andrew was not scared to have second place. He was not afraid to quietly use the influence of his family. As a matter of fact, he was comfortable with second place. Still I wonder what he thought when his brothers and others fought over who would be greatest. Tradition does not answer all the questions but it does say that Andrew went into Asia Minor and ministered there in remote areas, until he died on a cross. Many believe that Andrew while he hung for two days waiting to die, preached all the while, trying to bring more people to Jesus. The details of Andrew’s life it is much like the story of the loaves and the fishes. We are left with questions. The Bible does not tell us what happened to the 12 baskets left over, nothing tells us what happened to the 5000 who were fed. What we are left with is only the reality that when we put our limited resources into Jesus’ hands, a little can go a long way. We are left with the hope that nothing we do for Jesus will be lost. That my friends is what Andrew was about.
Pray we like Andrew be a seeker of the truth. Pray we too become convinced that Jesus is the Lamb of God. Pray we too find joy and peace in Jesus. Pray we begin to tell others. Pray we know that little is much when God is in it. Pray we do not labor for wealth or gain. Pray we understand the power of introducing others to Jesus. Pray we be a catalyst to the miracle of multiplication. Pray we have Jesus’ name, not only on our lips but in our hearts. Pray we know Jesus, not only in word but in deed. Pray we too become as an Andrew for Jesus.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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