The Apostle Andrew
The name “Andrew” means “manly, manhood” or “valor” and since God often ascribes meaning to names, this man must have been a manly man. That is, he was likely a strong man both in will and physical stature. Andrew, like his brother Peter, was a fisherman by trade, meaning that he was an outdoorsman and must have been very physically fit. He was exposed to the conditions and had learned a trade that was also physically demanding. We read of Andrew and Peter’s calling in Matthew 4:18-22 “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”
Andrew was apparently a disciple of John the Baptist before he was a disciple of Jesus. We read of an encounter between Andrew, John and Jesus in John 1:40-42 “Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.” What I like about Andrew’s nature was that he was always bringing people to Christ. Perhaps he had been doing the same thing for John the Baptist. It wouldn’t be surprising if he did given the fact that he was bringing others to Jesus. Maybe that’s because Andrew immediately recognized Jesus as the fulfillment of the long-prophesied Messiah (John 1:41). Andrew and Philipp once even brought some Greeks to meet Jesus (John 12:22) so the thing that impresses me most about Andrew is that he forsook everything and everyone to follow Jesus and then was determined to bring others to Christ. How much am I like that or how far do I fall short of that willingness to forsake all and bring others to Christ?
If Andrew’s life is an example to us, let it be that like he did, we need to be bringing people to Christ and to go into all the world, even if it’s our next door neighbor. He forsook everything to follow Christ, including his family, his job security, and even his nation at the latter part of his life. How often have we told others, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ)” (John 1:42)? Speaking for myself, I can say, surely not enough times.
Matthew 4:18-22
18
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.
19
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20
And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
21
And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
22
And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
John 1:40-42
40
One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
41
He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
42
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.
Closing prayer; O Christ, our Lord, Who didst beautify the most blessed Andrew with the grace of apostleship, and the crown of martyrdom, by granting to him this special gift, that by preaching the mystery of the cross, he should merit death on the cross; grant us to become most true lovers of Thy holy cross, and denying ourselves, to take up our cross and follow Thee; that by sharing Thy sufferings in this life, we may deserve the happiness of obtaining life everlasting. Amen.
For those who wish to become a child of Our Heavenly Father or wish to be stronger in his eyes, please say the following prayer below.
Dear Heavenly Father, I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died for my sin and that you raised Him to life. I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord, from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.”
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