“One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which translated means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter).” (John 1:40-42)
When you find Jesus, and you realize He fulfills all your heart has been longing for, as Andrew did, then you cannot wait to find others who you want to also hear this news. You begin to seek those who need to know Jesus or grow in their relationship to Jesus. This is part of being a disciple-making disciple. And the good news is that you do not have to look far.
In fact, it may be just like Andrew, you do not have to look any further than in your own family. When Andrew heard the testimony about Jesus, “he found first his own brother.” What I like about this statement is first, Andrew found his brother. His first instinct was to tell someone who was very close to him. Someone immediately accessible, and someone he already had a close relationship with. The summer I got saved, I had this good friend that I saw almost every day that was not a believer. I remember my early and awkward attempts to tell him about Jesus. He did not get saved, and I do not know where he is today, but I was so compelled to tell the person closest to me.
The second thing I like about this account of Andrew and Peter is that it says, “he found first…” This indicates that Andrew did not stop telling people about Jesus. He search for others to follow Jesus was not over. It began close to home, but it did not stop there. You find Andrew brining people to Jesus multiple times. In John 6, when the crowd had spent the day with Jesus and was hungry. Andrew brought the boy who had a basket of fish and bread. In John 12, some Greeks went to Philip asking to see Jesus. He went to Andrew, and together they brought the Greek seekers to Jesus.
This is discipleship. Andrew was not Peter, who was bold, loud, outgoing, and a charismatic public speaker. Andrew was investing in people one or a few at a time. He was loyal, attentive, possibly a bit introverted. But he was interested in people finding Jesus. Regardless of how God has crafted your personality and regardless of how the Spirit has gifted you, you can help others follow Jesus. Be willing to look at those who are closest to you first, and then just stay ready to see opportunities around you. Andrew saw a ministry opportunity in the boy with the fish and brought him. Andrew was available with the Spirit was drawing some Greeks and brought them. You do not have to look far. Just be open and ready to be used.
By His Grace and For His Glory,
Pastor Mark
