Andrew: The Disciple of Small Things
In my last post I talked about relational discipleship and some of Paul’s companions that partnered with him in ministry. Many of which are lesser known in the context of scripture, but nonetheless served to advanced the gospel.
Throughout Jesus’ time on earth he traveled around with twelve disciples. These are the twelve that he spent the majority of his three years in ministry with, the ones he taught and lived life with. Although there are twelve disciples many of us could only name half if not only a couple. Peter, James, and John are the ones we all recognize as the inner three and Peter especially as the leader of that group. We see Peter throughout the new testament, through good times and bad, denying Christ and preaching to 3000 people at Pentecost.
The other disciples… Who are they? What can we learn from them from scripture?
My favorite is Andrew. Andrew is special because although he is hardly mentioned, he is also among the inner three and most notably recognized as Peter’s brother. Living in the shadow of your brother is no easy task and one that takes a lot go humility. Andrew must have had a lot humility. We first see him mentioned in John 1:40. He is a follower of John the Baptist. He is learning and growing along with other disciples and when John points him to Jesus, to the Messiah, he immediately leaves and follows Jesus. Not only that, it says that he stayed with him the rest of the day. After that he runs home tells his brother Peter and brings Peter to Jesus to see for himself. That is amazing. Andrew hears, he follows, and then tells others.
Andrew hears, he follows, and then tells others
Andrew’s passion for bringing people to Jesus is astonishing here. He heard that Jesus was the Messiah and he wanted to know more and tell others.
This passage in John is contrasted with another disciple, Nathanael, who after he hears who Jesus was, questioned that thoughts based on where he was from and the culture of the area (v. 45). Andrew heard and immediately followed, but Nathanael hesitated at first. When we hear the good news of the gospel do we hesitate based on what that might look like in todays culture or do we live boldly and tell who Jesus is to the world around us.
When we hear the good news of the gospel do we hesitate based on what that might look like in todays culture?
The next place we see Andrew is in the feeding of the 5000 in John 6.
The problem here is there are over 5000 people who have been listening to Jesus teach all day and have had nothing to eat. Where is this food going to come from? From an earthly perspective Philip points out that there is no option for feeding them and they must be sent home to fend for themselves. Philip did the math, counted the cost and assessed the current resources they had and came to the conclusion that they had no other option.
Andrew on the other hand brings a boy with a small lunch to Jesus and offers it as a suggestion. What would that have looked like in front of the other disciples and especially Philip.
Didn’t Andrew see the crowd? Didn’t he just hear Philips assessment?
He must have known his idea had no chance to feed even a fraction of the crowd. This is why he must have added “but what are they for so many ?” (v. 9). We see that Philip showed no faith in this moment, but Andrew even with his doubt showed just a little faith. Jesus took that little faith and did amazing things with that little offering of food.
Today we can look at situations as impossible, and we may even have some doubts about it, but we can still trust God and present what we do have to him to be used for his glory.
Andrew may not have had an answer himself but his knack for seeing people and bringing them to Jesus is astonishing here. Look around and you may see someone who has a small gift that can be used by God to do amazing things for the kingdom.
