When people in church circles say that someone has a “great ministry,” they usually mean that the person is well known for their authority and influence — someone like Mother Teresa, Billy Graham, John Wesley, and others. Yet a huge part of the “great ministry” in God’s Kingdom has actually been carried out by far less famous saints down the centuries — people who resembled not so much Peter as Andrew. Andrew was not a man who loved to stand in the spotlight. He did not put himself forward much in public, and he did not like to become the center of attention. He preferred to remain in the background. And yet he was very effective at seeking out people and building bridges between them. He did not teach people directly; he led them to Jesus so that they could hear His teaching.
A great musician was once asked which is the hardest instrument to play. He thought for a moment and then answered: “The second violin. I can find plenty of musicians who want to play first violin in the orchestra, but to find someone who could and would play second violin with enthusiasm — that is the problem. And if we have no second violin, then we have no harmony.”
ANDREW THE FIRST-CALLED
The Lord Jesus loved Andrew in a special way. He was the first disciple whom Christ called to be an apostle, which is why he is often called Andrew the First-Called. Andrew was the one who brought his brother Peter to Jesus. Even though Andrew was Christ’s first disciple, it was Peter who became the most famous, while Andrew seems to have remained forever in the background. Great attention is paid to Peter’s words and deeds, while Andrew’s accomplishments are barely mentioned. And yet we must not forget that if Andrew had not brought Peter to Jesus, Peter might never have become an apostle. So Andrew and people like him are extremely important to the church — in fact, they are its very backbone. Andrews — servants willing to stay in the shadows — are especially needed by the church even today.
When we first meet Andrew on the pages of Holy Scripture, he is still a disciple of John the Baptist (John 1:29–40).
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” 35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. (John 1:29–40)
The other was John, the author of this Gospel. John and Andrew were both followers of John the Baptist. In fact, it was John the Baptist who pointed Jesus out to Andrew, telling him that this was the promised Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world. So Andrew took his next step in his search for God — he left John the Baptist and began to follow Jesus.
You see, while Andrew was learning new things about God from John the Baptist, Peter was still out fishing; while Andrew was searching for answers to spiritual questions, Peter was still catching fish. But once Andrew had learned who the Messiah was, he went and sought out his brother in order to share the good news with him (John 1:41–42).
41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter). (John 1:41–42)
As a good follower of John the Baptist, Andrew was one of Jesus’ first chosen ones. It seems Jesus took into account the fact that good followers in time become good leaders. One of the qualities of a good leader is devotion. Andrew was not shallow or fickle. When he followed John, he gave himself over to that following completely. When John pointed out Jesus to him, Andrew followed Him with the same faithfulness and devotion. Jesus must have been moved by his remarkable devotion and his example of dedication. When Andrew knew the truth, he followed it.
Instead of boasting about the fact that he, Andrew, was the first apostle whom Jesus had called, or rubbing that small but very important detail in his brother’s face and in the faces of the others, Andrew seemed happy simply to have the chance to be part of the group of disciples. For him, position was of no great importance. The first thing he did after meeting the Messiah was to go and find his brother in order to share with him the joy of his discovery.
As a brother, Andrew was certainly quite different from the first brother we meet in the Bible — Cain. God’s favor toward Abel stirred up jealousy and anger in Cain, who killed his brother. How different from them were Andrew and Peter. Jesus’ favor toward Andrew inspired him to go, find his brother, and bring him to Jesus. Andrew thought first of his brother, not of himself. His desire to place his brother ahead of himself, rather than getting lost in self-congratulation over being Christ’s first disciple, reveals his unselfish and devoted nature.
In this respect Andrew truly became the first missionary in the New Testament. He is the first who set out in the name of Jesus to lead people to Him. He had no intention of reminding Peter that, although Peter might become a disciple of Jesus, he still remained second. Later Peter emerged as one of the three closest disciples of Jesus, while Andrew remained outside that circle. But we are never told that he was irritated or upset by this. All that Andrew cared about was the ministry, no matter what position or prestige it might bring him. What a great leader Andrew was, what a big heart he had! His devoted, servant-hearted attitude reflects the goodness of a character that glorifies God.
THE EYE OF FAITH
Our next impression of Andrew comes from a very well-known event — the feeding of the five thousand (John 6:1–15).
1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near. 5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. 12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. (John 6:1–15)
Jesus had been preaching for quite a while — but it was not tiresome, because He was the perfect preacher and the people had come from far away, across difficult terrain, in order to hear Him. It was already getting late. Jesus decided to feed the whole crowd, and He put a question to Philip that had a ready-made answer — “Impossible!” Jesus asked, “Where can we buy bread for all these people?”
It seems that Philip and Andrew were friends. (They are together again in the next story about Andrew.) Philip, the practical one in the group, gives a rather well-reasoned answer: “Eight months’ wages (two hundred denarii) would not be enough to buy enough bread for everyone to take just one bite.” (v.7). In other words, it was impossible. At that moment Andrew appears on the scene doing what he had done before — finding someone to bring to Jesus. In this case it was a little boy whose mother had not sent him off on his journey without a lunch. Even though he has found some partial solution to the problem, Andrew acknowledges its inadequacy with the words: “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” (v.9).
Still, Andrew at least has enough faith to look for some kind of answer, even though the amount of food he finds is laughably small compared to the need. Poor boy — everyone was talking about how to take his lunch. Did anyone ask him whether he agreed to give it up? In my opinion this little boy is the hero of the whole situation (after Jesus, of course). What is unique about him is that he does not protest at all against the adults’ wish to take his lunch and hand it out to five thousand men. With his childlike faith he simply gives what he has, believing that Jesus can multiply it and make it enough for everyone. In this case, again, Andrew finds the boy, but then it is the boy who emerges as the hero of the whole situation, not Andrew. Here again Andrew plays a supporting, not a leading, role.
Andrew was used to find a solution, even though he could not see how it would work. Unlike Philip, who gave up looking for any solution at all, Andrew found one tiny beginning that would prove to be enough in the hands of Jesus. As before, so now, Andrew was seeking to bring someone or something to Jesus. And Jesus always made use of whomever Andrew brought to Him.
Jesus had the people sit down on the ground. He took the five loaves and two fish that the little boy had given Him, blessed them, and asked His disciples to begin handing out the food and so to begin serving the people. There is a very good lesson in this. Jesus has the “members of the spiritual council” give the little that they have, trusting that if it is used for ministry for God’s glory, it will be multiplied to meet the whole need. There will always seem to be Philips who say, “There’s no way!” but we hope there will also be Andrews who say, “Here we have something. It may be small, but let’s bring it before the Lord anyway and see what He can do with it…”
Not only was what Andrew brought to Jesus enough, but there was even a surplus. And Jesus commanded His disciples to gather up the leftover food (v.12). And it is interesting that the baskets of pieces that were collected numbered exactly twelve. It is as though Jesus wanted each of them to carry away something tangible that would remind him even in the future of the miracle of God’s provision.
Praise God that Andrew found a boy who had something and brought him to Jesus. Andrew looked for an answer, even though at first that answer seemed inadequate. May God give us men and women like Andrew, who, when they collide with the impossible, at least look for some solution, instead of, like Philip, immediately starting to complain that there is no way the problem can be solved. True faith always finds some expression, even if it is in something quite small.
BUILDING BRIDGES FOR RELATIONSHIP
In John 12:20–22 we meet Andrew and Philip once again, this time at the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. (John 12:20–22)
Philip continues to be the same practical man he has been all along. When several Greek worshipers ask him whether they might see Jesus, he is unsure how to answer them. After all, they are not Jews, so it is hardly appropriate for them to meet with Jesus. So Philip turns first to Andrew and asks him what they should do in this situation.
Perhaps the Greeks sought out Philip because his name is Greek and he is from Bethsaida. But even so, an unusual situation arises, because the people are Greeks. As a rule the Greeks reject Judaism, so should these Greeks be allowed to trouble the busy Jesus? Andrew will surely know what should be done. And indeed, Andrew is still that same Andrew who leads people to Jesus. But this time he does not come to Jesus alone; he takes Philip along with him. This is what Andrew can do best — lead people to Jesus, connect them with Him. Despite Philip’s hesitation, Andrew is sensitive enough not to cut off at once these Greeks who are showing an interest in Jesus.
Judging by the statement Jesus makes in 12:23–29, He is speaking as though before Gentiles. And that can only mean one thing — Andrew brought the Greeks to Jesus, exactly as we would expect of him.
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. (John 12:23–30)
Andrew’s ministry was always a ministry of mediation, of going in the name of Jesus, of bringing people to Him. He did not fill the role of his more famous brother Peter — that of the great preacher or leader. He was simply, so to speak, a “man of the people” who led others to Jesus. At no point did Andrew show any sign of envy or jealousy toward his more famous brother, even though to a certain degree he was overshadowed by him, and even though Peter became a disciple of Jesus after him. Before He called some great preachers, Jesus called the ordinary folk. Andrew was the kind of follower who is ready to obey even when he does not understand exactly what is happening or why this or that must be done. Whatever happened, Andrew went on being faithful — and is that not precisely the mark of a great leader?
FAITHFUL EVEN WHEN HE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND
A king needed a faithful servant and had to choose between two men in his palace. He devised a plan that would reveal which of the two was the more worthy to hold the responsible office. He hired them both temporarily, on a trial basis, gave them the same wage, and set them the task of going and bailing the water out of a well by pouring it into a woven basket. He told them he would return that evening to see how their work was going. After pouring two buckets of water into the basket, one of the servants stated the obvious: “This is absurd. We pour the water into this basket, and it simply cannot hold it. All of this is nothing but a waste of time and energy. The water just runs out through the gaps in the basket.” The other servant, however, kept on with this seemingly pointless work of drawing water from the well and pouring it into the basket, only for it to seep through the gaps and run out onto the ground. The disgusted servant finally asked him: “Do you intend to keep on doing this?” The other servant calmly answered: “Yes — what is bothering you? We are earning good wages from this work, aren’t we? The point of what we are doing is our master’s business, not ours.” The other servant replied: “Well, I’m not going to do such foolish work,” and he threw his bucket to the ground and walked away.
The diligent servant kept on with his “useless” work until sunset, when their master finally returned. Just as the king was approaching the worker, he was drawing up one of the last buckets of water that remained in the now-empty well. At that very moment he noticed that something was glittering at the bottom of the well. It turned out to be a huge ring with a diamond. In a flash it dawned on him why his master had given him this seemingly useless work… If the ring fell into the bucket they were drawing with, the basket would strain the water and hold the ring back; and if that did not happen, the well would soon be emptied anyway and would reveal the treasure it was hiding. The point is that the work the king had assigned them was not pointless at all. The faithfulness of the devoted servant, who kept working even though the work seemed at first glance foolish, was generously rewarded by his master, who gave him a place of honor in his palace and a good wage. By contrast, the other servant, who instead of carrying out his assigned task only philosophized, lost everything — both what he had and what he could have had.
THE CHURCH TODAY NEEDS “ANDREWS” — WILL YOU BE ONE OF THEM?
Can you guess what the name “Andrew” means? I know, because one of my sons is named Andrew. Translated literally, this name means “manly.” Andrew is the hidden strength among the disciples. Although he is not always out front, he is the “cement” of the group, the “bridge” between Jesus and the others.
And today God continues to give “Andrews” to the church. We still need people who do not see how impossible a given thing is, but who under any circumstances can find a way to connect perishing human beings with Jesus. Even when there is no road, they will make one, so that they can carry out their mission. We need Andrews who will look for ways to lead people to Jesus. May God make us like Andrew, who always found a way to bring someone to Jesus, no matter what was happening at the moment.
Andrew was definitely not the most popular of Jesus’ disciples, nor the most prominent teacher among them. He never made it into Jesus’ inner circle, in which Peter took part, but without Andrew, Peter would not have existed as an apostle at all. Andrew is the very man who, again and again, appears in difficult situations and resolves the problems of those who need Jesus, simply by bringing them to Him.
Andrew’s gift was that of the supporting role, of the “second violin.” He was the helper in the group of the twelve, acting as a bridge among them. He connected his brother Peter with Jesus and remained in the background while Peter became more prominent than he. Andrew led people to Jesus. While the others spoke with their words, he set an example with his deeds. The church today still needs such “ordinary people” — those who can speak with their actions, not only with their words, those who know how to bring others to Jesus. Will you too be an “Andrew”?