Faithful Friday : A Portrait of Andrew
by: Debbie Waltz
Although details about Andrew are scarce outside of John’s Gospel, he is recognized as the first individual called by Jesus. After following John the Baptist, Andrew was the first person to fully accept John’s assertion that Jesus was the “Son of God” and to act in obedience by relinquishing everything to follow Jesus. Even more, he shares the good news with his brother, Simon, and gets Simon to follow Jesus as well. From then on, Andrew faded into the background while his brother remained prominent. Andrew remained a fisherman, living with his family and brother in Capernaum, until he and Peter were summoned to become “fishers of men.” (Matthew 4: 18-20; Mark 1:16- 20, 29-33)
Despite being part of Jesus’s closest followers, it’s noteworthy that Andrew is only referenced three additional times throughout the Gospels. Andrew played a crucial role in many of these situations, acting as a go-between for individuals and Jesus. For instance, when Jesus fed the 5,000, Andrew brought forward the boy who offered his meager meal of five loaves and two fish, ensuring that no one listening to Jesus’ sermon would go hungry. (Matthew 14:13-21). In that one small act, Andrew facilitated a miracle without even knowing it. While others saw insufficient resources, Andrew knew what Jesus was capable of and only saw potential.
He was also instrumental in sharing the gospel with the Gentiles who had come to worship during the festival. (John 12:20 -22). By introducing them to Jesus, Andrew played a crucial role when Jesus began extending the Gospel beyond traditional Jewish boundaries. This hinted at the future spread of the gospel to non-Jewish people, a development that would hasten its dissemination following Jesus’ resurrection. Indeed, Jesus always planned for this, as prophesied in Genesis 12:3 and Genesis 22:18. Sometimes, the faith of these non-Jewish individuals even served to inspire others to return to their Jewish roots (Romans 11:11).
Although Andrew was among those who questioned Jesus on the Mount of Olives, he was also counted among the disciples gathered in the upper room, awaiting the Holy Spirit’s descent during Pentecost (Acts 1:12–14). Although Peter was designated as the public spokesperson to spread the Gospel, which is the foundational rock of Christianity, Andrew consistently acted as a quiet facilitator and instrument, always pointing the way to Jesus. Today, we still need both kinds of people to share the Gospel.