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The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. (John 1:35-39)
Dear Friend, may this be the start of a good Friday and weekend for you! I pray that you find what you are looking for today, as the question from the above passage is asked by Jesus to Andrew and his brother Simon. May the Lord say to us today and all days: "Come and see!"
He was called Protokletos by the early Church, meaning "first called." He was one who shared most things with his brother during their early years and when he found the Messiah, he told his brother about Him. We're talking about Andrew: The Man Who Introduced Others to Jesus. What an awesome way to be known! This is especially true if you're a pastor or layperson working in the church. He is also the Patron Saint of three different countries: Russia, Greece, and Scotland. He was also one constantly in the shadow of his brother, and many simply call him, "the brother of Simon Peter." His character reveals his graciousness, and his lack of resentment for that. He brought Peter to Jesus and Peter made it into the inner circle, and Andrew did not. He may not have gotten first place in much of anything, but he was the kind of person on whom every leader depends; a backbone of the Christian Church, and the salt of the earth.
Andrew was the disciple who found the boy with the fish and loaves and brought him to Jesus. Andrew liked to bring to Jesus anyone who could be of help to the Lord. Andrew was also the one who brought the Greeks to the Lord in John 12:20-22. We can sum up his life in these three ways: 1) Andrew was a selfless man. When he found in Jesus what his life needed, that set him up for ministry; for his thirst and hunger for righteousness was satisfied in our Lord. 2) Andrew was an optimistic man, for having a hungry crowd of 5,000 and he finds a boy with two fish and five loaves; he knew Jesus could use even what seemed like too little. 3) Andrew was a man who thought universally; bringing Gentiles to Jesus shows that Andrew saw the potential of the Gospel to reach all people, not just Jews. An old article calls Andrew the "first home missionary, for bringing Peter and the lad to Jesus; and the first foreign missionary when he brought Greeks to Jesus."
Andrew preached in many lands, even among barbarous people, such as the Scythians, whom he brought to the Lord. It is believed Andrew died in Greece, for all things, healing and saving the wife and brother of the governor of Patras. He was condemned to die by being tied to a cross, left to die by hunger and thirst and exposure. It is believed he asked to die on a X type of cross for he was not worthy to die as his Lord still known as St. Andrew's cross. His prayer before dying says, "Hail, precious cross! Thou hast been consecrated by the body of my Lord, and adorned with His limbs as rich jewels. I come to thee exulting and glad. Receive me with joy into thy arms. O good cross, thou hast received beauty from our Lord's limbs. I have ardently loved thee. Long have I desired and sought thee. Now thou art found by me, and art made ready for my longing soul. Receive me into thine arms; take me up from among men, and present me to my Master, that He who redeemed me on thee may receive me by thee." For the Scots, Andrew's coffin was brought by Constantine to Constantinople and a monk, guided by a dream took three fingers of Andrew's right hand, an armband, one tooth, and a knee cap and to travel to the west with them. There the monk settled and became the first bishop of St. Andrews. King Hungus of the Picts on the eve of a battle with the English was told he would be victorious the next day. As as promised, the sky was brilliant with the X-cross straight above the Picts and the English were defeated. The cross of St. Andrew on a blue background became the standard of Scotland.
Dear one, oh to live and die as a missionary of Christ!
PRAYER: Loving God, grant me the strength and spirit of Andrew to serve You above all things and all people. Anoint and appoint me as a missionary to all people. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! The first step to becoming a missionary is to get up.
Eradio Valverde
