012220 – Jn.1.29-42
Tonight I want to “take a crack” at a rather UNKNOWN DISCIPLE. ONE I have always FELT “sorry” FOR…
The first thing that can be said is that Andrew was Simon Peter’s YOUNGER BROTHER. It is not EASY – being a younger brother.
So I think of Andrew constantly growing up in his brother’s SHADOW.
That meant that Andrew was always second FIDDLE, second CHAIR, second BEST. The old BIG SHOT had all the lime-light.
When you think about it, Andrew was always in the SHADOW of his older brother.
He probably felt LEFT OUT a lot.
You may remember that Jesus had an “inner circle” of three disciples that were with Jesus for the MOST IMPORTANT TIMES in his ministry.
The “BIG THREE” disciples were Peter, James and John, and Andrew was not included in that list. Andrew was LEFT OUT. Andrew was NOT INCLUDED. Andrew was EXCLUDED. Where was Andrew on the Mount of TRANSFIGURATION?
Where was Andrew at the GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE? Andrew wasn’t there.
When you think about it, Andrew was always kind of “left out.” Including, pretty much in the scriptures seldom being mentioned.
Andrew was NOT SIMON, called CEPHAS, the ROCK, SIMON PETER…and later to be called, “The HEAD of the early Christian community- the Church!”
As a matter of fact, when it comes to names, there were HEBREW names and Greek names and even “pet names.”
We know nothing of Andrew’s Hebrew name. It is never even recorded.
Andrew in Greek means “brave.” Matthew was LEVI, Peter was SIMON, James and John were called the SONS OF THUNDER. But Andrew was just – well – Andrew, Peter’s younger brother…the kid.
As we heard THIS EVENING in the Gospel from JOHN’S GOSPEL…Andrew was originally a disciple of John THE BAPTIZER.
John the Baptizer was OUT THERE in the wilderness near the Jordan River, some 50 miles from the capital of Jerusalem, ON PURPOSE…He was almost a religious HERMIT; he was a SUPER STRICT Jew. No DANCING. No SMOKING. No WOMEN. No DRINKING. NO NOTHING.
Just a lot of prayer, meditation and studying from the SACRED SCROLLS… And a lot of REPENTANCE of your sins and WASHING in the river…So, was originally one of John’s followers.
Jesus had come out into the wilderness and had been BAPTIZED by John in the JORDAN.
John then later pointed TO Jesus, and said, “Andrew. There is THE ONE. Right THERE. I just baptized him. He is the LAMB of GOD and he will CHANGE the whole world.” Andrew was a little more than curious. He wanted to KNOW more.
So, Andrew approached Jesus and Jesus asked him a very simple question: “What ARE YOU looking for?”
Now, this WAS NOT just a casual question. In John’s gospel, everything has a DOUBLE MEANING and the question had this meaning…
“Andrew, what are you REALLY LOOKING FOR “in life?” Andrew, what do you REALLY WANT OUT “of life?” Andrew, what is THE CORE of what you NEED to make you a HAPPY, WHOLE, CONTENTED person? What ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?”
Andrew responded to that question with another question. “WHERE are you staying?” That question does not mean, “Are you staying at the MOTEL SIX, the HOLIDAY INN or at the RAMADA?” Again we need to look at the double meaning. “Where are you LIVING, Jesus? What LIVES INSIDE of you? What IS IT that gives you SUCH LIFE inside of you?” WHAT MAKES YOU TICK?
Jesus answered, “Come and see.” MEANING: “Come and see what you are REALLY looking for.”
Andrew spent the WHOLE DAY with Jesus. We don’t know WHAT was said, or DONE, but something happened. Something HUGE, LIFE ALTERING, life CHANGING… ANDREW became TRANSFORMED. Andrew became a disciple of JESUS…just like THAT. He was SOLD on him.
The very first thing the next morning, WHAT does Andrew DO? Andrew goes running to his older brother, the brother whose SHADOW he was ALWAYS IN.
JOHN says, and I quote, “Andrew BROUGHT Simon to Jesus.” What an awesome statement. Hear it again: “Andrew BROUGHT Simon TO Jesus.”
Andrew knew that if he BROUGHT his brother into the PRESENCE of Jesus, that his brother TOO, might be TRANSFORMED just the way he, had been transformed. AND as a result Simon gave his life to JESUS.
And it was all because of his YOUNGER brother, ANDREW! I think there is a story in there for us, as well.
GO AND DO LIKEWISE! Amen.