Monday, December 10, 2018

The Feast Day of Saint Andrew


Who first brought you to Jesus? 

We all have gotten to where we are because someone has helped bring us to this place in our lives. In many cases, there may have been many people who have helped us arrive to where we are in our lives today. 

We are often introduced to key people who play important roles in our lives by someone else who knows us and who is close to us. In other words, we often meet people who forever change the course of our lives through others. Usually we come to know these influential people, because someone took the time to make an important introduction. Can you think of a time when an important and impactful introduction has occurred in your life? 

An important and impactful introduction was the case with Andrew and his brother Simon Peter. In John’s Gospel we see Andrew coming to know Jesus. John 1:40-42 tells this story of Andrew introducing his brother Simon to Jesus. 

John’s Gospel says, “One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus.” (John 1:40-42, ESV). 

We do not know much about Andrew, but when we first see him in scripture, he is bringing the people closest to him to Jesus. 

Had Andrew not taken the time to introduce his brother Simon to Jesus, the course of the early church would have looked very differently. The life and ministry of Peter would have looked very differently, if he would have had a ministry at all. If Peter is not introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew, the course of the early church and Pentecost would look completely different (see Acts 2). And where would Simon be then? And what would the church look like? 

In light of the importance of Andrew in the gospel, and as you reflect, who are you bringing to Jesus? Like Andrew, is there someone close to us who we need to bring to Jesus? 

A Prayer of Saint Andrew, November 30

“Almighty God, who gave such grace to your apostle Andrew that he readily obeyed the call of your Son Jesus Christ, and brought his brother with him: Give us, who are called by your holy Word, grace to follow him without delay, and to bring those near to us into his gracious presence; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 237).