We learned last time that Andrew, along with John, were the first to begin following Jesus.

The next thing that Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is the Christ). John 1:41

Isn’t that like a true disciple?

Jesus gathered many more followers, generic “disciples” you might say, but a time came when he must choose some who would stay with him, follow him full time. Luke gives us the list with some added information before Jesus chose the twelve.

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and choose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon sho was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. Luke 6:12-16

That is the list of the 12 chosen ones.

The only other  recorded words spoken by Andrew come at the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus had been teaching and healing people in this huge crowd for some time that day. Then a big question popped up in their minds. All these people are getting hungry, but how could this many people find food? The disciples discussed the possibilities in vain and were then totally befuddled with Jesus’ suggestion that they feed the people.

Evidently, Andrew had been asking some of the people if they had any food. It wasn’t much, but Andrew reported what he had found.

Andrew spoke up. “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Ah, but it’s a start and immediately, Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.”  John 6:8-11

Sometimes instead of fretting and thinking impossible, Jesus wants us discover even a little thing, a start. (Oh my, that could be a whole ‘nother blog!)

So that’s basically what we know from the Bible about Andrew, but keep in mind whenever Scripture says the “disciples” did, or went, or reacted, Andrew was one of them.

After years of ministry, tradition says that Andrew was eventually crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers, they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led to the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: “I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it…” He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he expired.

Thank you, Andrew, for persevering to the end.

~ Joyce ~