Andrew: John 1. 29-42

John tells the “Jesus story” a bit differently. He was, I believe, familiar with Mark's Gospel, and decided to write something fresh that tells the same story – the story of the same Jesus – but from a slightly different perspective by selecting different incidents. I don't believe he altered the story or twisted the facts. He simply selected a bunch of different material, and presents it in a different way. Mark takes us on the same journey as the disciples, and lets the reader figure out who Jesus. is as the disciples do. John starts with who Jesus. is, and then tells the story. We can see some of that in the way John tells the story of Andrew....

Preparation

Andrew is well prepared by the one who came to prepare the way, John the Baptist. John's account of John the Baptist is very much in harmony with Luke's. The Baptiser's was 'the voice of one crying in the wilderness, “prepare the way of the Lord!”' He knows he is not worthy even to untie Jesus' shoes (v. 26). He described Jesus as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” as the one who baptises in the Holy Spirit, and as the “Son of God.” And Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist; maybe not full-time, but he was one who appreciated John's style and was challenged and inspired by his preaching. So, Andrew was up for the idea of Messiah coming. In many ways, Andrew had good qualities, strengths, that he may have learned from John the Baptist.

When John the Baptist says to these two of his disciples, “Look, there is the Lamb of God” he is deliberately releasing them, inviting them to find out about Jesus. He is in effect handing over some of his best team-members, to the new guy – to Jesus.

And Andrew is up for change: whatever that change might be. John's gospel emphasises the change from following John the Baptist, to following Jesus. Andrew feels the need to leave John's group and attach himself to Jesus' group. Later on, as Mark tells us, Andrew will experience another change – as he leaves his fishing-boat to follow Jesus. He is prepared for costly and painful change. And there is an inner change, a change in his religious experience: He makes a move from anticipation to fulfilment, from expectation to realisation. From preparation to participation in the Kingdom of god. What he has been prepared for, he has now to encounter. The Kingdom of God is here.

Encounter

Andrew is curious. This “Lamb of God” guy, Jesus: what is he like? Where does he live? In a palace or a one-room shack? What does he believe in? There is all that to find out. So he and the other disciple who is with him (possibly John himself) start to follow Jesus, literally tailing him. John is well aware that “following” in Greek as in English has overtones of being a “disciple” as well as a literal meaning: and he – as he often does – intends us to see both meanings at once.

Jesus notices two big young fishermen following him, so he turns around, and asks them what they want. If you sense that two burly guys are following you, what do you do. Speed up and hope to shake them off? Change plans and go to meet a friend for back-up? Jesus turns and looks the fishermen in the eye. Too many of us and in the habit of sidestepping difficult situations. How much easier life would be if we were prepared to look people in the eye. And again, it's a good disciple-making question: “What exactly do you want, not just trailing me but out of life in general?”

“Well, for a start, where do you live, Jesus”. It's a double-sided question again. “Show us where you live. What neighbourhood? A shack or a palace? Where will we find you if we want to talk to you.” But John probably wants us to notice another double-meaning here: he is pointing out that the most important question in life is “Where is Jesus? How can we connect with Messiah?”

“Come and see”, says jesus. And he takes Andrew and the other disciple to his home. Then the three of them spend the rest of the day together – presumably talking about the Kingdom, the ministry of Jesus. From the start, Andrew's encounter with Jesus. is relational. He spends an afternoon, and maybe a meal time, teasing things out; asking questions.... And Jesus' approach with Andrew, is personal as well as direct.

In Mark 3. 13-14, when Jesus formally (after a night of prayer, by the way) appoints the Twelve, he calls them to “be with him” and then to be sent out “to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” Jesus starts with relationship. The way he wants to work in our lives, is through relationships. He doesn't call us to a theoretical knowledge of his person or his teachings; he does not call us to know only his power in service. He calls us first to be his friends – and friends and brothers of one another.

Witness

And Andrew is an evangelist. Having encountered Jesus, Andrew goes off and finds his loud-mouth brother, Simon. Andrew is convinced enough by this time; so he tells Simon “We have found the Messiah – come and meet him.” That is a great definition of evangelism. To be able to say “I've found someone very special – come and meet him.” Andrew often seemed to notice people around him, and to see the moments of opportunity: John tells us it was Andrew who, scouting around the crowd on the hillside, found one kid among 5000 who had brought his sandwiches – and Andrew brought this kid to Jesus. John 6. 9: “here is a wee boy who has five loaves....” John tells us that jesus was trying to tease out a response fo faith from the disciples – and it looks to me like Andrew brought this child, out of the crowd, to Jesus, in response to that: he's not quite livign in full expectancy of a miracle; but he is beginning to engage with the fact that Jesus has a plan! In John 12. 20-22, Philip found some Greeks who were wanting to meet Jesus. Philip was unsure what to do, so he asked Andrew: Andrew instinctively knew he had to tell Jesus. He has the heart of an evangelist. He tells what he knows. He notices people. He connects – albeit a bit warily – with the supernatural. He has an instinct for the importance of people and occasions.

Humility

When Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus, it was Simon who was told “you are Peter, the Rock.” If Andrew wanted to be the most important disciple of jesus, he had mae his first mistake by bringing Simon along! But that wasn't on his mind. Andrew was unafraid to play second fiddle. This is where John's telling of the story of Andrew is different. Mark doesn't tell us about these early days of Andrew's discipleship. He picks up the story a few weeks later. By this time John the Baptist has been imprisoned. People like Andrew who have followed John are now without their teacher. Andrew is back fishing – he may not have given up fishing at this stage anyway – and this time it is Jesus who calls Simon and Andrew. To follow a Rabbi you normally chose the Rabbi , and asked him if he would teach you. Jesus broke the rules: he walked up to those guys, and told them to follow him. They were ready to do so because they had already met Jesus. But, from this point on, it's not so much “Andrew and Simon” as “Simon and Andrew” and then Peter, James and John. Andrew plays second fiddle – and he plays it rather well. He has his gifts; he exercises leadership. But he's not in the inner circle. He's not one of the three. Later on, when Jairus' daughter is raised form the death, it's Peter, James and John; when Jesus prays in the garden of Gethsemane, it's Peter, James and John who are taken aside to support him. Not Andrew. He was not one to insist on the limelight, to get caught trying to book his place at the top table We need to be prepared to play second fiddle – and to play it well.

Today, Advent Sunday, and St Andrews Day, we move a bit forward in our journey with Jesus, like Andrew did. I want to challenge us

• to make a move from expectancy to experience... to say “yes” to Jesus.
• To develop our walk with Jesus relationally, so it is about life as well as about belief.
• To share the Gospel
• To engage with the supernatural, the power of God
• To walk humbly, taking the attitude of a servant.

And today, Advent Sunday and St Andrews Day, we recognise those who are ready at this stage to be the team serving by being at the “Prayer Place”... that's a commitment to be like Andrew – walking humbly, introducing people to Jesus, and engaging – even if sometimes a bit uncertainly – with the supernatural. 

© Gilmour Lilly November  2014