May 6, 2021 (Thursday)
I suppose most of the people who read this blog are aware of the fact that Jesus had twelve disciples. “Disciple” means “learner,” “follower,”or “student.” As time went on, the twelve became known as “Apostles,” while followers at large were known as His disciples. “Apostle” usually refers to people who are sent for some purpose (that is its literal meaning in Greek), often as messengers. In the New Testament Gospels, “apostle” is usually reserved for the 12 men Jesus chose to comprise his close circle of followers.
Mark lists the twelve as follows: Simon Peter, James the son of Zebedee, John the brother James, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot. Matthew and Luke contain similar lists of apostles. The Gospel of John simply refers to the Twelve, identifying only nine by name.
John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, was sent to prepare the way for Jesus. He had disciples of his own, among whom were two brothers, Andrew and Simon (Peter).
John 1:35-42 (New American Standard Bible) Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. And Jesus turned and saw them following, and *said to them, “What are you seeking?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (Teacher), where are You staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day; it was about the tenth hour (4 pm). One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (Greek: Peter: Rock or Stone).
Perhaps Andrew’s most distinguishing feature is that he’s Simon Peter’s brother. Each of the gospels refer to him as Peter’s brother—but Peter is never referred to as Andrew’s brother. This, plus the fact that Peter is always listed before him indicates that Andrew was either younger or just less important.
Like his brother Simon Peter and several of the other disciples, Andrew was a fisherman. Jesus first encounters Andrew when he’s fishing near the shore of the Sea of Galilee with Peter.’
The Apocrypha gives Andrew much more prominence among the Apostles than the New Testament does. The books of the Apocrypha are not generally accepted as part of the Bible, but many editions of the Bible include the Apocrypha as sacred text.
It has been noted that Andrew is the Apostle who brought people to Jesus, and many sermons have capitalized on those verses to urge hearers to lead people to Christ.
Music Lead me to some soul today
Words Lead Me to Some Soul Today..Send the Light..Rescue the Perishing..
Lead me to some soul today
Oh teach me, Lord, just what to say,
Friends of mine are lost in sin
And cannot find their way.
Few there are who seem to care
And few there are who pray
Melt my heart and fill my life
Give me one soul today.
There’s a call comes ringing
O’er the restless wave
Send the Light! Send the Light!
There are souls to rescue
There are souls to save
Send the Light! Send the Light!
Send the Light the Blessed Gospel Light
Let it shine from shore to shore,
Send the Light the Blessed Gospel Light
Let it shine forever more.
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.
Rescue the perishing,
Care for the dying,
Jesus is merciful,
Jesus will save.
Lead me to some soul today
Oh teach me, Lord, just what to say,
Friends of mine are lost in sin
And cannot find their way.
Few there are who seem to care
And few there are who pray
Melt my heart and fill my life
Give me one soul today.