When we think of Jesus calling his disciples, the stories only span a few lines. How we wish we knew more about those wonderful followers of our Lord! Like Thomas (see my previous blog) Andrew became the most amazing evangelist. What a picture of faithfulness!
Andrew was born in Bethsaida, a fishing town. Apparently, he became the first of Jesus' twelve disciples. Previously, he had heard John the Baptist preaching, and immediately, he went to find his brother Simon Peter. Together, these two fishermen obeyed Jesus when he said, "Come, follow me, and I will make you to be fishers of men."
Andrew and Simon's home in Capernaum, on the shore of Lake Galilee, became the place where miracles took place. Many people gathered around to hear Jesus when he was teaching at their home.
Andrew was obedient, spontaneous, and faithful. He brought a lad to Jesus when thousands of people were getting hungry and waiting for food. They must have been asking themselves how long the Master would keep on teaching. What a wonderful story, the gift of a small meal being multiplied to feed thousands! Andrew appears at the center of that story.
Andrew was never far from Jesus' side. He was the one who brought Greeks to see Jesus shortly before the crucifixion. He was present at the Last Supper and witnessed the Risen Lord on the First day of the week, the Sunday Jesus rose from the dead.
But then what happened? Did he just disappear from history? No, Andrew became the most amazing evangelist. He preached, began churches, trained leaders, and left strong believers in a large area of Eastern Europe. If we knew more, we would say those were some of the most exciting stories of early Christianity.
Andrew set out by ship and traveled extensively. Eusebius, the historian, records Andrew preaching Byzantium (Istanbul, Turkey) in 38 AD. He converted and trained Stachys, leaving him as the bishop of that church.
For 22 years, Andrew traveled east, west, north, and south along the shores of the Black Sea. To the east, he preached in Georgia. To the west he arrived in Thrace (Turkey). Going north, Andrew went up the Dneiper River as far as Kiev (Kyiv, Ukraine). He may have gone as far as Novgorod (northwest Russia). These trips would have meant going thousands of miles under arduous, dangerous conditions.
I picture Andrew as enjoying fish, all those amazing species found in the Black Sea. He went by boat up and down the rivers of Scythia (Ukraine, Russia, and Romania). And as he went, he must have called people the same way, "Come, fish with me for the next meal, and I'll tell you how you too can be a fisher of men."
Coming back to Greece, he was martyred in Patras, about 60 AD. The "X" on many flags (England, Scotland, and many others) are a tribute to the way he was crucified. It is said that he was unworthy to have been crucified as Jesus was.
For an amazing afternoon or evening while Covid-19 keeps us indoors, search the internet for more information on Andrew. You'll see how his story came to be told in Cyprus, Italy, Malta, and Scotland. Schools, churches, and cities all over the world are named after him. Millions of baby boys carry his name. You'll be startled, and grateful, too, at how faithful Andrew was in fulfilling his calling.
May we, like Andrew, never get tired of God's calling on our lives.
Andrew was born in Bethsaida, a fishing town. Apparently, he became the first of Jesus' twelve disciples. Previously, he had heard John the Baptist preaching, and immediately, he went to find his brother Simon Peter. Together, these two fishermen obeyed Jesus when he said, "Come, follow me, and I will make you to be fishers of men."
Andrew and Simon's home in Capernaum, on the shore of Lake Galilee, became the place where miracles took place. Many people gathered around to hear Jesus when he was teaching at their home.
Andrew was obedient, spontaneous, and faithful. He brought a lad to Jesus when thousands of people were getting hungry and waiting for food. They must have been asking themselves how long the Master would keep on teaching. What a wonderful story, the gift of a small meal being multiplied to feed thousands! Andrew appears at the center of that story.
Andrew was never far from Jesus' side. He was the one who brought Greeks to see Jesus shortly before the crucifixion. He was present at the Last Supper and witnessed the Risen Lord on the First day of the week, the Sunday Jesus rose from the dead.
But then what happened? Did he just disappear from history? No, Andrew became the most amazing evangelist. He preached, began churches, trained leaders, and left strong believers in a large area of Eastern Europe. If we knew more, we would say those were some of the most exciting stories of early Christianity.
Andrew set out by ship and traveled extensively. Eusebius, the historian, records Andrew preaching Byzantium (Istanbul, Turkey) in 38 AD. He converted and trained Stachys, leaving him as the bishop of that church.
For 22 years, Andrew traveled east, west, north, and south along the shores of the Black Sea. To the east, he preached in Georgia. To the west he arrived in Thrace (Turkey). Going north, Andrew went up the Dneiper River as far as Kiev (Kyiv, Ukraine). He may have gone as far as Novgorod (northwest Russia). These trips would have meant going thousands of miles under arduous, dangerous conditions.
I picture Andrew as enjoying fish, all those amazing species found in the Black Sea. He went by boat up and down the rivers of Scythia (Ukraine, Russia, and Romania). And as he went, he must have called people the same way, "Come, fish with me for the next meal, and I'll tell you how you too can be a fisher of men."
Coming back to Greece, he was martyred in Patras, about 60 AD. The "X" on many flags (England, Scotland, and many others) are a tribute to the way he was crucified. It is said that he was unworthy to have been crucified as Jesus was.
For an amazing afternoon or evening while Covid-19 keeps us indoors, search the internet for more information on Andrew. You'll see how his story came to be told in Cyprus, Italy, Malta, and Scotland. Schools, churches, and cities all over the world are named after him. Millions of baby boys carry his name. You'll be startled, and grateful, too, at how faithful Andrew was in fulfilling his calling.
May we, like Andrew, never get tired of God's calling on our lives.
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