“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)
We often talk about Peter's boldness or John's zeal, but tucked humbly behind these louder apostles is Andrew.
Andrew’s significance isn’t flashy, but it’s profoundly meaningful. He wasn’t known for fiery sermons or dramatic miracles; rather, Andrew had a gentle passion for bringing others to Jesus.
Before the nets dropped, Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist. One day, John pointed to a wandering rabbi from Nazareth and declared:
“Look, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36).
Andrew didn’t just listen; he acted. Immediately, he followed Jesus, spent the day in His presence, and became convinced: this man was the Messiah. But what sets Andrew apart was what he did next.
He found his brother Peter and breathlessly declared:
“We have found the Messiah!” (John 1:41).
Peter may have preached Pentecost sermons, but without Andrew’s quiet invitation, Peter’s story might have been very different.
Andrew was the first disciple to bring another person to Jesus, and what an incredible first catch it was!
Andrew was a man whose greatest desire was to connect people to Jesus. He wasn't a man of lengthy theological discourse; he was a connector, a quiet evangelist. Consider the encounter with the curious Greeks:
Some Greeks approached Philip, requesting an audience with Jesus. Philip hesitated. Gentiles approaching Jesus? This was uncharted territory. But Andrew didn't hesitate. He and Philip took their request to Jesus (John 12:20-22).
Andrew understood something critical: Jesus’ gospel wasn't limited by geography or ethnicity.
He believed, even before Peter received his rooftop vision, that Jesus wanted to reach all people.
In this simple act, Andrew once again proves himself as one who eagerly brings others to the Savior.
When Jesus called Andrew and Peter from their fishing boat, Matthew writes that they dropped their nets immediately (Matthew 4:20).
Andrew had already encountered Jesus before this moment. He already knew who this Rabbi was. Yet at the formal call, Andrew didn’t stall, didn’t delay… he let go.
Letting go of his nets wasn’t just quitting a job. It was leaving behind security, predictability, and comfort. The nets symbolized his identity, his family trade, and his livelihood, yet Andrew walked away from them without a second thought.
How often do we grip our nets too tightly: our jobs, relationships, ambitions, comforts? We hold on because we fear the unknown. Andrew teaches us something different: to follow Jesus means to release our grip on what we have always known, trusting that what Jesus offers is far greater.
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Andrew didn't pen a gospel or become widely celebrated like his brother. His impact was quiet and understated, yet deeply important.
Church tradition tells us that Andrew carried the Gospel far and wide, eventually being crucified on an X-shaped cross (known today as “St. Andrew’s Cross”).
Andrew’s life teaches us a beautiful lesson about quiet faithfulness. Not every follower of Jesus stands on a stage, preaches sermons to thousands, or writes influential books.
Most disciples simply do what Andrew did: introduce people to Jesus, one person at a time.
Jesus promised Andrew something remarkable: "I will make you fishers of men." Andrew knew fishing: patience, perseverance, casting out into uncertain waters again and again.
He knew empty nets and disappointment, yet he also knew the thrill of a catch.
Jesus took Andrew's humble skill and transformed it into a divine purpose. Andrew's legacy is not flashy but substantial: he consistently introduced people to Jesus.
Jesus promises us the same: He takes our ordinary skills, mundane lives, and daily routines and transforms them into divine purposes. Every interaction, every encounter, every conversation can become an opportunity to introduce someone to the Savior.
