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There are just three places where Andrew, a disciple of Jesus, is mentioned in his own right, as distinct from being listed on the Jesus Team Sheet, but even those three places are not all that world-shaking. They are all three in John's Gospel. One place is in the first chapter. The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!". When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning round, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?". They said "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" "Come", he replied "and you will see". So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent the day with him . It was about the tenth hour. Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. John 1: 35-40
So Andrew is my working model for 'Saint Man in the Street'. The first thing he did was that he went to Jesus and found out for himself. He came to Jesus to discover who he is. We call that personal experience. He was so impressed by Jesus, so overwhelmed, he simply had to tell someone. It is like when you fall in love, the whole world has changed for you.
Part and parcel of a saving faith is that you believe in your heart and confess with your lips - First you find Jesus, then you tell. Too many Christians are like secret agents who never blow their cover, and so they remain unrecognised and are more concerned about their own image than the eternal life of their brothers and sisters.
There's even more to this secret of a personal faith which is all part of Andrew's first mention in Scripture, but for today ponder Paul's words:
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:10
A Prayer:
Your church, O Lord, was bold in its proclamation of Jesus - the Name above all names. Grant me the simple courage to confess with my lips and my life the things I believe in my heart.
Now read II Kings Chapter 5 - what you do when someone has truly touched your heart.
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