Following Jesus 12

Following Jesus refers to being a disciple of Jesus. Being a disciple of Jesus entails following Jesus’ leading and learning from His teaching in order to take upon oneself, by God’s enablement, Jesus’ character.

We began our quest by looking at the character of Simon Peter. The second disciple we examine is Andrew. 

Andrew not only possessed humility in Christ, he also possessed confidence in Christ regardless of the situation. 

John 6:1-9 says, “After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” (John 6:1-9 ESV).

Andrew was a faithful man. Andrew possessed a simple faith. The adjective simple does not refer to immature or ignorant but rather straightforward and uncomplicated. There was no pretentiousness about Andrew or his faith in Jesus. He trusted Jesus, regardless of the overwhelming circumstances. 

What do you think two fish and five barley loaves would do for so many people? Yet, Andrew brought the boy and his food to Jesus. While Phillip calculated that even two hundred denarii would be insufficient to buy enough food to feed everyone, Andrew brought the only food source he could find: a little boy with two fish and give barley loaves. While he was not ignorant of the situation, he brought the boy and his food to Jesus. No gift, or person, is insignificant when Jesus uses them. What did he think Jesus would do with such an insufficient supply of food?

Andrew had witnessed Jesus change water into wine. John 2:1-12. Andrew witnessed Jesus declare to the nobleman that his son would be healed. John 4:46-54. Andrew witnessed Jesus heal a sick man by the Pool of Bethseda. John 5:1-9. Andrew heard Jesus speak to the Jews about the four witnesses which supported that Jesus was the Christ: The witness of John the Baptist. John 5:31-35; The witness of Jesus’ works, which have been previously mentioned. John 5:36; The witness of the Father. John 5:37-38; and the witness of the Scriptures. 5:39-47. 

It is not so much the greatness of your gift, its size or even your talents, or lack thereof. It is the greatness of God to use what is freely offered to Him regardless of the situation and circumstances. This is the Christ-centered confidence possessed by people like Andrew. 

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