Following Jesus 13

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. 

Along with humility and faith in Christ, Andrew demonstrated a commitment to the truth centered in obedience and submission to Christ. 

John 12:20-26 says, “Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him” (John 12:20-26 ESV). 

Andrew was sincere. He had a sincere, honest and open heart. He wanted to share the gospel with everyone. It didn’t matter if the audience were Jews or Gentiles. All he cared about was that they needed Jesus. 

These Greeks wanted to see Jesus. As one pastor writes, “These men from the west represent, at the end of Christ’s life, what the wise men from the east represented at its beginning; but those come to the cross of the King, even as these to His manger.” 

The Greeks initially came to Philip. Philip brought them to Andrew. Philip and Andrew then told Jesus. These Greeks wished for an interview with Jesus. Jesus had said something about “other sheep” than Jews (10:16), but he had not explained this doctrine. Philip and Andrew wrestle with the problem that will puzzle Peter on the housetop in Joppa (Acts 10:9–18), that divider between Jew and Gentile which would be broken down by the Cross of Christ (Eph. 2:11–22). Even to this day, this is a barrier that many Christians and Jews still set up between each other. Andrew has no answer for Philip. So, they bring the problem, but not the Greeks, to Jesus.

How does Jesus respond? Jesus tells these two disciples that the hour for Him to go to the cross has arrived. It is time for Jesus to be glorified. Jesus does not give the disciples a direct answer regarding the request to see Him be some Greeks. Rather, He replies by focusing the issue upon the cross. 

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