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St. Andrew—The First Known as of the Apostles
He Was the First to Be Known as—We’re Known as as Effectively
The following day once more John was standing with two of his disciples; and he checked out Jesus as he walked and stated, “Behold the Lamb of God!” The 2 disciples heard him say this, they usually adopted Jesus. Jesus turned, and noticed them following, and stated to them, “What do you search?” They usually stated to him, “Rabbi” (which suggests Instructor), “The place are you staying?” He stated to them, “Come and see.” They got here and noticed the place He was staying; they usually stayed with Him that day, for it was in regards to the tenth hour. One of many two who heard John converse, and adopted him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first discovered his brother Simon, and stated to him, “We have now discovered the Messiah” (which suggests Christ). He introduced him to Jesus. Jesus checked out him, and stated, “So you might be Simon, the son of John? You shall be referred to as Cephas” (which suggests Peter). The following day Jesus determined to go to Galilee. And He discovered Philip and stated to him, “Observe me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter. Philip discovered Nathanael, and stated to him, “We have now discovered Him of whom Moses within the legislation and in addition the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael stated to him, “Can something good come out of Nazareth?” Philip stated to him, “Come and see.” Jesus noticed Nathanael coming to Him, and stated of him, “Behold, an Israelite certainly, in whom isn’t any guile!” Nathanael stated to him, “How are you aware me?” Jesus answered him, “Earlier than Philip referred to as you, if you have been beneath the fig tree, I noticed you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you’re the Son of God! You’re the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “As a result of I stated to you, I noticed you beneath the fig tree, do you imagine? You shall see better issues than these.” And he stated to him, “Actually, really, I say to you, you will notice heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” John 1: 35-51 (Gospel from the Feast of St. Andrew)
Good morning Prayer Staff!
At this time is the feastday of St. Andrew, the primary referred to as of the Apostles. Andrew was a easy fisherman. He had a brother named Peter, and when Andrew heard the decision of Jesus, he advised Peter to return additionally. Andrew, regardless of being the primary referred to as, was not the chief of the disciples. That fell to Peter, who was advised by Jesus that “You’re Peter and on this rick I’ll construct my church.” (Matthew 16:18) Peter, James and John (James and John have been brothers, the sons of Zebedee) comprised the interior circle. Andrew was not in that both.
That doesn’t imply that Andrew was not and isn’t an necessary determine within the historical past of salvation. We all know that Andrew was one among John’s disciples, referring to John the Baptist. We all know that John the Baptist was educating his followers that One was coming after him and that One could be the Christ, the promised Messiah. So, earlier than ever assembly Christ, Andrew was honing a religion “within the Christ,” that certainly there was going to be a Messiah coming and that John was going to be the one to endorse whoever that individual was. On the day that Jesus handed by the place John was speaking to Andrew (and one other unnamed “disciple” of John’s) John stated, in reference to Jesus, “Behold the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36)
John had proven humility in finishing his function because the Forerunner. He knew that on this second, his function as a frontrunner amongst his group of disciples was going to finish and that they’d now be following Christ. It took unbelievable humility to step except for his life’s work, realizing that he had fulfilled his calling.
Andrew, however, had been ready by John to modify his focus, and now he was exhibiting unbelievable religion not solely in John’s message however in following after Jesus, somebody he didn’t know in any respect. John’s succinct message, “Behold the Lamb of God!” was all that Andrew wanted to listen to in an effort to comply with. Instantly Andrew addressed Jesus as “Rabbi” (which suggests instructor) (John 1:38). He requested the place Jesus was staying and Jesus invited Andrew and the opposite disciple to “come and see”, the primary invitation to return to Christ. Andrew and the opposite disciple (of John’s) stayed with Jesus that day. In spending simply a short while with Jesus, Andrew knew that this was the Messiah of Whom John had spoken. Nobody aside from Andrew and the unnamed disciple and John the Baptist knew Who Jesus was.
So Andrew was confronted with one other necessary choice. Would he invited others to “come and see”? Would his invitation be from curiosity or conviction? And what would others consider his invitation? Would they be curious? Skeptical? Indignant? Andrew made his second act of religion. His first was to comply with. His second was to ask others to comply with.
There are many individuals who have finished the primary act of religion, to comply with on their very own. There are a lot fewer individuals who have finished the second act, to ask others to comply with. Maybe they lack braveness. Perhaps they lack conviction. Or possibly it’s a lack of information. Or fairly presumably individuals don’t see themselves as referred to as to be an apostle, one who spreads the excellent news of Christ. Perhaps some suppose that solely the monks are referred to as to this sacred responsibility.
But Andrew had been neither appointed nor ordained by Christ to do something. He had been invited by Christ to “come and see” which he did. He had come to some understanding of Christ, although it’s debatable how full an understanding he may have after solely spending a night with Him. Nevertheless, he had sufficient conviction in what he had heard to have the braveness to ask another person, his brother.
Andrew’s function is critical. What if he hadn’t trusted John the Baptist and adopted Christ? What if he had heard the excellent news of Christ and had by no means shared it? What if he had by no means taken an opportunity and requested Peter to return with him to see Jesus? We would not have the Church that we now have right this moment. Positive, it’s Peter that will get all the popularity because the “rock” of the Church. However it’s Andrew who paved the best way for that to occur.
After Pentecost, Andrew took the Gospel to the world across the Black Sea, together with what it right this moment Constantinople (or Istanbul, Turkey). He’s the Patron Saint of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and by extension, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Andrew was crucified on an X-shaped cross, having requested to not be crucified in the identical method because the Lord.
Saint Andrew was the primary to heed the decision to comply with after Christ. Later he turned one of many first to share His message. Every of us known as, simply as Andrew was to “come and see” who Christ is. We’re all referred to as, identical to Andrew, to be each a disciple (scholar) and apostle (one who spreads the Phrase).
As first referred to as of the Apostles and brother of Peter the Preeminent, O Andrew, intercede with the Grasp of all to grant peace to the entire world, and nice mercy to our souls. (Apolytkion of St. Andrew, Trans. By Fr. Seraphim Dedes)
Come and see! Extra necessary, come and BE a part of the physique of Christ, first as a disciple, after which to be an apostle. This was the decision of Jesus to Andrew. It’s His name to every of us as nicely.
+Fr. Stavros
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The Revised Commonplace Model of the Bible is copyrighted 1946, 1952, 1971, and 1973 by the Division of Christian Training of the Nationwide Council of the Church buildings of Christ in the usA. and utilized by permission. From the On-line Chapel of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
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