Today’s Scripture

Psalm 25:1-10              Jeremiah 33:14-16                   

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13     Luke 19:28-40

 

Grace, mercy and peace to all of you from God our heavenly father and Jesus Christ who is our risen and ascended Lord and Savior.  Amen.

 

            So many of us enjoy reading and hearing biographies.  It is interesting to learn about people with their struggles and their successes alike.  We identify with others when we learn about them.  We emulate the desirable attributes of these people. 

 

            During this Advent season we will take a look at five persons who are examples to us as we anticipate the coming birth of our Lord Jesus.  Through the lives of these persons, we will anticipate with them the coming of the Messiah.  We will live with them as some walked with our Lord.  We will see how each one witnessed to others the joys of knowing the Savior. 

 

            Today is Andrew.  Where is the nearest St. Andrew?  (St. Andrew Lutheran, Park Ridge).  For you golfers, where is the St. Andrew of golf fame?  (Scotland).  On today’s bulletin cover is the Christian symbol of Andrew, the disciple and apostle.

 

            What we know for certain about Andrew is found in the Gospels.  All other information is by tradition or secondary sources.  Some can be considered fairly accurate.  Some is nice story. 

 

            We know that Andrew was the son of Jonah, brother of Simon (Peter), lived in Bethsaida and was a fisherman.  (Interesting that the father in a fishing family is named Jonah).  Andrew’s name, a Greek name, means “manliness.”  As we read from the Gospel of John, Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist with the disciple John. 

            His home, Bethsaida, is located on the north-east of the Sea of Galilee.  This is a community of both Jewish and Gentile (i.e. Greek) influences. 

 

            Andrew and John are the first of the twelve disciples to begin following Jesus.  Andrew immediately seeks out his brother Simon and tells him about Jesus.  Andrew is the disciple who brings the young lad with loaves and fishes to Jesus at the feeding the five thousand.  When certain Greeks came to Philip wishing “to see Jesus,” Philip went to Andrew who went with Philip to tell Jesus, [John 12:20-22].  Andrew is the one who privately asks Jesus about the destruction of the temple form our Gospel [Mark 13] a couple of weeks ago.  He is mentioned among the first four names of disciples when they are listed.  The last we see of Andrew in Scripture is his presence with the other disciples, Mary, and Jesus’ brothers after the ascension as they gathered in prayer.

 

            As we read a moment ago, Andrew was a follower or disciple of John the Baptist.  The day before this event is the day the Baptist points out Jesus and says, “Look!  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  A day later the Baptist again points to Jesus proclaiming him the “Lamb of God.”  Interesting that John the Baptist is the only one who refers to Jesus as the “Lamb of God” until Jesus is again called “the lamb” in the Revelation to John.  Andrew and the “other disciple” (John) immediately approach Jesus who asks them, “What do you want?” 

 

            “Rabbi, Where are you staying?” was their reply.  Jesus said, “Come,” and they spent the day with him.  Andrew immediately went and found his brother Simon (Peter) and proclaimed, “We have found the Messiah.”  This tells us that Andrew and John and Simon were faithful to God and anxiously awaiting the coming Messiah, the one who would save God’s people from their sins.  They knew the prophecies and Psalms and writings of Moses.  As from the Garden of Eden on, through the Exodus in the wilderness, and from the promise to David, God’s people looked forward to the coming Christ.   From this event of his immediately bringing his brother to meet Jesus, Andrew is acclaimed as the first Christian evangelist. 

 

            Andrew evidently did not stop with telling his brother.  He brought the young man with fish and loaves to Jesus’ side at the feeding of the five thousand.  When the Greeks sought out and requested to see Jesus, Philip came and told Andrew and together they told Jesus.  This passage is one the markers on the wall to the glass door entrance to this church, “We would see Jesus.”  The disciples then were recognized as followers of Jesus.  Faithful believers today are like those disciples in the same way, identifiable as followers of Christ and approachable. “We want to see Jesus.”  This is a message to all of us today that there are people in this world, in this community and in your neighborhood who want to see Jesus too.  That marker is to the left of the marker for Immanuel with the sign of Christ (Cr).  The third marker is, “Peace be with you.”  Isn’t that the Gospel message?  We need to see Jesus who is with us.  And he brings us peace, perfect peace. 

 

            There are certain things about Andrew that we learn from traditions.  Eusebius, a fourth century church historian writes that Andrew evangelized to Scythia, north of the Black Sea.  From that he is the patron saint of Russia.  He is also the patron saint of Greece and Scotland.  From the thirteenth century there is a story that his remains were found during one of the crusades and his arm was taken to Scotland.  Interesting but not verifiable.  I share these so you know the backgrounds and sources.

 

            It is Advent.  We look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus.  Had Jesus not come to us in his human nature, God’s work of salvation would not have occurred.  Had persons such as Andrew not been chosen and then sent to tell others about Jesus, you and I and others in this world would not live in this kingdom of grace today.  That kingdom of grace is God’s love to you in his son, our Lord and Savior Jesus.  Without God’s grace, we are lost.  We have only this world to live for and eternity in the torrents of hell.  By God’s grace, we have Christ who lived for us, suffered and died for us, rose again and ascended into heaven so we know that he will come again to raise our perishable bodies from the graves and make them imperishable as his. 

            One miracle, that of God becoming man, leads to another miracle, God restoring us poor sinful humans back into his holy image again.

 

            Andrew lived according to God’s promise that he would send the Messiah, Jesus to save his people from his sins.  When Andrew was brought to Jesus, he went immediately, told his brother and brought Simon back to know Jesus too.  We know the dynamics that resulted from introducing Peter to Jesus.  Little did Andrew know this would be the result of his telling his brother this good news.  Do you know the result of your telling another the good news of Jesus, the Lord and Savior of all? 

 

            Today we thank and praise God for all of the Andrews he has sent into this world.  Who is the Andrew who found you and said, “I have found the Messiah,” and brought you to Jesus.  In this hustle and bustle of the Christmas season remember, your name is Andrew.  You are saved by your faith in the Messiah.  Who is your Simon, the one you are going out to tell about the Messiah.  Who are the “Greeks” who will seek you out and request of you, “We want to see Jesus.” 

 

            Pretend you are Paul Harvey and tell them “the rest of the story.” 

 

            In Jesus’ undying love.

 

Amen.