Andrew - John 1:40

John the apostle wrote how John the Baptist baptized Jesus and said, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples. And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he said, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said unto them, What are you seeking? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where do you dwell? He said unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour”, and in chapter one and verse forty of his book, John shares how “one of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew” where we read:

One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

The verse reads, “One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, ...” John began with the words, “One of the two” which means “a particular or certain one of the two disciples of John the Baptist” “which heard John speak” which means “who were given the faculty of hearing, perceived and understood what John the Baptist declared and said”, “and followed him” or “and accompanied and joined Jesus”. John shared how “one” of the disciples of John the Baptist who “accompanied” Jesus was known by the following name.

The verse continues, “... was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.” John added the words, “was Andrew” which means “existed as Andrew whose name means manly and was a native of Bethsaida in Galilee, brother of Simon Peter and a disciple of John the Baptist”, “Simon Peter's brother” or “the physical male sibling of Simon Peter whose name means a rock or stone”. John shared how “one” of John the Baptist's disciple was named “Andrew” who was the brother of “Simon Peter”.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn the name of one of the disciples of John the Baptist who “followed” Jesus. “Andrew” was the physical “brother” of “Simon Peter” who would later become a disciple of Jesus, but this is where the “disciples” of Jesus began. Jesus continues to look for disciples who “follow” Him today, and when a person yields their life to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they will be forgiven of their sins and are promised everlasting life with God in Heaven. Wise people “follow” Jesus today. Let's be wise.

Next time John shares how Andrew, “first found his own brother Simon”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".