“One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.”
My Notes
What Does John 1:40 Mean?
"One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother." Andrew is identified not by his own achievements but by his brother: he's "Simon Peter's brother." The most common identifier for Andrew throughout the Gospels is his relationship to someone more famous. He lives in Peter's shadow — and he seems comfortable there.
Andrew's response to encountering Jesus is immediate: he goes and finds his brother (verse 41). His first instinct after meeting the Messiah is to share the discovery with family. Andrew doesn't build a ministry, form a committee, or develop a strategy. He gets his brother.
The pattern of Andrew in the Gospels is consistent: he's the person who brings people to Jesus. He brings Peter. He brings the boy with the loaves and fish (John 6:8-9). He brings the Greeks who want to see Jesus (John 12:22). Andrew's ministry is introduction — connecting people to Jesus.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Are you comfortable in someone else's shadow while doing essential work?
- 2.Who have you 'brought to Jesus' — who is following Him because of your introduction?
- 3.What makes the ministry of connecting and introducing so undervalued?
- 4.Is there someone you should bring to Jesus today?
Devotional
Andrew: Simon Peter's brother. That's how he's identified — by someone else's fame. The less-famous brother. The one nobody remembers as well as the one he brought.
And yet: without Andrew, there's no Peter. The rock on which the church is built was brought to Jesus by his less-famous brother. Andrew found Jesus first, and his first instinct was to find Peter. The most important introduction in church history was made by a man most Christians can barely identify.
Andrew's gift isn't preaching or leading or theologizing. It's connecting. He finds people and brings them to Jesus. Peter. The boy with the lunch. The Greek visitors. Every time Andrew appears in the Gospels, he's bringing someone. His ministry is the ministry of introduction.
This is one of the most undervalued gifts in the church: the ability to connect people to Jesus. Not everyone preaches. Not everyone leads. Not everyone has public gifts. But everyone can do what Andrew does: find someone and bring them. The introduction doesn't require eloquence or expertise. It requires one sentence: "We have found the Messiah" (verse 41).
Andrew lives in Peter's shadow and doesn't seem to mind. He doesn't compete for recognition. He doesn't resent his brother's prominence. He does what he does — bringing people — and lets the people he brings receive the spotlight.
Are you an Andrew? Are you comfortable bringing people to Jesus without needing the credit?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
One of the two which heard John speak,.... The above things, concerning Jesus being the Lamb of God:
and followed him;…
We have here the turning over of two disciples from John to Jesus, and one of them fetching in a third, and these are…
Andrew, Simon Peter's brother Before the end of the first century, therefore, it was natural to describe Andrew by his…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture