Jubilee Community Church
Wednesday Night

  • SESSION 5 — ANDREW: FAITHFUL TO THE END

    Primary Texts: John 6:5–13; John 12:20–22; John 1:40–42 Supporting Text: Acts 1:13
    Theme: God does extraordinary things through ordinary people who faithfully bring what they have—and whoever they can—to Jesus.

    INTRODUCTION — THE DISCIPLE WHO KEPT BRINGING

    We began our study of Andrew with one of the most important moments in the New Testament:
    John 1:40–42 ESV
    40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).
    That sentence may be the best summary of Andrew’s entire life:
    “He brought him to Jesus.”
    Andrew did not become famous for preaching to thousands.
    He did not write a book of the New Testament.
    We do not have a recorded sermon from Andrew.
    We do not see him performing a miracle by himself.
    He was not part of the inner circle of Peter, James, and John.
    Yet almost every time John allows Andrew to step into the foreground, Andrew is bringing something or someone to Jesus.
    He brought Peter to Jesus.
    He brought a boy and his lunch to Jesus.
    He helped bring the Greeks to Jesus.
    And according to early Christian tradition, after the resurrection Andrew carried the message of Jesus into distant regions until eventually giving his life for Christ.
    Andrew teaches us something desperately needed in a culture obsessed with recognition:
    You do not have to be famous to be faithful.
    And you do not have to be seen by everybody to be used mightily by God.
    Some people are called to stand before the multitude.
    Others are called to find the one person in the multitude who needs to meet Jesus.
    Andrew was that kind of disciple.

    ANDREW'S PATTERN — BRING IT TO JESUS

    Before examining our first passage, notice the pattern running through Andrew's life.
    In John 1, Andrew finds a person and brings him to Jesus.
    In John 6, Andrew finds a provision and brings it to Jesus.
    In John 12, Andrew encounters people seeking Jesus and helps bring them to Him.
    Andrew apparently developed a spiritual instinct:
    When you don't know what else to do, bring it to Jesus.
    That is not a bad way to live the Christian life.
    When you have someone you cannot change—
    Bring them to Jesus.
    When you have resources that seem insufficient—
    Bring them to Jesus.
    When someone is searching for answers—
    Bring them to Jesus.
    When you don't know how the situation can possibly work—
    Bring it to Jesus.
    Andrew did not always know what Jesus was going to do.
    But he had learned who to take things to.

    TRUSTING JESUS WITH THE SMALL

    JOHN 6:5–13
    Jesus has crossed the Sea of Galilee, and a massive crowd follows Him because they have seen the signs He performed on the sick.
    John tells us:
    John 6:5–6 — “Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.”
    Notice something important.
    Jesus already knew what He was going to do.
    The disciples saw a problem.
    Jesus saw an opportunity for revelation.
    Sometimes what looks like a crisis to us is already accounted for in the purpose of God.
    Jesus was not panicking.
    Jesus was not wondering where bread could be purchased.
    Jesus was testing the disciples.
    The Greek word translated “test” is peirazō (πειράζω), meaning to test, examine, prove, or try.
    Jesus was exposing how Philip thought.
    And Philip immediately reached for mathematics.
    John 6:7 — “Philip answered him, ‘Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.’”
    A denarius was approximately a day's wage for a laborer.
    Philip essentially says:
    “Lord, I've calculated the situation, and we don't have enough.”
    Philip calculates.
    Andrew investigates.

    PHILIP SAW WHAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE — ANDREW SAW WHAT THEY DID HAVE

    Then Andrew enters the story:
    John 6:8–9 — “One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?’”
    Andrew does something significant.
    He notices something everybody else could easily have ignored.
    There is a boy here.
    And the boy has something.
    It isn't much.
    It isn't impressive.
    It certainly isn't sufficient.
    But it is available.
    There is a difference between something being sufficient and something being available.
    Andrew did not have enough to feed the multitude.
    But he found something that could be placed into the hands of Jesus.
    And sometimes that is all God is asking from us.

    FIVE BARLEY LOAVES

    John specifically identifies them as barley loaves.
    Barley was inexpensive food commonly associated with poorer people. Wheat was generally more desirable; barley was cheaper and coarser.
    This was not a banquet.
    This was a poor person's lunch.
    Then there were two fish.
    The Greek word used here is opsarion (ὀψάριον), referring to small fish or food eaten with bread.
    So picture the scene.
    Thousands of hungry people.
    Five inexpensive loaves.
    Two small fish.
    And one ordinary boy.
    Everything about the situation screams:
    NOT ENOUGH.
    But Andrew brings it anyway.
    That is faith.
    Not faith that pretends five loaves are five thousand loaves.
    Not faith that denies reality.
    Andrew actually acknowledges the problem:
    “But what are they for so many?”
    Andrew knew it wasn't enough.
    Faith is not pretending your resources are greater than they are.
    Faith is recognizing your limitations while still putting what you have into the hands of Christ.

    THE MIRACLE HAPPENED AFTER SURRENDER

    Jesus takes the bread.
    Jesus gives thanks.
    Jesus distributes it.
    And suddenly insufficiency becomes abundance.
    John 6:11 — “Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated.”
    Notice who performs the miracle.
    Jesus.
    Andrew did not multiply the bread.
    The boy did not multiply the bread.
    The disciples did not multiply the bread.
    Their responsibility was simply to release what they had to Jesus.
    Jesus handled the multiplication.
    That is liberating.
    God has never required you to perform the miracle.
    He requires you to surrender what He has placed in your hands.
    You bring the obedience.
    Jesus brings the multiplication.
    You bring the seed.
    Jesus brings the increase.
    You bring your availability.
    Jesus brings the power.

    STOP DESPISING SMALL THINGS

    Sometimes we don't offer what we have because we've already decided it isn't enough.
    “I don't know enough Scripture.”
    “I don't have enough money.”
    “I don't have enough influence.”
    “I don't have enough education.”
    “I don't have enough talent.”
    “I don't have enough people.”
    But God has repeatedly demonstrated throughout Scripture that He is not intimidated by small beginnings.
    Moses had a rod.
    David had a sling.
    The widow had a little oil.
    Gideon had three hundred men.
    Samson had the jawbone of a donkey.
    Andrew found five loaves and two fish.
    The question is rarely:
    “Do you have enough?”
    The question is:
    “Will you surrender what you have?”
    Because what remains in your hands remains limited to your ability.
    But what you surrender into Christ's hands becomes available to His ability.

    TWELVE BASKETS LEFT OVER

    After everyone eats:
    John 6:12–13 — “And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.”
    They began with not enough.
    They finished with more than they started with.
    That is what Jesus can do with surrendered insufficiency.
    Andrew could have looked at the lunch and thought:
    “That's not worth mentioning.”
    Had he done so, he would have missed seeing what Jesus could do with something small.
    Never determine the potential of something merely by examining its present size.
    You don't know what Jesus can do with it yet.

    OPENING THE DOOR FOR THE OUTSIDER

    JOHN 12:20–22
    Years have passed since Andrew first followed Jesus.
    Jesus is now approaching the cross.
    Jerusalem is filled with pilgrims for Passover.
    And suddenly John introduces another group.
    John 12:20–21 — “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.’”
    These Greeks appear to be Gentiles who had come to Jerusalem in connection with worship at the feast.
    Their request is profound:
    “We wish to see Jesus.”
    They approach Philip.
    Perhaps Philip hesitates because these are Gentiles.
    Remember the cultural boundaries separating Jews and Gentiles.
    So Philip does something interesting.
    John 12:22 — “Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.”
    Why Andrew?
    John does not explicitly tell us.
    But Andrew already had a reputation in John's Gospel.
    Andrew knew what to do with people who needed Jesus.
    Bring them closer.

    ANDREW DIDN'T BECOME THE DESTINATION

    There is an important ministry principle here.
    Andrew didn't say:
    “You need me.”
    He essentially said:
    “You need Jesus.”
    True ministry never makes the minister the destination.
    The preacher isn't the destination.
    The pastor isn't the destination.
    The church isn't ultimately the destination.
    Our responsibility is to say:
    “Come, let me take you to Jesus.”
    John the Baptist understood this:
    John 3:30 — “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
    Andrew's life embodies that principle.
    He seems perfectly comfortable introducing people to someone greater than himself.

    THE GREEKS AND THE COMING HARVEST

    The timing of the Greeks' arrival is significant.
    Jesus responds immediately afterward:
    John 12:23 — “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”
    Then:
    John 12:24 — “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
    And shortly afterward:
    John 12:32 — “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
    The nations are beginning to knock on the door just before the cross.
    The Greeks want Jesus.
    And Andrew helps move them toward Him.
    The Gospel is preparing to move beyond Israel and into the nations.
    The fisherman from Bethsaida is standing near one of the great turning points in redemptive history.

    NEVER BECOME A BARRIER BETWEEN PEOPLE AND JESUS

    The church must be careful here.
    Sometimes people come looking for Jesus and encounter our preferences.
    Our traditions.
    Our culture.
    Our expectations.
    Our politics.
    Our personalities.
    Our denominational barriers.
    Andrew teaches us:
    If someone is looking for Jesus, don't stand in the doorway.
    Open it.
    We should never make it harder for someone to reach Jesus than Jesus Himself does.
    That doesn't mean compromising truth.
    It means refusing to confuse our preferences with His truth.
    The church should be a place where the cry,
    “Sir, we wish to see Jesus,”
    is met with,
    “Come. We'll take you to Him.”

    THE SAME ANDREW FROM BEGINNING TO END

    Now look at the beautiful consistency.

    JOHN 1

    Andrew meets Jesus.
    Then immediately:
    He brings Peter.

    JOHN 6

    Andrew sees insufficient resources.
    He brings the boy's lunch.

    JOHN 12

    Gentiles want Jesus.
    Andrew helps bring them.
    There is no dramatic reinvention of Andrew's personality.
    He simply becomes increasingly faithful in the thing God put into him.
    That is important because sometimes we believe spiritual maturity means becoming somebody else.
    It doesn't.
    Spiritual maturity means becoming the person God intended you to be under the lordship of Christ.
    Andrew didn't need Peter's personality.
    Peter was Peter.
    Andrew was Andrew.
    And Jesus called both of them.

    YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PETER

    This may be one of the greatest lessons from Andrew.
    Peter preached Pentecost.
    Andrew brought Peter to Jesus.
    Peter preached and about three thousand responded.
    But before there was Peter the apostolic preacher—
    there was Andrew the brother who said, “We have found the Messiah.”
    Think about that.
    Andrew could never have known what Peter would become.
    When he brought Peter to Jesus, he wasn't bringing “the great apostle Peter.”
    He was bringing his brother Simon.
    But Jesus saw something Andrew couldn't see.
    Jesus looked at Simon and said:
    John 1:42 — “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas.”
    Andrew brought Simon.
    Jesus saw Peter.
    That means you may never fully understand what God is going to do through the person you bring to Christ.
    The child you teach.
    The coworker you invite.
    The neighbor you witness to.
    The young man you encourage.
    The person you pray with.
    You see who they are today.
    Jesus sees who they can become in Him.

    FAITHFUL AFTER THE SPOTLIGHT MOVED AWAY

    After the resurrection, Andrew appears in Acts.
    Acts 1:13 — “And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew…”
    Notice where Andrew is.
    Still there.
    Years have passed.
    Jesus has been crucified.
    Jesus has risen.
    Jesus has ascended.
    And Andrew is still with the disciples.
    Still waiting.
    Still believing.
    Still obeying.
    That may sound simple, but there is tremendous power in it.
    Andrew stayed.
    Some people begin passionately.
    The question is whether they remain faithful when the excitement fades.
    Andrew was there at the beginning.
    And Andrew was still there after the ascension.

    THE BIBLICAL RECORD BECOMES SILENT

    At this point we must distinguish between biblical history and church tradition.
    The New Testament does not tell us where Andrew went after Acts 1.
    Therefore, we should not preach later traditions with the same authority as Scripture.
    But early Christian writers preserved memories concerning Andrew's later ministry.
    Eusebius of Caesarea, writing in the early fourth century, quotes the earlier theologian Origen concerning the traditional missionary fields of the apostles. In that account, Scythia was associated with Andrew.
    Scythia referred broadly to regions north and northeast of the Black Sea.
    Later traditions connected Andrew with other regions around the Black Sea, Thrace, Macedonia, Greece, and particularly Patras in Achaia.
    These accounts vary in their details.
    Therefore we should say:
    “Church tradition tells us…”
    rather than:
    “The Bible says…”
    That distinction protects the authority of Scripture.

    THE TRADITION OF ANDREW'S MARTYRDOM

    A longstanding Christian tradition associates Andrew's death with Patras, in what is now Greece.
    Later accounts describe Andrew being condemned to crucifixion during his missionary work.
    Some traditions say he was bound rather than nailed to the cross, prolonging his suffering.
    Accounts portray him continuing to exhort those around him even while dying.
    However, many specific details come from sources later than the apostolic period and cannot be independently verified.
    The famous X-shaped cross, commonly called the St. Andrew's Cross, became strongly associated with Andrew much later and should not automatically be treated as a first-century historical detail.
    What matters for our study is not romanticizing the tradition.
    What matters is that generations of early Christians remembered Andrew as a missionary witness whose discipleship continued beyond the Gospel narratives.
    Whether every detail of the later accounts is accurate or not, their portrait fits the Andrew Scripture introduces:
    A man content to point others toward Christ.

    PROTOKLETOS — THE FIRST-CALLED

    Within Eastern Christian tradition, Andrew became known as Protokletos—“First-Called.”
    The title reflects John's account of Andrew being among the earliest disciples to follow Jesus.
    But think about the irony.
    The First-Called was not necessarily the most visible.
    The First-Called did not become the most famous.
    His brother Peter became far more prominent in the New Testament narrative.
    Yet Andrew's significance was not diminished because somebody he brought to Jesus became more visible than he was.
    That requires humility.
    Can you celebrate when somebody you helped becomes more successful than you?
    Can you rejoice when someone you discipled receives a greater platform?
    Can you bring someone to Jesus knowing that God might use them in ways He never uses you?
    Andrew apparently could.
    Because Andrew's goal wasn't:
    “Remember my name.”
    His goal was:
    “Meet Jesus.”

    THREE THINGS ANDREW BROUGHT TO JESUS

    When we step back from Andrew's story, three categories emerge.

    ANDREW BROUGHT HIS RELATIONSHIPS TO JESUS

    His first concern was his brother.
    John 1:41 — “He first found his own brother Simon…”
    Evangelism begins close to home.
    Who is your Simon?
    Who is already in your life who needs Jesus?
    You don't necessarily need another ministry opportunity.
    You may already have one sitting at your dinner table, working beside you, living next door, or saved in your contacts.

    ANDREW BROUGHT HIS RESOURCES TO JESUS

    He found five loaves and two fish.
    He didn't dismiss them because they were insufficient.
    He offered what was available.
    What is in your hands?
    Your time?
    Your home?
    Your testimony?
    Your finances?
    Your ability?
    Your experience?
    Your compassion?
    Your influence?
    Stop comparing your five loaves to somebody else's bakery.
    Bring what you have.

    ANDREW BROUGHT THE OUTSIDER TO JESUS

    When the Greeks appeared, Andrew helped move them toward Christ.
    That means the gospel cannot stop with people who look like us, think like us, talk like us, or come from our background.
    Jesus said:
    Matthew 28:19 — “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”
    The Greek word translated “nations” is ethnē, from ethnos, referring to peoples, nations, or Gentiles.
    The gospel is for the nations.
    Our assignment is not to decide who deserves an invitation.
    Our assignment is to bring people to Jesus.

    FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ANDREW

    ANDREW NOTICED PEOPLE
    He noticed Peter.
    He noticed the boy.
    He noticed the Greeks.
    Many ministry opportunities begin simply by paying attention.
    We walk past people every day.
    Andrew teaches us to see them.

    ANDREW BELIEVED SMALL THINGS COULD MATTER

    Five loaves.
    Two fish.
    One boy.
    One brother.
    A few seeking Greeks.
    None looked world-changing at the moment.
    But Andrew had learned that encounters with Jesus change the potential of ordinary things.

    ANDREW DIDN'T NEED CREDIT

    Andrew disappears from the story almost as quickly as he appears.
    He brings Peter.
    Then Peter becomes prominent.
    He brings the lunch.
    Then Jesus performs the miracle.
    He helps bring the Greeks.
    Then Jesus speaks.
    Andrew never seems concerned about reclaiming the spotlight.
    That is servant leadership.

    ANDREW KEPT SHOWING UP

    John 1 — there.
    John 6 — there.
    John 12 — there.
    Acts 1 — still there.
    Faithfulness is not measured merely by how strongly you start but by whether you're still following when the years have passed.

    APPLICATION — WHAT IS YOUR FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISH?

    Tonight I want us to ask some personal questions.
    Who is your Peter?
    Who is the person already connected to your life whom you need to bring closer to Jesus?
    What is your lunch?
    What have you dismissed as too small for God to use?
    Who are your Greeks?
    Who is standing outside your normal circle saying, perhaps without words:
    “I want to see Jesus”?
    And finally:
    Will you remain faithful when nobody notices?
    Because Andrew teaches us that the Kingdom of God is not built only by people standing behind pulpits.
    It is built by believers having conversations in parking lots.
    Parents praying with children.
    Coworkers sharing testimonies.
    People inviting friends to church.
    Believers giving what they have.
    Christians noticing the overlooked.
    Disciples quietly saying:
    “Come with me. I want you to meet Jesus.”

    THE DANGER OF PLATFORM CHRISTIANITY

    Our generation has created measurements of ministry that Jesus never established.
    Followers.
    Views.
    Attendance.
    Recognition.
    Platforms.
    Influence.
    None of those things are inherently wrong.
    But they are terrible measurements of faithfulness.
    Andrew reminds us that Heaven may measure ministry very differently.
    We remember Peter's Pentecost sermon.
    But Heaven also remembers the conversation where Andrew told Peter:
    “We have found the Messiah.”
    We remember the feeding of five thousand.
    But Heaven remembers the disciple who noticed a boy carrying lunch.
    We remember Jesus declaring that He would draw all people to Himself.
    But Heaven remembers the disciples who helped some Greeks get closer to Him.
    There are things you have done for God that nobody applauded.
    People you encouraged.
    Seeds you planted.
    Prayers you prayed.
    Conversations nobody heard.
    Sacrifices nobody recognized.
    Don't assume they were insignificant because they were invisible.
    Hebrews 6:10 — “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name…”
    God sees faithfulness even when people don't.

    FAITHFUL TO THE END

    There is something beautiful about finishing our study of Andrew here.
    His story began with:
    “We have found the Messiah.”
    And the Christian tradition surrounding his life remembers him as a man who never stopped telling people about the One he had found.
    That is success.
    Not becoming famous.
    Not building a reputation.
    Not having your name remembered by everybody.
    But reaching the end of your life still convinced:
    I found Jesus—and He was worth following.
    Paul would later write:
    2 Timothy 4:7 — “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
    That should be the desire of every ordinary man with an extraordinary calling.
    Not merely:
    “Lord, let me start well.”
    But:
    “Lord, let me finish faithful.”

    PRACTICAL CHALLENGE — THE ANDREW ASSIGNMENT

    Before next week's study, take Andrew's example seriously.
    Identify one person you can intentionally move closer to Jesus.
    Identify one resource you have underestimated and surrender it to God's purposes.
    Identify one person outside your normal circle whom you can intentionally welcome, encourage, or share Christ with.
    And pray:
    “Lord, make me faithful even when nobody sees me.”
    Because extraordinary discipleship is often built through ordinary acts repeated faithfully over a lifetime.

    PROPHETIC INSIGHT / CALL TO ACTION

    There is a generation obsessed with being seen.
    But I believe God is still raising up Andrews.
    Men and women who don't care who gets the credit as long as Jesus gets the person.
    People who will say:
    “I don't need the microphone. Just give me somebody who needs Jesus.”
    “I don't need recognition. Just show me what I can put in His hands.”
    “I don't need everybody to know my name. I want everybody to know His name.”
    God is looking for believers who will notice the overlooked.
    Bring the insufficient.
    Welcome the outsider.
    Celebrate another person's calling.
    And remain faithful when nobody applauds.
    Maybe you will never preach Peter's sermon.
    But you might bring Peter to Jesus.
    Maybe you will never multiply bread.
    But you might find the lunch Jesus wants to multiply.
    Maybe you will never stand before the nations.
    But you might open the door for someone from the nations to meet Christ.
    Never underestimate the eternal consequences of one ordinary act of obedience.

    CONCLUSION — JUST BRING IT TO JESUS

    If I could reduce everything we have learned about Andrew to one sentence, it would be:

    BRING IT TO JESUS.

    Your family—
    Bring them to Jesus.
    Your limited resources—
    Bring them to Jesus.
    Your questions—
    Bring them to Jesus.
    The outsider—
    Bring them to Jesus.
    Your gifts—
    Bring them to Jesus.
    Your weakness—
    Bring it to Jesus.
    Your future—
    Bring it to Jesus.
    And when you have brought it to Him—
    trust Him with what happens next.
    Andrew didn't change Peter.
    Jesus did.
    Andrew didn't multiply the bread.
    Jesus did.
    Andrew didn't save the Greeks.
    Jesus could.
    Andrew's responsibility was simply to make the connection.
    And perhaps that is the word somebody needs tonight:
    You are not responsible for being somebody's Savior.
    You are responsible for pointing them toward the Savior.

    CLOSING CHALLENGE

    You may never be a Peter.
    You may never stand before thousands.
    Your name may never be known outside your community.
    But you can be an Andrew.
    You can notice the person everybody else walks past.
    You can bring your small resources to Jesus.
    You can open the door for somebody who feels like an outsider.
    You can celebrate when someone you helped goes farther than you.
    And decades after you first met Jesus—
    you can still be there.
    Still following.
    Still serving.
    Still believing.
    Still bringing people to Christ.
    ORDINARY MEN.
    EXTRAORDINARY CALLING.
    FAITHFUL TO THE END.

    SERIES TRANSITION — NEXT: THOMAS

    This concludes our study of Andrew — the First-Called.
    Beginning with Session 6, we turn to another ordinary disciple whose story is often misunderstood:

    THOMAS

    Thomas has been remembered for centuries by one word:
    Doubter.
    But that label doesn't tell the whole story.
    Before Thomas ever said, “Unless I see…I will never believe,” he was the disciple who looked toward danger and said:
    John 11:16 — “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
    Thomas was not simply a doubter.
    He was loyal.
    He was courageous.
    He was honest.
    He asked questions other people were probably afraid to ask.
    And when the risen Jesus confronted his uncertainty, Thomas ultimately responded with one of the strongest confessions concerning Jesus recorded in John's Gospel:
    John 20:28 — “My Lord and my God!”
    In our next character study we will discover what happens when an ordinary man with honest questions encounters an extraordinary Christ.
    Because Jesus did not throw Thomas away for wrestling with uncertainty.
    He revealed Himself to him.

      • John 1:40–42ESV

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