How people meet Jesus

"Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." -- Jesus of Nazareth: Matthew 4:19

Today is the feast day of Saint Andrew the Apostle, one of the earliest followers of Jesus Christ. Actually the feast day was yesterday, November 30, but since it fell on a Sunday it got moved to Monday. Every Sunday is a feast of Jesus, and nothing trumps a feast of Jesus.

Andrew does not get a whole lot of press in the Scriptures, but when he does, it is always for something very significant: He is bringing someone to Jesus. Andrew was at first a disciple of John the Baptist, but when John pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, Andrew followed Jesus instead. He put that on hold momentarily to go and find his brother Simon, whom Jesus named Peter.

He brought Simon to Jesus,
who looked at him and said,
"You are Simon son of John.
You are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).
-- John 1:42

The next time we see Andrew, he is bringing a lad to Jesus because the lad has five loaves and two fishes which Jesus blesses and feeds to five thousand men, plus women and children.

So Andrew the Fisherman brought his brother Peter to Jesus. And lo and behold, their fishing partners James and John also became followers of Jesus. Relational evangelism works. We invite someone who invites someone, and on it goes . . . Who could you invite to attend church with you next Sunday?

Almighty God, who gave such grace to your apostle Andrew that he readily obeyed the call of your Son Jesus Christ, and brought his brother with him: Give us, who are called by your holy Word, grace to follow him without delay, and to bring those near to us into his gracious presence; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. [from The Book of Common Prayer]


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, MT
406-208-7314
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/
Photo: boat on the Sea of Galilee
August 2004