GSFA Devotional

1 February 2023 (Epiphany 4) 

 

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Becoming a disciple  

 

Reading:  John 1:37

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The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

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Andrew was a fisherman, born in a Jewish family at Bethsaida, Galilee. In his thirties, Andrew heard about a man called John who called people to repent. John also told people that the coming of the Messiah and kingdom of heaven is near. The people at that time realized that John is a prophet sent by God to prepare their hearts and minds by cleansing themselves by the water of baptism. So many came to be baptized by John.

 

Andrew was searching for the truth, so he went to hear what John the Baptist was saying to the people. He was convicted and asked John to baptize him. Andrew then decided to become a disciple of John. 

 

The scriptures tell us that one day” John stood with two of his disciples.  And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”. The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.”( John 1: 35-37) Andrew was one of these two disciples who followed Jesus as we read in the scripture . This may persuade us to ask, why did Andrew leave his teacher John and follow a knew teacher Jesus? 

 

I think the answer is that Andrew, who was continually searching for the truth, heard about the truth from John the Baptist, then he met the Truth Himself when he saw Jesus “the Lamb of God”, the Messiah whom Isaiah prophesied about Him saying “He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent”. Indeed, when Andrew heard the words “Lamb of God” he realized the Jesus is the Messiah who will save all the people from their sins, as the word of God says: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” 

 

Andrew heard about the truth but now he saw the Truth himself, Jesus the Messiah the savior of the world, and he decided to follow him as a disciple. As he followed Jesus, he knew that the true disciple is not the one who only listens and learn new things from his teacher, but the one who uses what he learned to make other disciples. This is what Andrew did. Andrew” first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ).  And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).” 

 

We see here that Andrew witnessed for Jesus and as a result Simon Peter became a disciple. In a similar way, when Peter witnessed for Jesus at the day of Pentecost, 3000 people believed and the church began.

 

Brothers and sisters, when we reflect on the life of Andrew we can see the steps of becoming a disciple. First, to seek the Truth, second, to follow the Truth and thirdly, to witness for the Truth and to make other disciples. 

 

May the Lord give us the grace and the power of the Holy Spirit to become disciples who make other disciples.

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Contributed by:
The Most Revd Dr Mouneer Hanna Anis  

Archbishop Emeritus 

Episcopal/ Anglican Province of Alexandria 

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