Hey fellow saints,
Today, let’s look at the apostle Andrew and learn from his humble role:
“Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot.”
— Mark 3:18
The next person we see on the list is Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. In most accounts, the two brothers are named together, but in this case, Mark lists the inner circle of apostles—Simon Peter, James, and John—before returning to name Peter’s brother. This shows how intentional Mark was about the order in which he named the apostles. We notice that both Matthew and Luke list Simon and Andrew alongside each other:
“Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother.”
— Matthew 10:2“Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James and John; and Philip and Bartholomew.”
— Luke 6:14
Mark, however, is deliberate in how he presents the apostles, not by their lineage but by the roles they played in their apostleship.
What’s interesting about the apostle Andrew is that he was the one who brought the news of the Messiah to his brother, Simon Peter:
“One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which translated means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. When Jesus looked at him, He said, ‘You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter).”
— John 1:40-42
This is significant, especially considering we don’t see many appearances of Andrew in the New Testament. Yet, in God’s divine ordination, He used Andrew’s simple message to bring Simon Peter, the chief apostle, to Jesus. Andrew may not have played a central role in the story of redemption, but his part was crucial.
As believers, we are all part of God’s plan. Some of us may play seemingly small roles, but it’s important to remember that these roles are part of a grand plan that God is bringing to pass. This is the message Paul gives to the Corinthians:
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”
— 1 Corinthians 3:6-7
It is instinctive for many of us to want to play the most visible or important role—to be the star of the show. Yet, like Andrew, not all of us will have that opportunity. Still, the role we have been given is equally significant, because it is God Himself who orchestrates it.
Some of us may have larger roles, like Peter, who preached to the Jews at the dawn of the church, or Paul, who preached to the Gentiles across the Greco-Roman world. God may indeed use some of us to open great churches and win many souls.
However, let’s not forget that some of us might be called to roles like Andrew, who shared the news of the Messiah with his brother Peter. Some of us might be the encouraging brother or sister in Christ, leading peaceful and quiet lives—evangelizing to our colleagues, being faithful and loving spouses, diligent workers, and patient parents.
Let us not look down on the small roles God has given us in His grand plan. While the bigger roles may seem more prominent, the smaller roles are equally important. Paul understood this when he wrote to the Corinthians:
“But now God has appointed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.”
— 1 Corinthians 12:18“On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we consider less honorable, we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with greater modesty, while our presentable parts have no such need. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”
— 1 Corinthians 12:22-27
Dear ones, I pray that we will not despise the small roles given to us by God. If we are operating in the bigger, more visible roles in the body of Christ, let’s be careful not to look down on the smaller, less visible roles.
May the Holy Spirit give you strength to serve in your role.
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