Second String Saints_Andrew

Editor's Notes

• #3: Second String Saints Series: OT Second String Saints: Barak Jonathan Micaiah Daniel’s 3 Friends NT: Second String Saints: Andrew Mary Magdalene Barnabas Silas
• #4: Operation Andrew
• #5: Have you ever heard of a copper or tin Olympic medal? There’s a reason. They don’t exist currently. However, there is a push to expand the number of awarded medals to five. The colors of the two proposed expanded medals, copper and tin, are the constituent elements that combine to form bronze. Driving this proposal are two motives. The first is aesthetic. There are five Olympic rings. Five medals corresponding to the five rings just feels right to some folk. The more weighty motivation is feeling that fourth and fifth places are still great achievements and that the athletes who just miss the platforms are worthy of some recognition. Those favoring this change cite that this is not without precedent. The first two modern Olympics games in Athens and Paris only awarded silver medals for first place and bronze medals for second place. Third place got nada. However, the third Olympic games in St. Louis featured the addition of a gold medal for first. So, there is a precedent for adding medals. Others view these as akin to participation trophies and argue that we need to push back on this cultural impulse to reward every effort, or create an environment where there are no losers. They cite another push to award 24 Olympic rings to correspond to the 24 letters of the Greek Alphabet. The winner of 24th place could prodly wear the “Omega Ring.” Where will it end? No change is imminent, but it is an interesting debate.
• #6: Clearly, Jesus had an inner circle of three disciples. Their names typically occur first the various lists of the Apostles in the gospels and Acts. And as the gospels progress, we see that Peter, James and John are often set apart. These three were privileged to witness Jesus’ power over death when he raised Jairus’ daughter. And when Jesus was transfigured, it was Peter, James and John who accompanied Jesus and saw Him in his glory. And then, in the final hours before his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, it is these three who are invited to stay awake with Jesus in his time of greatest anguish. These three were clearly in Jesus’ inner circle of friends. Now, they may have argued amongst themselves as to who was Jesus’ gold medal Apostle. Perhaps that is why Peter and John had a footrace to the empty tomb… they were still trying to determine who gets to stand on the high platform. Yet, there is no doubting that these three were regarded as special by Jesus.
• #7: Then there’s Andrew. I am going to call him the Copper Medal Apostle. Andrew was clearly number 4. In the various lists of Apostles he is always in the top 4. Matthew and Luke list him second. In Mark’s Gospel and the Book of Acts, he is listed fourth. But he is not in Jesus’ inner circle. He is just outside… the second stringer who missed bronze… the copper medal apostle. However, in this series we’ve been seeing the gold qualities in many second string saints. Although they never get to stand high and be recognized, these second stringers make major contributions. Today, as we look at Andrew, we will see a second string Apostle who made some of the greatest contributions to Jesus ministry and the early spread of the gospel.
• #8: First Point Andrew was first disciple to follow Jesus. In the Greek Orthodox tradition he is known as Πρωτόκλητος - literally "the first-called".
• #9: John 1 35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
• #10: 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
• #11: 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”
• #12: 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 
• #13: 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 
• #14: Second Point Andrew was the first evangelist to lead someone to Jesus.
• #15: John 1 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 
• #16: 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).
• #18: PRAYER Pray for five friends that do not know Jesus. Pray for their specific needs and a hunger for Jesus.
• #19: CARE Listen and watch for their needs. Build the friendship through acts of kindness to show that you care.
• #20: SHARE Talk to your friends about Jesus and what he’s done in your life.
• #21: Take time to fill out a list of your five friends.
• #22: Third Point Andrew was the first missionary to point outsiders to Jesus.
• #23: John 12 20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.
• #24: 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
• #25: 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
• #26: 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 
• #27: Some Traditions concerning Andrew He is believed to have traveled from Jerusalem to Byzantium, which is now called Istanbul, Turkey. Early traditions indicate that he then evangelized along the northern and southern shores of the Black Sea. In modern-day Georgia. Both Russia and Romania assert that Andrew ministered in their countries as well. Less reliable traditions place him in Africa and even in Scotland, where he is now the patron saint.
• #28: Andrew was crucified on 30 November 60AD, by order of the Roman governor Aegeas. He was tied to an X-shaped cross in Greece, and this is represented by the white cross on the Scottish flag, the Saltire, since at least 1385.  The tradition of his martyrdom is quite detailed, stating that he led Aegeas wife, Maximilla and his intellectual brother, Stratoklis, to embrace the gospel. Aegeas was so enraged by Andrew’s impact upon his family that he had him crucified.
• #29: As we wrap up let me share one more Olympic medal fact. There is a fourth Olympic medal beside Gold, Silver and Bronze. It is not awarded in every Olympiad. Decades can pass with no recipient of the Pierre de Coubertin medal. It is the rarest of the Olympic medals and, I would say it is the most valuable of all. The Pierre de Coutertin Medal is awarded to an Olympic athlete who demonstrates the true spirit of sportsmanship.
• #30: His name is Luz Long. Long was a broad jumper representing Germany in the Berlin games of 1936. He noticed that black Olympian, Jesse Owens, was working too hard in the qualifying round. He was jumping right before the take-off board, risking a disqualifying foul. Luz suggested that Owens jump a few inches before the board. Owens easily qualified. I mention Owens race because it is significant. These were the games hosted by Adolf Hitler. Long’s decision to befriend and even assist a black athlete was a dangerous decision. Owens took Long’s advice and went on to win Gold. Luz Long won the silver. The two formed a friendship that extended beyond the Olympic games… a friendship cut short by Luz Long’s death in WWII. Luz long was posthumously awarded the first de Coubertin medal, and Jesse Owens went on to say, “"It took a lot of courage for him to befriend me in front of Hitler... You can melt down all the medals and cups I have and they wouldn't be a plating on the twenty-four karat friendship that I felt for Luz Long at that moment“
• #31: Jesus’ disciples were constantly jockeying for position. Andrew was the first to follow Jesus. To use our terminology, he had dibs. He could have said that he deserved a place at the bedside of Jairus’ daughter. He could have complained about not being on the Mt. of Transfiguration. He could have even asserted that had Jesus invited him to come alongside in the Garden of Gethsemane, he would have stayed awake. Andrew could have easily asserted that he was less volatile than Peter… more reliable. He could have even made a case that he was more worthy. But Andrew was content to take a lesser role with gratitude and grace. What an example for each of us.