John 1:41 – The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).

Extended Explanation of the Verse

John 1:41 records the first recorded evangelism in the Gospel of John. Andrew, after spending time with Jesus and realizing who He is, immediately goes to find his brother, Simon Peter, to tell him the good news.

The phrase “the first thing” shows Andrew’s urgency. He doesn’t wait or hesitate—his natural response after encountering Jesus is to go and share what he has found.

His message is simple but powerful: “We have found the Messiah.” The term Messiah (Hebrew) or Christ (Greek) means “the Anointed One”—the one whom God promised would come to save His people. For centuries, the Jewish people had been waiting for the Messiah, and Andrew is convinced that Jesus is the One.

This verse highlights a key truth: When people truly encounter Jesus, they can’t keep it to themselves—they share Him with others.

Historical Context

At this time, the Jewish people were living under Roman occupation and were desperately waiting for the Messiah. Many expected Him to be a political or military leader who would overthrow Rome and restore Israel’s kingdom.

However, the Scriptures pointed to a different kind of Messiah—one who would come not just to free people from political oppression, but to save them from sin. Isaiah 53 describes Him as the Suffering Servant, and Daniel 7:13-14 describes Him as the Son of Man who will establish an eternal kingdom.

Andrew and his fellow Jews would have grown up hearing these prophecies. So when he recognized Jesus as the Messiah, it was a life-changing moment. He was not just finding a teacher—he was finding the fulfillment of all God’s promises.

Theological Implications

1. The Right Response to Jesus is to Share Him – Andrew does not keep Jesus to himself; he goes and tells his brother. This is a natural response to truly knowing Christ.
2. Jesus is the Fulfillment of God’s Promise – The term “Messiah” connects Jesus to the Old Testament prophecies, proving that He is the One God had been promising for generations.
3. Personal Testimony is Powerful – Andrew doesn’t argue theology with Peter—he simply says, “We have found the Messiah.” Personal encounters with Jesus are one of the strongest ways to share the gospel.
4. Evangelism Often Begins with Family – The first person Andrew shares the news with is his brother. This shows that sharing Jesus starts in our own homes and relationships.

Literary Analysis

This verse is written with urgency and excitement.

• “The first thing Andrew did” – Shows his priority. Meeting Jesus changed him so much that he had to tell someone immediately.
• “Find his brother Simon” – The word “find” implies an active search. He didn’t just stumble upon Peter—he went looking for him because the news was too important to keep quiet.
• “We have found the Messiah” – This is a declaration of faith. Andrew is fully convinced that Jesus is the Christ.
• The parenthetical phrase “that is, the Christ” – This was likely added by John to explain to Greek-speaking readers that “Messiah” and “Christ” mean the same thing.

This verse sets up Peter’s first encounter with Jesus, which will be life-changing. Even though Andrew was the one who introduced Peter to Jesus, Peter would go on to become one of Jesus’ closest disciples and a leader in the early church. This shows how one simple act of sharing Jesus can have an incredible impact on the world.

Biblical Cross-References

• John 1:35-40 – Andrew first follows Jesus before going to tell Peter.
• Matthew 16:16 – Peter later makes his own declaration: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
• Daniel 7:13-14 – A prophecy about the Messiah receiving an eternal kingdom.
• Isaiah 53:3-7 – A prophecy of the Messiah as the Suffering Servant.
• Romans 10:14 – “How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?” Andrew took this responsibility seriously—he told his brother.

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

John 1:41 is a challenge to all believers. If we have truly found Jesus, we should be eager to share Him with others—especially those closest to us.

Andrew did not have all the answers when he went to tell Peter. He didn’t wait until he had been following Jesus for years. He simply shared what he knew: “We have found the Messiah.” This reminds us that we don’t have to be Bible experts to tell others about Jesus. We just need to share what He has done for us.

This verse also shows that God often uses small acts of faithfulness to accomplish great things. Andrew was not as well-known as his brother Peter, but without Andrew, Peter may never have met Jesus. Sometimes, the person you share Jesus with will go on to impact thousands of people—but it starts with one conversation.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

God’s love is shown in how He sent the Messiah just as He had promised. For centuries, the people of Israel had been waiting, and now, in Jesus, the promise was fulfilled.

This verse also reflects God’s desire for people to hear about Jesus through others. Instead of revealing Jesus to Peter through a vision or a miracle, God used Andrew. This shows that God invites believers to take part in His work of bringing people to Christ.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

This verse confirms that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. He is not just a prophet or a teacher—He is the One God sent to save the world.

It also shows how Jesus chooses ordinary people to spread His message. He could have revealed Himself to Peter directly, but instead, He allowed Andrew to play a role in bringing Peter to Him. Jesus calls people through relationships.

Later, Jesus would officially call Peter to follow Him (Matthew 4:18-19), but it all started with Andrew’s simple testimony.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. When was the last time you shared Jesus with someone? What keeps you from doing it more often?
2. Why do you think Andrew’s first instinct was to tell his brother about Jesus?
3. Do you have a “Peter” in your life—someone who needs to hear the good news from you?
4. How does this verse challenge you to take action in evangelism?
5. What does it mean to you personally that Jesus is the Messiah?

John 1:41 is a powerful reminder that knowing Jesus should lead to sharing Jesus. Andrew didn’t hesitate—he found his brother and told him the good news.

Who in your life needs to hear about Jesus? Take Andrew’s example and don’t wait—go and tell them today.