Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, is also a commercial fisherman. There
is not a lot about him in the Bible but Greek Orthodox tradition says that the
Apostolic successor to Andrew is the Patriarch of Constantinople. Some
commentators of old say that he preached around the Black Sea and in what is
Southern Russia today. Supposedly he was crucified in Greece. Legend has it,
mostly from the Middle Ages, that he was crucified on an X shaped cross, called
in folklore the Saint Andrew’s Cross. Beware of Roman Catholic and Greek
Orthodox legends for which you can find no other historical evidence and is not
backed up in the Bible, being a primary source of wisdom from the Holy Spirit
of God, if you are a believer.
James is the Greek derivation of the Hebrew name Jacob. James, the
son of Zebedee, is considered to be the patron saint of Spain among other
things and is considered to be the first Apostle to be martyred.
Acts 12:1 ¶ Now about that
time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of
John with the sword.
John, the brother of James, is called John the beloved because of
these verses;
John 13:23 Now there was
leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
John 19:26 When Jesus
therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith
unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
John 20:2 Then she runneth,
and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and
saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we
know not where they have laid him.
John 21:7 Therefore that
disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon
Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he
was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea…20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple
whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and
said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
Clearly, there was a special relationship between Jesus and John,
who is thought to be the youngest of the Apostles, a relationship that is hard
for us to understand today because of social issues we confront. Let’s remember
David and Jonathan.
2Samuel 1:26 I am
distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me:
thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
We are uncomfortable in modern time with men who are not
homosexuals showing affection and love for each other apart from combat, a case
for which we make an exception. But let me remind you that in times past manly
men, virile, masculine men did not have our fear of showing devotion to close
friends or to young adult men they were mentoring. It can be quite
disconcerting for us to read a letter from one of our heroes past. I was
shocked when I read a letter that George Washington wrote to a friend and how it
expressed a heartfelt love we would never dare utter for a person of the same
sex today. This was particularly confusing as there was never any suggestion in
his life of feelings toward a man. So, let’s put these verses in proper
perspective and not color them with our own preconceptions.
Jesus took special care for John, the youngest and most vulnerable
of the Apostles. John is also known as the author of a gospel, three letters
and the book of Revelation. Tradition has it that in spite of attempts to kill
him he lived to be an old age. Tradition also says he taught Polycarp, bishop
of Smyrna, who taught Irenaeus. He is also thought to have taught Ignatius of
Antioch.
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