Clerestory Windows Series: Andrew

Shows saltire cross, which is also called the St. Andrew Cross. Anchor through the cross symbolizes Andrew as a fisherman.

Andrew is another of the disciples who served in the background. In fact, this particular disciple seemed to possess an unusual ability to accept a secondary and obscure position with graciousness. Andrew was one of the first to meet Jesus. It was Andrew who brought his brother Peter to Jesus. But it was Peter who became the apparent “second in command” among the disciples, while Andrew was never one of the inner circle. Although he spent much of his life in his brother’s shadow, there is no trace of bitterness or jealousy in their relationship. Andrew worked happily in the background, letting others pursue glory. He did what he could when he could. He did not care who got the credit; getting the job done was the most important concern.

What work was Andrew doing? He was bringing people to Jesus. According to the Gospel of John, he brought Peter to Jesus. He brought a boy with five loaves and two fishes to Jesus. He brought the Greeks to Jesus. He saw as his mission in life bringing others to Jesus, focusing the attention on his master rather than himself. Three countries—Russia, Greece, and Scotland—claim Andrew as their patron saint. Tradition portrays him as a great missionary, working in Cappdocia, Bithynia, Galatia, and Byzantium, as well as working with the barbarous Scythians.

According to early church historian Eusebius, Andrew died at Petrae, a city of Achaia, at the hands of Aegeas, the proconsul, on November 30, in the year 60 C.E. Prior to his death, Andrew had gained many converts, including the proconsul’s wife and brother. Aegeas was so angered by this abandonment of the gods he worshipped that he ordered Andrew to bow down to the gods and recall the people to their old way of worship. When Andrew refused, he was scourged with rods, mounted on a cross, and left to die. In order to make his death more horrible, he was bound to a cross, instead of nailed, and left to die of hunger, thirst and exposure. According to legend, Andrew asked to be bound to an X-shaped cross because he was unworthy to die on the same type of cross as his master.

Andrew spent his life serving his Lord, not his ego. He focused on bringing people to Christ rather than glorifying himself. He knew he was unworthy when relying on his own merits, but he trusted in God to redeem him anyway. He refused to worship false gods, including the false god of pride. He cherished his faith to the end, trusting in the grace of God. With his apparent inability to worship himself, Andrew would have made a horrible television evangelist, but he couldn’t have been a better example of how to follow Christ.

Brandon Gilliam

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