St Andrew, Apostle (Nov 30)

Will You Come?

Isa. 52:7-10; Ps. 19:1-6; Rom. 10:12-18; Matthew 4:18-22

‘As [Jesus] walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake – for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”’ Matthew 4:18-19

The answered call

Andrew did not hesitate. From this unlooked-for summons, he became one of the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples, present at Jesus’ first miracle during the Cana wedding breakfast; prominent when he introduced the young lad with the loaves and fishes to Jesus at the miraculous feeding; and at the supper in the cenacle on the night of Jesus’ arrest.

According to John’s Gospel, Andrew was first a disciple of John the Baptist (John 1:46). On hearing Jesus preaching, Andrew went in search of his brother Peter and brought him to Jesus. Both Matthew’s and John’s accounts can, of course, be correct. There is no reason why the introduction and the call to follow should not have occurred on different days.

Andrew, patron saint

As well as being the patron saint of Scotland, Andrew is also claimed by Russia, Greece, fishermen and sailors. We are dependent on extra-biblical legends for data on Andrew after Christ’s ascension: one tradition says that he ministered among cannibals and converted many to Christ after freeing a number of prisoners destined for consumption at a royal banquet. Another legend has him being crucified on an ‘X’-shaped cross in Patras, in Achaia,

for baptizing Maximilla, the wife of the Roman Governor Egaes. Many years later, some of Andrew’s relics were brought to Scotland by St Rule and St Theneva; but for centuries Amalfi, in Italy, has been his resting-place, where from time to time his bones have exuded a strange, fragrant oil. Andrew’s head, stolen from Constantinople by the Crusaders, was eventually returned to the Pope by Constantine; but it did not reach Amalfi until Pope Paul VI returned it as recently as 1972.

A humble follower

To be so well known, so close to our Lord for all his earthly ministry, and yet for so little about what he actually did and said in his own ministry to be documented, is a tribute not only to Andrew’s loyalty but also his humility. His was no high-profile evangelism, no hard-sell conversion hype – just a steadfast dependability that kept close to Jesus with no thought of self-advancement. Active in bringing others to Christ, Andrew had been taught in a good ‘school’ – for hadn’t his first master, John the Baptist, declared: ‘He [Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease’ ( John 3:30)?

Second fiddle

‘Playing second fiddle’ has come to be seen in a poor light, and usually from compulsion rather than choice; but unless we as Christians put Christ first and ourselves second (at least), we’re merely on an ego-trip that will end in disaster. Andrew, who sought no recognition for himself, would surely never have imagined that one day he would be world-famous.

But if he had, it would probably not have changed his life at all. When we get our priorities in line with God’s, unimportant matters like fame and prestige don’t enter into the equation.

Suggested hymns

I danced in the morning; Jesus calls us o’er the tumult; Take up thy cross, the Saviour said; Will you come and follow me?