SALTIRE!

In front of the King’s College quadrangle at the University of Aberdeen, guarding the noble building that dates back to the late 15th century, stands a unicorn of stone, silent and immovable, nonchalantly throwing a casual hoof over a shield that bears the telltale markings of the early Christian history of Scotland.

That white-cross-on-a-blue-background is the Saltire. Technically, for those devotees of vexillology (the study of flags), it is a white saltire—a crux decussata (an X-shaped cross) on an azure field—the symbol of the patron saint of Scotland, Andrew, the first-called apostle of Christ.

History notes this noble apostle as having preached in modern day Turkey, Romania, and Russia. Andrew’s connection with Scotland is a bit more tenuous. Apparently in 832 A.D., King Óengus II (“Angus”) led the Scots against the English. Surrounded by foes and close to being vanquished, Óengus took to prayer. That night, Andrew appeared to the King and assured him of victory. The seal of his promise was a white saltire appearing on the blue sky the next day. So the Scots took heart ... and the English took to their heels. Since then, it is said, the white saltire on blue has been on the Scottish flag, and Andrew has been the patron saint of Scotland.

But why Andrew and the crux decussata?

This worthy is said to have been martyred in Patras (Greece) by crucifixion. However, Andrew, or so the tradition of martyrs holds, was not nailed to a standard issue Roman cross like the one on which Christ suffered, but on an X-shaped structure. That, apparently, was Andrew’s own choice, to be spread-eagled on that frame, as he considered himself unworthy to be crucified in the same fashion as his Master.

The Saltire—St. Andrew’s Cross—became the symbol of that apostle’s self-confessed unworthiness.

It is striking then, isn’t it, that Jesus announces …

“And he who does not take his cross
and follow after Me
is not worthy of Me.”
Matthew 10:38

Andrew did—literally. (And probably so also did Peter and Simon the Zealot, among the apostles). But it is obvious that “taking up of the cross” is not a literal indication of how followers of Christ are to die.

Jesus said to His disciples,
“If anyone wishes to come after Me,
he must deny himself,
and take up his cross and follow Me.”
Matthew 16:24

This cross-bearing is a self-denial, a denial unto death of the self and all that that implies. No, the cross is not my car problems, or your mother-in-law, the umpteen loads of laundry to be done, that ornery boss, or the diapers that need changing. Nor is it the uncertain elections, or even the plunging stock market, for that matter. The taking up of the cross is the ultimate picture of sacrifice—of one’s very life. In some cases, that may be true literally.

What will we give Him in sacrifice, who gave His all for us? A sacrifice of time? Energy? Resources? A major turning point in life? A dramatic change of direction? In the different stations that God has placed us and in the different stages of our walk with Christ, the sacrifices will no doubt be different. No one can prescribe it for you; that is between you and your God. But let us never dismiss the call to sacrifice: being a Christ-follower is a costly endeavor.

And, oh, yes, cross-bearing does come with eternal rewards. As the old song goes,

If you will not bear a cross
You can’t wear a crown,
Way beyond the blue!