In Italy there’s a church called the Basilica of San Francesco. Featured in this church is a fresco cycle called “The Legend of the True Cross”, painted in the 1400’s by Pietro Della Francesco. Like much of the art in Italy it’s beautiful to the eyes. The problem with the painting, is that none of it was true, biblically. The first shows Seth, the Son of Adam at Adam’s death planting a shoot of the tree of knowledge over the gravesite, in which would lie our future hope. We next move to the Queen of Sheba who apparently passes over a bridge which was made by this same tree from Adam’s grave. The other cycles include a dream by Emperor Constantine, some medieval battles surrounding the cross. Then ends with the announcement to Mary of her death and assumption into heaven. What is striking, besides none of it being true, was there was not one fresco included or referred to Jesus. So often we wonder why most people lack faith, and the minority that do, have no understanding. This is a small representation of a huge problem. Corrupt the story, get people to believe that it is folklore and fairy tale, and over time people understandingly become skeptical. Over time people can’t differentiate the truth from a false story. Years of legends, fanciful stories, erroneous artwork, scandal in the church, has led to disillusionment. Jesus is basically omitted from their lives or He is brought out for holidays and serves as the mascot of their religion. The sheep have lost their Shepherd. The prophet Jeremiah speaks of this: ““My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray and turned them loose in the mountains. They have lost their way and can’t remember how to get back to the sheepfold.” -Jeremiah 50:6

When Jesus returned to His village in Nazareth, notice their reaction in Mark 6:2-3, “And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.” Because of their reaction, we read in 6:5-6, “Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.” Notice in the preceding chapter, Jesus had to put the mockers out of the house before raising the dead child in 5:40. The condition of the heart is necessary to see Jesus for who He is.

There are so many reasons why the majority choose not to believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It only takes an erroneous folklore like the “Legend of the True Cross” to move a person one degree off course. Over time people are so far from the reality of who He is that they would not recognize Him if they ran into Him. Many outside the faith like to refer to Jesus as a good man. But Jesus didn’t allow for that, since He claimed to be God. This makes Him, as C.S. Lewis said so many years ago: “Liar, Lunatic, or Lord”. A choice must be made. Jesus doesn’t allow Himself to be one of many options, as the popular philosophy likes to state, “All roads lead to heaven”. But Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Many look at the poor examples of many who parade themselves as Christians, yet their unchristian behavior turns people away from Christ. Either way, and for whatever reason, everyone will one day stand before God and be judged. There will be no excuses. Ignorance, such as “this is how I was raised”, or, “I didn’t know any better”, will sound pathetic. We all have the ability and choose to spend our time on a whole host of activities, how about setting aside even one day to make a decision for Christ. Scripture is crucial, as Jesus said in John 8:31-32, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”