Frantic by Jerry B. Jenkins Page A

God is holy, he was forced to send the man and the woman away from his presence.
    â€œGod’s plan all along was to send a Savior, someone who could help restore the relationship between God and people,” Vicki said. “That’s predicted as early as Genesis 3. Throughout the Old Testament, the coming Savior is predicted.”
    Vicki slowly worked her way through the heroes of the Bible: Noah, Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel, and many of the prophets. She showed Carl passages that pointed to the coming Messiah. She pointed out Isaiah 9: “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David.”
    â€œDo you know who that’s talking about?” Vicki said.
    â€œIt sounds like a baby,” Carl said, “but then it sounds like God.”
    Vicki nodded. “It’s talking about Jesus. Though he was a man, he’s also God. Everyone, every person who has ever lived and every angel ever created, will one day confess that Jesus is Lord.” Vicki turned a few pages and showed Carl verses from Isaiah 53.
    â€œRead it out loud,” Vicki said.
    Carl read, “‘He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care.
    â€œâ€˜Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.
    â€œâ€˜He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins—that he was suffering their punishment? He had done no wrong, and he never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal.’”
    Carl looked up. “Whoever this is, it doesn’t sound too good for him.”
    â€œThroughout the centuries,” Vicki said, “most Jewish people thought these two different passages described two people. But now some realize this is the same person you read about earlier. Jesus was both the one who suffered and the Prince of Peace.”
    Vicki turned to other verses about the sacrifices God required his people to make for their sins. Then she took Carl to the Gospels and showed how clearly Jesus had fulfilled all of the prophecies about the coming Savior. Jesus was killed, buried, and rose again.
    â€œIt’s all coming together for me,” Carl said. “What John told me on the ship and what Mark said made me believe that Jesus was the only way. Now I understand it so much better.”
    â€œAnd there’s a whole lot more,” Vicki said. She showed Carl verses that clearly taught about the nature of God. He was one spirit, but three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. She pointed out the depths of God’s mercy and love for people, but also that God was holy and required perfection.
    â€œThat’s why Jesus had to die in our place,” Vicki said. “He was the perfect sacrifice for our sins. When we believe in Jesus, God no longer sees all the bad stuff we do. He looks at us and sees the perfection of Jesus.”
    â€œAwesome!” Carl said.
    Vicki wanted to take a break for dinner but Carl wouldn’t let her. “Keep