Did this story make you feel any different about death?2. Hunt uses the
above scripture as a prelude to her story about Asher, the Wandering Jew. What is the significance of this passage to the message in her story? What is the difference between turning to Scripture and turning to Christ?
How can a person diligently study the Scriptures and not turn to Christ? What does it take to turn to Christ?
3. This is a very strong story about the message of God's grace. It takes a brand new Christian to make a
two thousand year old man finally understand that he cannot earn God's forgiveness. The key is when Claudia tells Asher that he never trusted Christ for his salvation, and that God, in His mercy, might have given Asher
all this time to turn from his sin! (see pages 360-361). Asher believed that his sin was so horrible that he was doomed to pay for it until Christ's return. Do we sometimes feel this way about our own sins? Also,
are there times when we might wish this burden of guilt onto other people?
4. Discuss the turning point in Claudia's life when she was weighing her decision to become a believer in Christ (p. 324-328). What kind
of examples did those around her who were Christian set, that is, what influence did they have on her life? Do you think that once she accepted Christ she could continue in her old life? Explain. How might Claudia use
her gift of "reading" people to serve Christ?
5. Discuss the statement Asher makes when he says that "God is not fair. He is just. There is a difference" (p. 290). What difference
does it make when we insist on seeing God as Claudia does, when after hearing Asher's story about losing his wife, she says: "It just doesn't seem fair. And if God is anything, he should be fair." What might
it be in our own lives that causes us to get angry at God because we feel like he isn't being fair?
6. Reverend Synn, or Il Direttore, espouses what many non-Christians believe to be the summation of the
message of Jesus: "[E]nlightenment must come from within a man or a woman. When we look for God and giftedness in ourselves, we invariably find it . . . You will find God if you take time to meditate on his love
and beauty" (p. 267). He goes on to deliver a very fine oratorio about everyday miracles, peace, and love, which all sound very good: "Peace and contentment are found through the simplicity of truth--in
living authentically, simply, peacefully. Seek the peaceful life, and you will find it" (p. 269). This is a very popular belief held by many good people who want to put Jesus in the same category as all other
spiritual teachers. What would be your explanation to someone who said this to you?
7. What did you feel were some of the strengths of this story? The weaknesses? What made this story's conflict concerning the
Antichrist different from other stories you might have read on the same subject?
8. What is the difference between believing in grace and living it? (see page 362) Ephesians 2:4-5
"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgression, and it is by grace you have been saved." verses 8-9
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." (NIV) How many different ways did Asher try to earn his salvation? On what did he base this belief?
