Mini Meditations 05

 Like a Good Shepherd, Jesus could say. . . “Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” And, on the cross, He would redeem our soul and spirit. And someday, when Jesus comes back for His church, He will complete His work by redeeming our body. As Philippians 3:21 tells us, Jesus . . . “will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body.”

Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/005-Complete_Redemption.pdf

Mini Meditations 04

 Privilege often entails responsibility. For instance, Peter, James, and John had a closer relationship to Jesus than the other disciples. However, in the Garden of Gethsemane, they were told to . . . “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation”, while the others were only told to sit here . . . “while I go and pray over there.” Being a friend of Jesus is an unbelievable privilege— and one we don’t deserve—but it does make many demands on our lives.Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/004-Close_to_Jesus.pdf

Mini Meditations 03

 When someone evaluates another person, they often reveal more about themselves than the one they are evaluating. For instance, the lady with the alabaster flask, the traitor Judas, and the two thieves on the cross had very different opinions of Jesus. And you know what? Their opinions of Jesus determined their eternal destiny.

Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/003-Evaluation.pdf

Mini Meditations 02

In this lesson, we will see how the tests that Jesus met and conquered at the end of those 40 days of temptations in the wilderness were a preparation for the temptations He would meet while on the cross.

Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/002-Jesus_Temptations.pdf

Mini Meditations 01

In this lesson, we will see Jesus setting aside His legitimate desires in favour of His Father’s will. He did that in the Garden of Gethsemane, during His various interrogations, and at the cross on Calvary. We will also see a foreshadowing of some of these events in Father Abraham and his own beloved son, Isaac.

Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Nevertheless.pdf

Lesson 18 of 18 of Miscellaneous Messages.

Jesus began His public ministry in a land that was deeply divided, both politically and religiously. To make a long story short, the Jews living in Judea had no dealings with Samaritans and looked down their noses at the Galileans. In this lesson, we will see how Jesus handled this complicated and volatile situation.

(End of Miscellaneous Messages)

Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Lesson18-The_Stranger_of_Galilee.pdf

Lesson 17 of 18 of Miscellaneous Messages.

When Israel entered the promised land, each tribe received their own piece of real estate. To secure that property, God set up landmarks that were not to be altered. Spiritually speaking, God has set up landmarks in our conscience, and He expects our obedience. At the same time, Satan encourages us to rebel. However, as Christians, we can have victory in Jesus.

Transcript is here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Lesson17-Ancient_Landmarks.pdf

Lesson 16 of 18 of Miscellaneous Messages.

This lesson is all about home. John the Baptist left his home and would never return, giving his whole life for God’s service. Jesus left His home in Nazareth and returned twice. The first time, His neighbours tried to throw Him over a cliff, and the second time, they would not believe that He was the Messiah. In the Upper Room, Jesus promised His disciples—and all who would believe in Him as their Saviour—that someday He would “. . . come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Lesson16-Going_Home.pdf

Lesson 15 of 18 of Miscellaneous Messages.

Jesus cleverly employed the parable of the sheepfold to reveal many things. For example, the sheepfold is used to represent Old Testament law, and the shepherd pictures Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Jesus is also portrayed as the door to heaven. Lastly, Jesus mentions "other sheep" and "another fold," referring to the Gentile nations that He will bring into the church of Jesus Christ. And there is much more in this lesson that reveals the character and authority of Jesus.

Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Lesson15-The_Shepherd_and_the_Judge.pdf

Lesson 14 of 18 of Miscellaneous Messages.

My Dad had a big, strong horse who had been a marvellous asset. But, as time went on, King became so uncontrollable that my father had to sell him. Peter was a lot like that horse. He was strong and brave, but at times almost uncontrollable. When Jesus called Peter, He told him He would make him a fisher of men, and despite everything, He kept that promise.

Transcript is here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Lesson14-Persevering_with_Peter.pdf