"Be Wont!"

 "Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it is linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury." (John 19:40 KJV) 

  "Once again and message came to me from the LORD: "Son of man, give your people this message: 'When I bring an army against a country, the people of that land choose one of their own to be a watchman. When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm to warn the people. Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die. They heard the alarm but ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives. But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn't sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths.'"" (Ezekiel 33:1-6 NLT)

 Do you remember that commercial, "Sometimes you feel like a nut; sometimes you don't"? Whatever it is, I feel that God is trying to show me some sort of connection; yet, I have no idea what it is, yet! The title that I put up today, for what it's worth, basically is about customs, habitual ways of doing things, and things that are the customary way; to do or not do, whatever it is, that is meant to be done. 

 First of all, both of these men put quite a bit of planning into this; this was not a last-minute preparation; they had been planning this for quite some time. Joseph had the grave, Nicodemus had the spices; they had a home nearby where they washed the body, had the linen cloth prepared for wrapping, and were doing everything as per the customary burial, according to Jewish standards. 

 Imagine what this might have been like! You set out to plan something, based upon the death of a friend, knowing His time was at hand, in advance of the crucifixion! Whether or not Jesus was in on this, the Bible does not say; but one thing is for absolutely sure: God had put everything into perfect order! As if this was the customary thing to do, but not for the Jews! 

 If the Jews had their way, Jesus' body would have been thrown into the mass-grave with all the others that had been executed; something that the Father would not allow to happen mostly because the writing in the Scriptures say otherwise! I hope you can see and understand what it is that John is focusing on, because the whole point of his Gospel Message, based upon the facts, is all about the power and the consistency of God! 

 About the other issue, whatever connection there is, it has the same power and consistency associated with it, because God does not change! We change all the time, whether we plan to or not, it happens based upon our feelings, motivations, and our sins. Case in point: we can have the strongest premonition about something that God is showing us, but as soon as we must share what it is, we back down to avoid offending someone or chancing being laughed at or made fun of. 

 Imagine what kind of chances these two men took; however, they planned it, it was something that had to go off, without a hitch! Basically, what that means: there was major planning involved, based upon the Passover, the time of death, the urgency to get the body off of the cross, the request to Pilate for the body, the opposition expected from the Jews; so many factors involved; yet it all went exactly as they had planned! 

 That said, "Be Wont!" If you want to know what is customary and meant to be done, in reference to being a servant of God: When He says move, you move; when He says stay, you stay; when He says speak, you speak; when He says shut your mouth, you shut your mouth! You do whatever it is that you are expected to do, based upon the fact that He is God, and you are His servant! 

 I hope you see the meaning involved in the actions these two Saints of God had done; because it was more than chance and circumstance: it was about doing what God told them to do, regardless of the price or standing; they focused upon the work of God, without the fear of man... 

""Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrows - one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. "Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. "Don't imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 'I have come to set man against his father, and daughter against her mother, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household!' "If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it."" (Matthew 10:28-39 NLT)