Posted on February 19, 2010 by newhope2010

Do you think often about Pilate, the Roman governor who sent Jesus to his death?  Or of his wife, Claudia Procula, granddaughter of Emporer Augustus?

Luke 3:1 tells us that Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea during “the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar” and during the time that Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip was tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene.

Matthew 27:19 tells us that, “When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.”

Because of their customs and the situation, she could not go to her husband in person, yet it seems she did her best to alert him to the injustice that was being perpetrated against Jesus by sending a note or a messenger to him instead.

How well did this noble lady know Jesus?  God’s Word does not say, but she knew enough to feel the need to do something about what was happening.  She could quite easily have just pushed her dream aside and shrugged it off as not being important, but she knew an innocent man – a “just man” – was standing that day in the Hall of Judgement.

Apart from the religious charge of blasphemy, Jesus was being accused of three serious offences by his enemies:  engaging in revolutionary activity, inciting people not to pay Roman taxes and claiming to be a king.

How did Pilate respond to his wife’s concern?  Oh, he made a half-hearted attempt to set Jesus free, for sure, but in the end he just washed his hands, and fobbed Jesus off into the hands of his accusers.

As governor, his responsibility was to establish the truth and to make a fair judgement, but he was indifferent to the truth that day.  Matthew tells us that he asked the Jews, “Why, what evil hath he done?” (Matthew 27:23).  This suggests that he had weighed up the alleged evidence against Jesus, and concluded that He was indeed an innocent man, but what did he do about it?

It seems he was more concerned about his own position in the Roman world than in what was right or just.  What if there was another uprising by the Jews?  What if news of this reached his superiors in Rome?

How about us today?  Do we sometimes think more of ourselves than about the consequences of the truth?  When we know the truth, do we push others away like Pilate did?  He ignored his wife.  He ignored the man standing innocently before him.  He ignored his own convictions and knowledge.

When the truth is put directly in front of us, do we choose to ignore it because we are not willing to stand up for what is right?  Do we also push Jesus away?  Or a fellow human in need?

Are we more interested in our position in life than with the truth?  Do we sit in the seat of judgement over others, uncaring about what happens to them, when we have the power to change what lies ahead?

Matthew goes on to say, 27:24,  “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.”

Do we speak up when we know something is not like it should be?  Or do we choose to sit back and do nothing instead, perhaps feeling that we do not know enough about what is happening to be able to help?

Do we speak out when we see an injustice about to happen?  Or do we just wash our hands in front of our brethren?

© Bevan Collingwood 2010