Scripture Reading:
Proverbs 6:16-19; Psalm 140:12.
Reflection:
Unlike Simon of Cyrene, of whom we read last week, the Bible gives us very little detail about this the wife of Pontius Pilate – not even her name. However, some historical documents give her name as Claudia Procula, saying that she was a grand-daughter of the Emperor Augustus. If this was the case, she was a high-born, educated and wealthy Roman, was better connected than her husband, and as such would have commanded considerable influence.
Is she the same Claudia mentioned by the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:21)? We cannot be sure. Some sources suggest that she was a convert to Judaism - she certainly believed in the innocence of Jesus. She certainly seems to have been a thoughtful, devout woman.
Her husband Pilate was Governor over the Roman province of Judaea at the time of Jesus’ arrest, trial and crucifixion.
The fact that very little is know about her, however, has not stopped her being venerated as a saint by the Orthodox Church, the Coptic Church, and the Ethiopian Church. She has also frequently been featured in literature and films. And perhaps her brave action in warning her husband merits some recognition.
She is mentioned only once in Scripture, 37 words in Matthew 27:19: While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: ‘Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him’.
With so little known about her, it is better to focus on what she did rather than who she was, because she was the only person who spoke up against the decision to kill Jesus.
It was on the morning of Jesus trial that she sent her message to her husband. Pilate had been roused in the early hours to ‘try’ Jesus, and perhaps having been awoken, she lay in bed thinking over recent events in Jerusalem related to Jesus of Nazareth, and as she did so, God spoke to her in a dream.
And the dream greatly troubled her, perhaps in deciding what she should do. Remember that her husband Pilate was a powerful man, facing a very hostile situation. She probably neither wanted to make the situation more difficult for him, or wanted to see an innocent man killed.
But she decided to act, and the result was that she gave striking testimony to the sinlessness of the One who was being put on summary trial (Three unexpected people give testimony to the innocence of Jesus at this time, either by their words or actions. In addition to Claudia, we will consider the Roman Centurion overseeing the crucifixion, and Joseph of Arimathea).
In the end, she felt she had no choice but to make her plea to her husband, who was himself convinced of Jesus’ innocence (see Luke 23:13-16). However, Scripture records of Pilate: “he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him” (Matt. 27:18). He certainly had sufficient power to stop the injustice, but seems to have lacked the strength of character to do, and chose to disregard his wife’s wise advice. Did he do it to save his own political skin? We do not know.
Claudia could have dismissed the dream as the non-sensical ramblings of her sub-conscious mind. But she possessed sufficient spiritual consciousness to discern that God had spoken to her in a dream, perhaps confirming what she already believed. And she had the courage to speak up against a potential injustice.
We are blessed to have the Scriptures. We know the mind of God. We know that he hates injustice and the oppression of the innocent. We know that he sides with the poor and powerless. Will we do the same?
Prayer:
Judge eternal, bringer of justice,
hear the cry of those who suffer under the lash of heartless political oppression;
those who languish in prisons and labour camps, untried or falsely condemned;
those whose bodies are shattered, or whose minds are unhinged by torture or deprivation.
Meet them in their anguish and despair, and kindle in them the light of hope,
that they may find rest in your love,
healing in your compassion
and faith in your mercy.
In the name of him who suffered,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Songs:
Beauty for brokenness – Graham Kendrick
God of Justice – Tim Hughes
Food for thought:
Are there issues in our world which you feel strongly about? Vaccination inequality? Individual and national debt? Plastic in the ocean? Consider what you can do now. Maybe you can start by signing THIS PETITION being run by Christianaid
Pictures from www.unsplash.com
Comments