Matthew 27:11-54
What’s
it like to be a governor’s wife? Pilate’s wife might say it depends
on the assignment and the governor.
Judea
certainly wasn’t the plum assignment for a civil servant of Rome. The rocky
hills and dusty roads were remote from the flurry of parties with Senate wives.
Pilate’s lack of sympathy for the Jews and his often arrogant handling
of them, probably left his wife a virtual prisoner in the palace.
Passover
week was always hectic – the city full of pilgrims, Pilate attending extra
judgments, troops on alert, out of town guests. When the week was over it seemed
to her like a bad dream. On this particular Passover she had a dream that brought
her face to face with Jesus Christ. Her dream about Jesus produced an appraisal
of His life and revealed an approach toward the Man of Galilee.
Jesus
is a Disturbing Man (v. 15)
“I
have suffered much over Him today in a dream.” Pilate’s wife found
Jesus to be a disturbing influence. Had guilt or fear fed this dream? Could
it have been the conviction of the Holy Spirit?
Jesus
is a disturbing man; a face-to-face encounter with Him is an unsettling experience.
He said so, “I came not to send peace but a sword’ (Matt. 10:34).
His ultimate goal is to bring us into peace with God, but conflict comes on
the way. Righteousness, love and purity always conflict with sin, hate, and
filth. We like to hear about His love but resist His law. We delight in His
joy; we balk at His judgments. We relish the privileges; we resist the responsibilities.
If you go home and sleep on it, Jesus will disturb you.
At
least, Pilate’s wife was dis-turbed. Too often Jesus and His word do not
disturb us. We grow accustomed to the face of the world and accommodate our
faith with conflicting values. Have you lost any sleep lately because of Jesus?
I haven’t, and that disturbs me.
Jesus
is a Righteous Man (v. 19)
Pilate’s
wife ventured a second appraisal of Jesus; she regarded him as a just man. “Have
nothing to do with this righteous man.” The word is not the same as Pilate
used when he said, “I find no crime in Him.” Judas came close to it
in his suicide note, “I have betrayed innocent blood.”
“This
righteous man,” may be a clue to the disturbing dream of the governor’s
wife. Was her conscience still sensitive to what was right? Did it seem to her
a travesty of Roman justice to crucify a righteous man?
The
word, righteous, is used throughout scripture to describe a person right with
God. I doubt Pilate’s wife realized the truth she uttered. Before her stood
the only righteous man, the sinless Son of God, the spotless Lamb who takes
away the sins of the world (Gal. 3:13; John 1:29; Heb. 9:26).
This
is the disturbing element of the cross – God did it all. The just died for
the unjust, the sinless for the sinner. This offends our egotism. I heard it
in the living room of a man we went to visit. “I think anything worthwhile
has to be worked for, even heaven.” It was not surprising that out visit
disturbed him.
Jesus
is the Man for All
What
will you do with Jesus? Pilate’s wife advised that Jesus be ignored. Don’t
take sides Pilate; pass the buck, wash your hands of it; walk on by.
On
another home visit I heard a young woman reject the claims of Christ, “I
don’t want anything to do with religion. I can’t handle anything else
right now; I’m just trying to get my life and career in order.” She
rejected the One who could accomplish her own dreams.
What
is your decision about Jesus? The Passion narrative reveals a plethora of possibilities.
Pilate washed his hands (v. 24); the soldiers amused themselves with the Suffering
Savior (vv. 27-31). Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry His cross (v. 32); I
wonder what He finally did with Jesus? Beside Jesus one thief repented, while
the other selfishly pled for release (vv. 38, 44) The crowd saw only the political
and religious circumstances of a helpless convicted criminal (v. 39). The religious
leaders, protecting their position and practices, joined the mockery (vv. 41-43).
While
others were silent God’s creation moaned in grief and was shrouded in darkness
with the death of this righteous man (v. 45). The veil of the temple was “torn
in two” (v. 51), as this just man opened the way into the holiness of God.
Wonder
where Pilate’s wife was during all this time? Wonder if she ever got a
good night’s sleep? What’s your appraisal and response to Jesus?