Warning and Washing by Robin Densmore

 

Today we will look at a pivotal person found in all four gospels. We will be introduced to his wife and read from Matthew 27 nlt. This man is well known. Jesus of Nazareth’s life sat in his hands. At least he thought so. 

A Greek person of the New Testament is our subject today. Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea from A.D. 26-36, serving under Emperor Tiberius. Judea means” land of the Jews. It included all the territory occupied by the Jewish nation. This is the region where Jesus was born, did ministry, and was crucified. Jesus ministered in Galilee and Samaria as well.

Arrested in Jerusalem in the dark of night, Jesus was brought before Pilate to be crucified. Pilate ruled the area and what he said was carried out as law. Pilate often carried out swift and sometimes cruel judgement and punishment.

Pilate couldn’t find any guilt pertaining to Jesus and tried to hand Jesus off to the Jewish ruler, Herod, thinking, let the Jews handle their own problems. That didn’t work and Herod, after mocking Jesus, sent Him back to Pilate. Several times, Pilate went before the crowd and said he found no fault in Jesus. They screamed and demanded Jesus to be crucified.

Have you ever had a vivid dream that stayed with you long after you woke? I have.

Add some anguish or terror to that dream and it messes with you. You wake covered in sweat with an accelerated heartrate. Your fingers can tremble. We feel compelled to do something or perhaps warn someone. Pilate’s wife had such a disturbing dream.

Scripture doesn’t reveal her name so we will call her Mrs. P.

Mrs. P woke from a fitful dream. She experienced all the symptoms. Clammy hands. Sweaty, yet cold with fright. The urgency sprung her out of bed.

Remember. They arrested Jesus at night. Time had elapsed.  For hours Pilate examined Jesus.

Racing toward her husband, she encountered the brick wall of a strong guard. “Pilate is interrogating a prisoner. You can’t go to him.”

“The prisoner is who I need to speak to him about.”

The guard shook his head.

She zipped back to her quarters. Finding a scrap of papyrus, she dipped the quill in the inkwell and scribbled, “Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night.”

She folded it and ran back to the guard. “Thadeus, please give this note to my husband. My fear is great. My anguish is tormenting. Please. It’s for his good.”

“Of course. Mrs. P.”

This guard trusted her. This guard knew that Mr. and Mrs. P had a strong bond. Any other ruler would kill the soldier for interrupting official duties. In any other relationship, the wife would be put off or disregarded. Had it been any other man in the governor’s chair, he wouldn’t barge in. The guard knew Mr. P would want to know what was so urgent from Mrs. P.

Pilate sat down on the bema seat of authority to make his final decision for this man, Jesus’ life.

The faithful guard stepped up and handed Pilate the note. The governor searched the guard’s eyes and trusted him. At once, he recognized his beloved’s writing and relaxed. But as he read, his worry and fear escalated. This confirmed what he knew. The religious rulers demanded he crucify an innocent. Herod didn’t help. Now what should he do?

Afraid he would lose his position; he proceeded in the process of pacifying the masses so there wasn’t an uproar. He stood and asked the growing crowd, “Do you want me to release to you Barabbas or this man?”

The crowd yelled back, “Barabbas!”

“What do you want me to do with this man?”

“Crucify him!”

He didn’t want to. He felt a riot would occur if he didn’t.

He asked for a bowl of water. He washed his hands publicly and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!”

“And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!”

Pilate released the barbarian Barabbas and ordered the innocent Jesus flogged and crucified.

What if Pilate had not taken Jesus in the middle of the night when the majority of people were asleep? What if Pilate released Him to Herod and didn’t take Him back?

What if Pilate had listened to his cherished wife?

What if Pilate had listened to his conscious and his own words, “I find no fault in Him?” and released Him?

Would this change everything?

Did Pilate have to do this, to fulfill prophecy?

Did he have a choice? Could he have said no?

The Holy Spirit gave the dream to Mrs. P.  She knew the truth.

In his gut, Pilate knew this was wrong.

As soon as he read the note, he knew this was wrong.

Pilate was given a choice. Every moment of that trial, he had a choice to stop it. He told the crowd he found no fault in Him.

How many times before had he listened to his wife? Probably many times or the guard wouldn’t’ve given him the note.

She was trustworthy.

He normally listened to her. They were a good strong couple. Afterall, she was his better half and she had his back.

Unfortunately, he didn’t listen on that critical night.

Could he have changed history? Yes. He had the choice. God didn’t force him to kill His Son.

God in His foreknowledge, knew before He sent His Son, Jesus, to the earth to put on humanity that He would die at the hands of the Jews and the Romans. God knew. Jesus knew and looked on Pilate with love. God knew Pilate would be weak when he needed to be strong. God knew Pilate would choose this road he took and thus fulfill prophecy.

The washing of his hands didn’t wash away his guilt. A person can say they are sorry as they pull the trigger but are they really? Words and actions don’t mean a thing without the follow through.

Pilate has no excuse when he stands before the judgement seat of his Creator. Roles will be reversed. He will be judged by Jesus Christ who stood before Pilate two thousand years ago.

We always have a choice. What will we do with Jesus? As the song, with that title says, “What will you do with Jesus? Neutral you cannot be.

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