Influence and Outcome

 There's a seldom-considered individual in the story of Holy Week that is on my mind this morning...

We are familiar with the stories - from Palm Sunday through the Resurrection, as Christ-followers, we hear the stories each year.  Or we should.

We consider the many works of Jesus in the final days before His death.  We remember His washing the disciples' feet.  He even washed the feet of Judas, which is an important lesson for us, but we'll save that for another day.  We remember the Last Supper, Jesus' prayer at Gethsemane, His arrest, trials, and the Crucifixion.  We consider His words from the cross, the details regarding His burial, and we look forward with anticipation to His Resurrection.

But tucked away in a single verse of Scripture is a detail we don't spend a lot of time contemplating, but it's a detail I can't get out of my head this Good Friday morning.

Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” Matthew 27:19 ESV

Pilate's wife is mentioned only once in Scripture.  But in that one mention, we can learn a lot.

Here's what we know about Mrs. Pilate: 

• she had some understanding of who Jesus was
• she had some influence with her husband
• that influence was limited
• God's will always prevails

Was Pilate's wife a follower of Christ?  We can only speculate.  But we know that she called Jesus "righteous,"  so she must have had some level of understanding.

Pilate valued the counsel of his wife.  This is significant, and fairly counter-cultural for this time in history.  Though a woman of position in Roman nobility, she was still a woman, and thus had little, if any, power of her own.  But she had her husband's ear.  And when she sent word to Pilate, Pilate listened.  He wanted to release Jesus.  

John writes, 

From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”   John 19:12 ESV

Pilate's wife may have had some influence on him, but ultimately that influence was limited.  It was overshadowed by the draw of popularity and political favor.  Though Pilate knew the right thing to do, and he even tried to do the right thing, when the moment of decision came, Pilate made the wrong decision.

Now, we know that in all of this God was at work.  Jesus had to die for our sins.  It had been prophesied.  It had been planned from the foundation of the earth.  The crucifixion absolutely was going to happen.

But Pilate could have chosen not to participate.  

But he did participate.  Pilate may have washed his hands to ease his conscience, but then he immediately had Jesus brutally beaten, then brutally killed.

I'm feeling a little weary myself today, and my heart goes out to Mrs. Pilate.  If she was already struggling with nightmares and poor sleep before the crucifixion, I can imagine what Friday night must have been like for her!  But history tells us what we need to know about her: she spoke up.  She was concerned and courageous.  And most likely she was exhausted and frustrated.  

But can't you just imagine her relief and her joy when news of the Resurrection got out?!

What I need to remember today is that God's plans always prevail.  Things don't always go the way they "should."  Sometimes wicked people will be used in bringing about God's will.  Sometimes wise counsel will be rejected.  Bad things may happen.  But even human weakness cannot thwart the ways of God.  He is the God who can take what is evil and use it for good.

I find that comforting.

...Just a thought...