A Woman With A Dream

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Pastor James May

A WOMAN WITH A DREAM

Matthew 27:12-26, "And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus, which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. 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. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, what shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ? They all say unto him, let him be crucified. And the governor said, why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, let him be crucified. 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. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified."

We often hear messages preached concerning the trial and condemnation of Jesus Christ to die upon the Roman cross. We often hear of the cries of the crowd to crucify him, of their choice to release Barabbas, a known murderer, instead of our innocent Lord; and of the choice of Pilate, the Roman Governor, to appease the Jews in order to keep the peace and stop a potentially dangerous riot that would hurt his political position.

But one small, seemingly insignificant part of this story is often overlooked. You will rarely hear anyone mention the fact that Pilate’s wife tried to stop Pilate from condemning Jesus to death.

Pilate was, no doubt, a self-willed and strong-minded individual. No one could reach the pinnacle of Roman power and position that he held without being a very strong and ruthless man who was willing to do whatever it took to climb the ladder of success. He had fought long and hard to get where he was and he was unwilling to take any chances with losing it now.

We must keep in mind that Pilate was being torn by powers that were much greater than just he alone. On one hand there was his determination to keep the peace, but there was the power and influence of Satan working in his heart and mind also. This whole scenario with Christ had been conceived in the heart of Satan to destroy the Son of God and he would use Pilate to fulfill that desire to see Jesus dead just as much as he had used the religious leaders and the Jews to have hatred for their Messiah. On the other hand there was the desire within Pilate, down in the deepest recesses of his heart, to do what was just and right for this innocent victim.

Pilate could easily see through what was going on here. He had questioned Jesus and found no fault worthy of punishment within him. Jesus had lived a perfect life before all men. No sin, no treachery, no treason, no enmity, nor any other character flaw or fault was there to find.