Pilate's Wife

From We Were There

By Sarah A. O'Malley and Robert D. Elmer

PILATE'S WIFE:Pilate doesn't like it when I dabble in his affairs. "Leave politics to me. You're my wife; give your orders to the servants in the kitchen." But this time I was compelled to speak out. I had dreams about Jesus frightening dreams, warning dreams, dreams that seemed to come from the gods.

So I sent a servant to Pilate to inform him of my dreams. He scoffed at me, saying I should watch the foods I was eating. Still I could tell that he had listened. On that fateful day, as I stood by Pilate's side, I saw Jesus there, awaiting my husband's judgment. He stood there, with the dignity of a king, despite the cruel crown of thorns. I observed my husband trying to free Jesus, trying to find a way to save him 'till he realized that sparing Jesus might mean a revolt by the Jews. One more Jewish complaint to Caesar could have meant my husband's career. I wept quietly as Pilate washed his hands. Somehow I knew that my husband and I would never be the same; that we would be haunted forever by the Nazarene's innocence, his nobility, his gentleness.

I was at Pilate's side on that fateful day, the wife of the man who condemned him. I had haunting dreams that I felt came from God. Have you ever resisted the voice of God?