It fir
st happened in the city of Jerusalem. Near the beginning of the New Testament, a baby was born in the town of Bethlehem. An amazing star shone in the night sky that attracted the likes of wise men from the East, probably Persia, where remnants of the truth still lived. These wise men followed that star, realizing that something extraordinary had happened. Their hearts bore witness to the Truth that lay in a bed somewhere in Palestine. Their first stop was Jerusalem, the capital city. If anyone could help, certainly King Herod and those in Jerusalem had the answers. So they began asking around, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2). Eventually the wise men were guided to the home of their Savior, Jesus. But then came a dream; a dream that told them not to return to Herod but to take another route to their homeland. It was a dream about the King, and it was sent by God.
It happened again at the end of Matthew. It was another dream about the same King. It was also about a wicked plot to kill him. This time it was sent not to wise men from another country, but to the wife of the ruling governor, Pontius Pilate. Interestingly, only Matthew records both dreams.
Though not named in Scripture, tradition has named her Claudia Procula. Scripture tells us, “While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: ‘Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him” (27:19). This woman was greatly troubled by her experience.
What could have been in that dream that caused her to suffer so? We may never know, but we can imagine that it was so horrifying that she crossed the line of Roman etiquette and interrupted her husband who was seated on the judge’s seat in the midst of an important trial. That timely interruption may have made only a slight difference in his ruling. Instead of sentencing this innocent man to death on the spot, “he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood. . . It is your responsibility!’” (27:24).
Thirty-seven words are all we have regarding this woman, yet she poses some interesting thoughts. Why did the Lord choose her to bear witness to the innocent Savior? What caused her to do something that not even the Master’s own disciples could muster the strength to do?
Two dreams about the King of the Jews. Two dreams exposing plans to kill Jesus. In one dream it was the plot of the “chief priests and the teachers of the law” (2:2), in the other, the “chief priests
and the elders” (27:20). Two dreams sent to protect the life of the Son of Man.
Tradition says that Claudia eventually became a Christian and may even be the individual mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:21. The Eastern Orthodox Church has elevated Pilate’s wife to sainthood and still gives her special remembrance every October 27. That may be stretching tradition a bit. What we do know is that she suffered greatly for someone she identified as “that innocent man.” She was not the first to do so. Nor was she the last. Yet both dreams were striking testimonies of Jesus. Truly Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords, rising above all earthly kings and rulers. That fact goes beyond dreams and is a reality.
Notice how God controls everything that takes place in this world, and always for our good. What an awesome God!
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