Good Day to you. Todays Fresh Manna (16.12.14) Encounters with Jesus - 42 (A New Series from the Gospel of Luke) ************************ Matt 27:19. While Pilate was sitting on the judges seat, his wife sent him this message: Dont have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him (NIV). (Read Matt 27:18-20; Luke 23:15-25 ) Encounter in A Dream! ************************* Though we do not read about the dream of Pilates wife in Lukes gospel, it is worth meditating on how Pilates wife had an encounter with the suffering Saviour in her dream. It was while Pilate was waiting to hear the decision of the multitude with respect to the selection of the prisoners that the episode that follows (mentioned alone by St. Matthew) occurs. His wife. Her name, according to ecclesiastical tradition, was Claudia Procula. She is said to have been a convert to Judaism. Other accounts affirm that she ultimately became a Christian; and the Greek Church has canonized her, and inserted her in the Menology on October 27. It is probable that she was well acquainted with, and favourably disposed towards, the claims of Christ; and if she had impressed her husband in some degree with her own views, this fact may have influenced him to make some effort to save Jesus. Doubtless she had thought much upon the subject, and talked it over with Pilate; hence her dream was the natural sequence of that with which her mind had been filled in her waking moments, though providentially ordered. It speaks for the accuracy of the evangelists account, that lately the governors had been allowed to take their wives with them into their official districts, a law previously having forbidden this indulgence (see Tacitus, Annul., 3:33, 34). Have thou nothing to do with that just Man. Wordsworth well remarks, In the whole history of the Passion of Christ no one pleads for Him but a woman, the wife of a heathen governor, the deputy of the emperor of the world. This was another wanting given to Pilate to arrest Him in his criminal cowardice. The expression used means literally, Let there be nothing to thee and that Righteous One, which is equivalent to Do nothing to Him for which you will be hereafter sorry. I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him. It is useless to inquire the nature of her dream. From the way in which it is here introduced, and from what we know of Gods employment of dreams in other cases to communicate His will to men, we may reasonably conclude that this was divinely sent to convey a lesson to Pilate through his wife, who alone, perhaps, was able to arouse the better feelings of his heart. The mention of her suffering shows that she had some dreadful experiences to relate in connection with the fate of the righteous Jesus. As at the beginning of Christs life, so at its close, such communications were addressed to strangers. Pilates superstitious fears would be excited by this mysterious dream, but they were not able to overpower counteracting influences. Now as the Scriptures are completed, there is no such need to warn us by dreams, etc. God speaks to us through His Word, warning, guiding, and correcting us as we study the Word and listen to the exhortations of Gods people whom He may send to warn, counsel and encourage us (2 Timothy 3:15-17). Let us be careful to heed His timely warnings and be a blessing to others. Amen.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 07:59:34 +0000