Claudia, Wife of Pilate

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."  Matthew 27:19

Even though Pilate's wife is not named in the New Testament, Christian tradition refers to her as either Claudia or Procula, or sometimes the combination of Claudia Procula.

Little is known about her specifically, but we can deduce things based on the time and culture.  As a Roman woman, as the wife of an official, she would have been educated and wealthy, born into high status.  It's possible she sent the message because Pilate was accustomed to seeking her advice; this kind of Roman woman was usually quite powerful behind the scenes.

We know that dreams held tremendous significance in the ancient world.  Somehow this dream was upsetting enough to warrant her interference into a volatile situation.  Upsetting for us is that we don't know what the dream detailed.

So what can we learn from Claudia Procula?

First, she is the only one in this whole story who sticks her neck out for Jesus.  She proclaims his innocence!  She defies the local customs and precepts and says what she thinks.

Do we do this?  Do we proclaim him as our savior no matter what is going on around us?  No matter who it might offend, what danger it may put us in, how volatile the situation?

Do we rebel to the world to conform to God?
Do we risk looking foolish to the world or looking foolish to God?

Who are we living for?

We don't know if Claudia was a Christian, before or after.  Did she grow in her love for God?  Did she ever choose him?

She might not have.  She might have simply been a good woman who cut through the baloney going on around her.

But how wonderful if she loved God.  What an inspiration she is to women - to speak!  To proclaim God's truth and God's word and the freedom of the Savior!!

We can live this way today.  We can stand up for what is right, despite what others say.  We can live for truth.

Or we can keep silent.

Which will you do today?