She Dreamed of an Innocent Man
Matthew 27:17 – So after they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?” 18 – (For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy) 19 – As he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man; I have suffered greatly as a result of a dream about him today.”
While Pilate was talking with Jesus and dealing with the chief priests who were bringing accusations against him, his wife was in the midst of her own trouble. She had a dream which troubled her greatly. She learned something very important about Jesus. He was innocent. Look at the timing in the verses. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent and that the chief priests had handed him over ‘because of envy’ he saw right through their schemes. Then just at the right time he received a message from his wife confirming his own conclusion. Jesus was innocent. How would his wife know anything about what was going on since she was asleep in bed during the time all this was happening? There was a mystical power at work confirming a very important truth. Jesus was innocent and what Pilate would decide next was very important.
Verse 24 tells us what Pilate did – When Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but that instead a riot was starting , he took some water, washed his hands before the crowd and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. You take care of it yourselves!”
Pilate felt he could do nothing. Look at all the verses in this chapter. Pilate gave his power over to the crowd roaring “crucify Him.” In the Gospel of John Pilate said to Jesus “Is it not clear to you that I have power to let you go free and power to put you to death on the cross? Jesus gave this answer: You would have no power at all over me if it was not given to you by God; so that he who gave me up to you has the greater sin.” – John 19:10-11.
God gave Pilate the power to do the right thing regarding Jesus and Pilate gave up that power and responsibility and sent Jesus to the cross because he feared the crowd. He even received a surprise message from his wife to help him with this important decision but, tragically, he rejected it. Every day we are given power to do the right thing. Some days those decisions are tough and we get scared – scared to speak up; scared to remain silent; scared to act or scared to remain still and wait. Pilate was talking with the Son of God and had a sense of amazement throughout his conversation. Let’s take time in Bible study and talk with God in prayer. Those big decisions are coming – Let’s trust Jesus to lead us to courageously make the right choices today!
Where two are gathered 