Don't Have Anything to Do With Him

Read Matthew 27:1-31.

It's the only thing we know about her, the plea she gave to her husband. "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man." There are glimpses of her in history, but when it comes right down to it, we know very little about Pilate's wife. The Bible doesn't even tell us her name (though tradition has called her both "Procula" and "Claudia"). All we know is that she had some sort of sensitivity to spiritual things, and she believed that messages from "beyond" could be found in dreams.

Pilate is caught up in the politics and the drama of it all, but his wife comes to him with a humanizing word. She's had a dream. A bad dream. A horrible dream. A dream powerful enough that it's convinced her that this man who is on trial with her husband will be Pilate's undoing. Coming in contact with the Nazarene will be disastrous to Pilate. And so, this word, sent to her husband in the midst of the proceedings: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man."

Oh, if only it were so easy. But it's too late for that. Pilate can't "have nothing to do with him," because he has a duty. A responsibility. He has to stand strong, to show this rabble that he is charge of Jerusalem. If he weakens, if he backs down, they will threaten to go over his head to Caesar. So, try as he might, he can't "have nothing to do with" Jesus. He has to do something with Jesus.

And that "something" does change his life. Pilate would probably be a forgotten functionary in the Roman Empire were it not for this day he spent with Jesus. And for the sentence he passed on Jesus. He didn't want to. I'm guessing his wife's words haunted him all day long and perhaps far into the night. "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man."

His wife's words were good ones for him, but in vain. And yet, that same voice echoes down through the centuries. Her words are heard in the voices of those who think they know better, who are educated beyond needing someone like this Jesus, something like his religion. "Don't have anything to do with him," the voices warn. "He will change your life. He'll mess it up." Yes, he will. He'll change it all around. He'll make demands you think you can't possibly live into. He'll call you beyond yourself. If you don't want to change, if you don't want your life turned upside down, then don't have anything to do with this man.

But if you're ready for a life of adventure, a life of challenge, a life of joy and fulfillment, maybe you want to ignore her words and see what Jesus has to offer. Pilate had a sentence to pass; his wife had a day to wake into. The religious leaders had a messiah to put down; the crowd had a choice to make between two "criminals." Pilate's wife cried out in vain, as it thankfully does today, "Have nothing to do with this man." My challenge to you is to "have everything to do with this man." The choice is ultimately yours; either choice will change your life.

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