Whilst the religious rulers of the day were seeking to destroy Jesus, here is a woman who reveals that Jesus is an innocent man, without blemish, and urges her husband to see the same truth with haste. 

Though Pilate doesn’t listen, he does hear her, and we see his shallow effort to rid himself of any guilt in verse 45:

When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

Both Pilate and his wife recognised that Jesus was a just man who should not be condemned to death but, unlike Pilate, it was his wife who spoke up for what was true. 

Reflect: In some ways, it seems as though Pilate was trying to do the right thing. When a crowd gathers around his judge’s seat, he offers them a notorious prisoner (Barabbas), knowing that “it was out of envy” that the Jews had handed Jesus over to him.

It seems that Pilate had a measure of emotional intelligence. He had urged Jesus earlier, “don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” It’s false. Why aren’t you defending yourself? Pilate’s own conscience bore witness to the fact that Jesus was not worthy of crucifixion, no matter what the rowdy crowd was shouting at him.

And then along comes an urgent message from his wife, testifying that she had had a supernatural insight in her dream about Jesus’ innocence. Two witnesses have now confirmed the matter (Deuteronomy 19:15, 2 Corinthians 13:1) of Jesus’ righteousness, which, for a Jew who knew and practiced this principle of Scripture, might have been more compelling; but Pilate is Roman, charged with keeping the peace in his jurisdiction. Pilate decides the crowd is becoming too dangerous to manage and chooses to disregard his own conscience and his wife’s urgent message.

It’s easy to judge Pilate harshly from our perspective, with centuries of Christian faith behind us and firm knowledge that Jesus is our Saviour and Messiah. However, one can also see his dilemma. It’s highly possible that, in harmony with his vocational training, he chose at that moment to sacrifice his own gut feeling and the plea of his wife, believing that he was denying himself and his loved one for the greater good – for Rome.

Was Pilate acting in opposition to God’s will for his life or was he acting in accordance with it? Did he accomplish God’s purpose for him or did he not?

How did Pilate’s wife receive him, when he returned with the news that he did not listen to her plea, but in fact, had Jesus flogged and sent Him off to an agonizing death?

We will never know.

Respond: Is there some wrongdoing which is taking place around me? Do not be a passive spectator. Speak up.

Surely, most of us could probably do with some additional training about how best to speak up in order to increase the likelihood of being heard. Ask God to bring us opportunities to grow in this area and to prepare our hearts to learn even more.

Day 2 – March 27, 2021

Read: Matthew 26:17-30; Matthew 25:1-13

Reflect: Tonight at sundown marks the first Seder of Passover 2021. As we think about our ancient sisters, the women who followed Jesus and were among His disciples on their own journeys to the cross on this night over 2,000 years ago, it’s interesting to think about how they might have been spending this night. What were they thinking and feeling, while Jesus was having His Last Supper with the Twelve? Were the women celebrating Passover in their homes with their families? Had some of them joined together, since some of their men were busy with Jesus? Did they know that tonight – this weekend – would bring them tragedy? Could they have imagined that hundreds of years of prophecy were about to be fulfilled in the most pivotal moment in human history?

Jesus, our Passover Lamb, was sacrificed only once in all of human history--an event once and for all, never to be repeated. Our sisters who were present at that time had an unbelievable opportunity to walk with Him, to touch Him, to learn from Him, to share with others, to observe real miracles taking place -- and to have their faith tested, just as we do.

We may feel as though they had an advantage in seeing and touching Jesus in the flesh, in real time. If they could speak to us, they might well stand in awe of us, of disciples in our day and age who actually have a portion of Jesus Himself, living inside of us by the Holy Spirit, given at baptism! The opportunity for us to be close to Jesus, to know the peace of being reconciled with God, to witness miracles, to partner with God in His saving work – this is just as available to us today as it was to our sisters who followed Jesus during His earthly ministry. We, like them, may have no idea as to the opportunities for miracles and blessings as well as the unforeseen tests and challenges which may await us just around the corner.

Respond: Am I spiritually prepared for whatever may lie ahead? Talk to God about this in prayer and with another sister in Christ who will understand and encourage.

Day 3 – March 28, 2021

Read: Matthew 26:31-46; Matthew 6:1-14

Reflect: Where were the women among Jesus’ disciples on this night? It’s not likely that Jesus or any of the Twelve would have invited them to their late-night prayer time in Gethsemane after the Passover meal – Jesus would not have wanted to subject them to danger, which He knew was certain and imminent.

I imagine that, after the Passover meal was completed and all had gone to their beds, with the Twelve still not having returned to their respective homes (were they even expected by their womenfolk on that night, I wonder? ); very possibly the women may have been praying. Possibly in household groups, possibly on their own, perhaps on their knees by their sleeping place. Did they have a sense that something horrible was about to happen?

Where, in God’s eyes, at any moment in history, is the spiritual action taking place? Where is God’s heart and God’s attention? Jesus took the time to teach, and His female disciples heard: “Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Mt 6:6b)

Is there anything I have given up praying for? Is there something I feel powerless to influence or change? When circumstances take a horribly disappointing turn, do I simply resign myself to the new, worse “normal”? Is it possible that God could work through prayer to move the mountain (Mark 11:22-25)?

Respond: Decide to recommit to faithful prayer in the areas where my faith is challenged. Share this with someone who can encourage me.

Day 4 – March 29, 2021

Read: Matthew 26:69-75; Matthew 27:1-10

Reflect: Darkness reigns this night, in the hearts of these two of Jesus’ chosen Twelve.

Peter gives in to cowardice and lies outright, even in Jesus’ hearing, revealing how ridiculously poorly he would fare on any scale of self-awareness. What kind of disciple – even Apostle! – is this?

Judas commits suicide.

What must this have felt like for the women following Jesus at this time? What is happening with our men? John 13:2 says the devil had already prompted Judas to betray Jesus; verse 27 says, “As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.” Clearly Judas was vulnerable to Satan. What was this like for the women who knew these men?

Jesus was completely aware, as He sat down to break the bread and share the cup for a final time with the Twelve, that He had a traitor among them (John 13:11). Yet none of the Twelve reclining with Him at the table had any idea which of them it might be. It’s likely the women may well have been just as shocked as the men by the news of Judas’ betrayal and suicide. Or perhaps some had had a gut feeling all along – I just don’t feel right around Judas; what is this?

What happens in my heart when I am disappointed by the men around me, the ones who are supposed to be spiritual, to be my friends and companions, to be like-minded?

Respond: If I suffer a significant emotional disappointment, speak this truth in the hearing of an empathetic listener who will not judge or offer advice in that same moment. (I may need their input later on, but it will be very hard to hear in this same moment.) Name this disappointment to God and to at least one other living witness. Pray through Lamentations 3:21-23:
²¹ But this I call to mind,
    and therefore I have hope:

²² The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
²³ they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

Day 5 – March 30, 2021

Read: Matthew 27:19, 1 Samuel 25:2-34

Reflect: Reflecting back on Pilate’s wife’s response, one word quickly comes to mind—urgency. Notice that she sent her message while her husband “was sitting on the judge’s seat.” She interrupted him on the job! I can imagine that it must have been highly unusual for a woman during that period of time to intervene when her husband was in the midst of official duties. Clearly she saw her message as urgent; something that could not be delayed.

It reminds me of the urgency of another great woman of God in scripture, Abigail. When Abigail realized that her family was in danger, she “acted quickly” (1 Samuel 25:18). She did not hesitate. In fact, David makes it clear that if Abigail “had not come quickly” (1 Samuel 25:34), then all the males in her household would have been killed.

Not only did Abigail respond quickly, but she also responded humbly (1 Samuel 25:23-24). Her words and her demeanor were such that David was compelled to listen. As a result of her quick action and humble heart, Abigail was able to protect her family and to even protect David from further bloodshed (1 Samuel 25:39).

Respond: How quickly do I respond to sin in my life or sin in the lives of those around me? Is my response usually humble or defensive; helpful or accusatory? Spend some time in prayer, asking God to show me what sin I need to repent of and to lead me to humility and repentance.

Day 6 – March 31, 2021

Read: Matthew 27:19, Colossians 1

Reflect: The Bible tells us little about Pilate’s wife. However, folklore and non-biblical sources point to her as a wealthy, influential woman who was a proselyte to Judaism. In the Apocryphal book, The Gospel of Nicodemus, she is identified as Claudia Procula, a granddaughter of the Emperor Augustus. She is described as one of the women of higher classes who had been influenced by the Jewish religion. Later legends say that she became a Christian and may even have been the Claudia mentioned by Paul in 2 Timothy 4:21.

However, legend and folklore aside, we can infer from reading Matthew 27 that she was a woman of conscience and it would not be far-fetched to believe that she became a woman of faith. The good news of Jesus builds faith.

In Colossians 1, we are reminded of the power of the gospel of Jesus to bear fruit, instill hope and grow “throughout the whole world” (Colossians 1:6). This passage also reminds us of the supremacy of Jesus over every throne, power, ruler or authority the world has ever known; including the power of the Roman government, which must have seemed “imperishable” to the disciples at the time.

No matter what our background—whether from wealth and privilege like Pilate’s wife or from poverty and loss—when we are disciples of Jesus, we are “God’s holy people” (1 Colossians 1:2).

Respond: Re-read Colossians 1. Circle or write down any words or phrases that remind me of the power of Jesus and His good news in my life and in the world around me. Pray to take an active role in spreading the good news and proclaiming Jesus, “admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom” (verse 28).

Day 7 – April 1, 2021

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Reflect: In the United States and a number of other countries around the world, April 1 is called “April Fools’ Day.” It is a day when people play light-hearted pranks on one another. It’s the one day out of the year that silliness and jokes take center stage.

But one of the main points of etiquette on April Fools’ Day is that everyone recognize and distinguish between what is silly and what is serious; what is fun and what is not.

In this passage in 1 Corinthians, Paul acknowledges that “those who are perishing” do not understand the significance of the cross (verse 18). To them, it is “foolishness.”

Sometimes, even as a Christian, I can find myself reducing the importance of the cross in my own life. I can get arrogant in my thinking and forget that without the cross of Jesus, I am condemned to death because of my sin. I can get distracted as I take communion on Sundays, and find myself thinking about something other than the amazing sacrifice Jesus made in order to save me from my life of sin. The cross can become so familiar and routine in my mind, that I lose sight of its incredible significance.

Paul states clearly that for a disciple of Jesus, the cross is “the power of God” (verse 18)! The news of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection destroys all of mankind’s “wisdom” and “intelligence.” The glory of the invisible God did not walk on earth in the flowing robes of a worldly king. He came as a beaten and bruised carpenter who poured out His all for an undeserving person like me.

Respond: Take some time to write and reflect on the significance of the cross in my life. What in my life has changed because of the cross? What was I like before coming in contact with the cross? What hope and future do I now have because of the cross?

Sharon Gauthier, Chicago

Tammy Fleming, Kiev