A Really Bad Dream

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land (Mt.  27:45)

Preface:  You know that feeling--when you've had a really bad dream and you wake up suddenly, then are so relieved to realize it was just a dream.... The morning after Jesus had been arrested, Claudia Procula, Pontius Pilate's wife, woke up from a nightmare.  But her really bad dream didn't go away.  There are no  details about the dream, we only know it was about Jesus and it disturbed and frightened her.  Who was this highly-placed Roman lady and why was she concerned about a poor Galilean carpenter named Jesus?

Claudia's childhood plays out like a soap opera.  She was the granddaughter of Roman Emperor Julius Caesar.  Her mother, Julia, is described as being so promiscuous, she was banished from Rome because of her shameful conduct.  During this exile, she had an affair with a Roman soldier and illegitimately gave birth to Claudia. Julia's third husband, Tiberius, became emperor after the death of Julius Caesar, so Claudia grew up  in the palatial surroundings of the Roman residence of Tiberius.  Married at 18 to Pontius Pilate, their wedding present was the governorship of Judea.  Pilate was an inexperienced ruler and made many blunders, embittering the Jews and fostering numerous Jewish insurrections against the Roman occupation.

Claudia was in Jerusalem when Jesus was arrested and brought to trial.  She and Pilate habitually took up temporary residence there to maintain peace and order during the Jewish festivals. Did Claudia know of Jesus by reputation or observation?  Had she seen Jesus while she was on an excursion through the streets of Jerusalem seated on a magnificent sedan chair, lifted high and carried by slaves? Maybe she actually witnessed a miraculous healing.  Or was it by word of mouth from her servant girls who could more easily venture outside of the luxurious fortress palace that housed visiting Roman dignitaries.

For some reason, Jesus was of importance to Claudia and, as someone of the ruling class, she tried to save his life.  The fact that she defended Jesus' innocence while he was being falsely accused is significantly immortalized in scripture.  This must have deeply touched Jesus and encouraged his heavy heart since many of his disciples and friends had completely deserted him and the once-adoring crowds had turned vicious. 

It is intriguing to note that tradition indicates Pilate's wife, Claudia, eventually became a Christian.

Claudia describes the circumstances of her dream:

"I woke up with a jolt, shaking, my heart racing.  I was afraid to move and stared at the ridiculously opulent inlaid gold ceiling towering above me.  Then I felt momentarily relieved, thinking my nightmare about Jesus was only a dream.  But angry voices coming through the windows of our residence brought me back to reality.     

"The palace was perched high above the city and from my window I could see throngs of restless, agitated people screaming "Crucify him!"  When I realized this was all about Jesus, I felt sick.  The haunting nightmare was still vivid in my mind.  I had been deeply disturbed by the news of Jesus' arrest as I retired for the evening.  I didn't know why he had been taken and accused of crimes that could cost his life.  He was immensely popular and showed extraordinary kindness to those in dire need.  He was a just and innocent man.  His goodness had profoundly affected me.

"For the Jewish leaders to bring him before my husband a second time only meant one thing.  They wanted permission from Pilate to execute him. I was amazed Pilate had not immediately agreed to the death penalty to save face as a politician and appease the hysterical mob that had been enraged by wild accusations from the jealous chief priests and elders.  Many in the crowd were the same people who had only days before been Jesus' biggest fans.  It was so unlike Pilate to balk at settling this issue instantly.  He was a military man and had no qualms about shedding innocent blood to stifle a rebellion and stay out of trouble with Rome.

"Now Jesus stood there, alone.  Up all night and exhausted, he had been ridiculed and spat upon.  He was covered with bruises and wounds from being slapped and struck by fists of furious religious leaders and temple guards.  For hours he had been hounded with false accusations and verbal abuse.  He was not a criminal.  I knew that and somehow Pilate knew that, but things were totally out of control.

"It irritated me that not one person tried to defend him, especially when Pilate himself insisted Jesus was innocent.   I grabbed a servant by the arm and ordered him to go immediately to my husband and tell him I was upset and tormented by a dream I just had about Jesus and to urge him not to have anything further to do with the proceedings.  But it didn't work.  Watching from my window, I saw my husband give in to their lies and demands.  In a cowardly attempt to rid himself of any responsibility, he washed his hands in front of the crowd, declaring he was innocent of Jesus' blood.  Jesus was taken to be flogged and brutally crucified.  I moved from the window and slumped to the floor weeping.  My soul ached for this compassionate, humble man known everywhere for healing and delivering the oppressed.

"As Jesus hung on the cross, the brilliant afternoon sun gave way to an ominous darkness that lasted over 3 hours.  Then, as he gasped his last breath, the earth convulsed with a massive earthquake, splitting rocks and leveling structures.  Tombs broke open, releasing dead people who came back to life.  All of Jerusalem had been brought to its knees.  But not for long.  These terrifying events weren't enough to stop the brazen chief priests and elders.  They scrambled through the rubble to Pilate and foolishly conspired with him to secure Jesus' grave so his disciples could not steal his body and claim he rose from the dead.  Unbelievable!

"Three days have now passed and Jesus' followers are indeed proclaiming he is alive!  They insist they have seen him.  Those who rose from their graves when Jesus died now walk the streets of Jerusalem!  I am mystified, but at the same time exhilarated.  If Jesus is truly divinity, he does not remotely resemble any of the gods I have known and worshipped since childhood.  And I will not rest until I learn more about this god-like man who has defied death and promises eternal life."

Matthew 27:11-66

(c) Joyce Catherwood 2011