LHM Daily Devotions - SAVING THE SAVIOR?

"SAVING THE SAVIOR?"

Apr. 3, 2019

While he (Pilate) was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous Man, for I have suffered much because of Him today in a dream."

~ Matthew 27:19 (ESV)

Pilate's wife is one of the more interesting minor characters in the Passion story. All we know about her is that she had a dream about Jesus, and it concerned her so much that she tried to get her husband to set Him free as a righteous man. Where did the dream come from? Coincidence? God? Wherever it came from, she was right. And she did everything in her power to rescue the innocent Jesus from His fate.

Pilate was apparently worried by his wife's dream—no surprise, since the Romans put a lot of stock in omens, portents, and dreams. At the very least, he would have been deeply uneasy at his wife's report. He was already aware that the case against Jesus was based purely on jealousy—that the religious leaders hated Him for His popularity, and not for any real wrongdoing. So Pilate tried to get Jesus released through a trick—offering the crowd a choice between the popular Jesus and a known murderer, Barabbas. Unfortunately, it backfired. The crowd chose the wrong man. And Pilate didn't have the guts to set the innocent Jesus free.

It must have been heartbreaking for Pilate's wife. She tried so hard to save Jesus, and all for nothing. He died anyway, like a common criminal, hanged on a cross.

Or was it for nothing? Jesus wouldn't say so. He knew exactly why He had come to that day, and it wasn't to be miraculously saved by a Roman lady, however kindhearted. He came instead to save her—yes, and Pilate too, and everybody else, all who would have their sins taken away by His death on the cross. And by rising again, He gave all of us who trust in Him everlasting life. Jesus is our true and everlasting Savior.

THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You that You chose to save us rather than being saved Yourself. Amen.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

• Have you ever had a particularly disturbing dream?

• When have you tried to help someone and had it all go terribly wrong?

• When has God overruled your plans, only to do something that was ultimately much better?

Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Have you ever had a particularly disturbing dream?