Procula: The Wife Who Could Have Changed History—or Not

By Sherri Stewart

 

Have you ever watched a movie more than a few times and wished that the ending would be different this time? Imagine if Jack had somehow survived the icy Atlantic waters and shown up later in Rose’s life in Titanic? Today’s woman of influence takes what-if’s to whole new level.

Although the Bible contains little personal information about Pontius Pilate’s wife, various historical and apocryphal records identify her as Claudia Procula. Claudia grew up near a Roman outpost close to the Mediterranean Sea. It’s believed that her arranged marriage to Pontius Pilate bolstered Pilate’s political standing, perhaps leading to him being named governor of Judea in 26 AD. As part of his governing responsibilities, Pilate reported to Jerusalem during the Jewish festival to keep order and preside over legal proceedings, Claudia was with Pilate in Jerusalem during Jesus’s trial. It was unusual for a wife to accompany her husband to a post, which might mean they had a loving relationship. Did God lead Pilate to invite his wife for such a time as that?

At the height of Jesus’s trial before Pilate, Claudia sent her husband a note that strongly warned him against the impending judgment. “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man,” she said, “for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him” (Matthew 27:19). Pilate  took the time to read her message, which shows that he valued her opinion, but ultimately, he bowed to the crowds and issued a death sentence despite his wife’s warning.

If only Pilate had heeded his wife’s warning—the one verse about her in the Bible—the whole of history would have changed. But then, Jesus wouldn’t have died on the cross, risen from the dead, and we’d still be in our sin, having no hope for a life with Him in heaven. So here’s the rub. Who influenced Procula to send the note to her husband? This is unlike Titanic—we want a different ending, but if we get what we want, we lose everything. 

Some people believe that perhaps Claudia was the person responsible for relaying the details of Jesus’s trial to the disciples for documentation. Chris Bolinger explains, “She would have known the intimate details because he [Pilate] told her after the dreadful day where he sent an innocent man to his death. And, of course, she would have remembered every detail because she had had a dream warning her husband to have “nothing to do with that righteous man.” Crosswalk.com 2020 20 Mar. How else would we know about the dream?

Peter denied Jesus, Judas betrayed him, the rest of the disciples fled. Crowds cried, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” The only one who tried to save his life was a woman, a Gentile woman, a pagan woman. She was the only one who didn’t bow to public pressure. She interceded despite overwhelming opposition. But, of course, she couldn’t be successful, or we’d die in our sins. Still, I have a feeling that we’ll meet Claudia Procula someday.

 

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Sherri Stewart loves a clean novel, sprinkled with romance and a strong message that challenges her faith. She spends her working hours with books—either editing others’ manuscripts or writing her own. Her passion is traveling to the settings of her books and sampling the food. She loves the Netherlands, and she’s still learning Dutch, although she doesn’t need to since everyone speaks perfect English. A recent widow, Sherri lives in Orlando with her lazy dog, Lily. She shares recipes, tidbits of the book’s locations, and pix in her newsletter. Subscribe at http://eepurl.com/gZ-mv9

What Hides behind the Walls

If the Nazis stole your house, wouldn’t you be justified in stealing it back now that the war is over?

When Tamar Feldman admits to her husband, Daniel, and mentor, Neelie Visser, that she broke into her former home, they scold her for taking such a risk. Tamar is tired of being careful. She’s tired of living in the present, as if the past doesn’t matter. But the painting of the violin girl in her former bedroom draws her back again and again. She finally steals the painting to return it to its former owner. Now maybe this small act of justice will help her start to heal What Tamar doesn’t realize is the past isn’t finished with her yet; in fact, it’s as close as the walls in her house and even follows her to Paris.

https://amzn.to/3fxHAHo

Woman of Influence—Mary of Magdala

 By Sherri Stewart

When I was in Israel, the tour guide had our bus driver pull off at an exit in Galilee. Apparently a developer had bought the parcel of land by the exit to build a hotel, but as they started digging he quickly changed his mind about building a resort. Just under the topsoil rested the town of Magdala and the remains of a synagogue dated fifty years before Christ, which makes it the oldest synagogue found in Galilee. Even more remarkable is the undisturbed nature of this site. The Magdala Synagogue stands alone, with nothing above or beneath it—making it a virtual time capsule of its day. Currently, its foundations are visible, along with steps, seats and a fresco, all beautifully preserved.

There are many women named Mary in the Gospels, but Mary of Magdala appears in every Gospel narrative. Mary is listed as one of the women who was supporting Jesus's ministry financially, so she must have been relatively wealthy. The places where she and the other women are mentioned throughout the gospels strongly indicate that they were vital to Jesus's ministry, and the fact that Mary Magdalene always appears first, whenever she is listed in the Synoptic Gospels as a member of ‘a group of women,’ indicates that she held an important role.

One of the first things we learn about Mary Magdalene is that she was possessed. Luke 8:2 says, “And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons.” We are not told whether Jesus healed her of the demons, but we do know that her loyalty and devotion to Jesus was very strong. Luke 7:47 says, “Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” The context of this verse did not involve Mary Magdalene, but the idea conveyed is totally applicable. He who is forgiven much loves much.

 

 It may surprise the reader to discover that Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute. The portrayal of Mary Magdalene as a prostitute began in 591 when Pope Gregory's Easter sermon resulted in a widespread belief that Mary Magdalene was a repentant prostitute or a promiscuous woman. Perhaps because she had been delivered of seven demons led early church leaders to confuse her with Mary of Bethany (Luke 10:39) and the unidentified sinful woman who anointed Jesus’s feet (Luke 7:36-50). Pope Paul VI removed the stigma attached to her name in 1969 by attesting that she wasn’t a prostitute, but still she is perceived that way due to movies, plays (Jesus Christ Superstar) and novels.

Mary Magdalene’s presence at Jesus’s crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension testifies to her love and devotion of her Messiah. All four gospels list her by name at the cross along with Mary, Jesus’s mother, and Clopas. None of the disciples except for John were brave enough to remain there. Mary Magdalene is not only seen at the foot of the cross, maintaining her devotion to her Lord to the end, but she also followed the men to the sepulcher to confirm where He was buried. Then, on Resurrection morning, Mary Magdalene was the first to arrive at the open tomb. She mistook Jesus for a gardener at first. 

In John 20:16,17, “Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” As we can see, Mary Magdalene was the first person to see the resurrected Jesus. And she was the first person to be sent by Jesus to tell others about the resurrection, the most important event in the history of man.

So why did Jesus tell her not to touch Him? In John 20:17, the word translated “touch” is a Greek word which means “to cling to, to lay hold of.” This wasn’t just a touch; it was a grip. Obviously, when Mary recognized Jesus, she immediately clung to Him. Mary’s reaction was motivated, possibly, by several things. One is simply her loving devotion to the Lord. Mary is overwhelmed by the events of the morning, and as her grief turns to joy, she naturally embraces Jesus. Another motivation is Mary’s desire to restore the fellowship that death had broken. She had lost Him once, and she was going to make sure she didn’t lose Him again—she wanted to keep Jesus with her always. However, it was not Jesus’ plan to stay in this world always, and His resurrection was not to be seen as His promised return. That is why He tells Mary of the ascension. His plan was to ascend to the Father and then send the Holy Spirit (John 16:7; 20:22; Acts 2:1-4). Fellowship with Jesus would continue, but it would be a spiritual communion, not a physical presence.

 

Sherri Stewart loves a clean novel, sprinkled with romance and a strong message that challenges her faith. She spends her working hours with books—either editing others’ manuscripts or writing her own. Her passion is traveling to the settings of her books and sampling the food. She loves the Netherlands, and she’s still learning Dutch, although she doesn’t need to since everyone speaks perfect English. A recent widow, Sherri lives in Orlando with her lazy dog, Lily. She shares recipes, tidbits of the book’s locations, and pix in her newsletter. Subscribe at http://eepurl.com/gZ-mv9

A Song for Her Enemies

After Nazi soldiers close the opera and destroy Tamar Kaplan’s dream of becoming a professional singer, she joins the Dutch Resistance, her fair coloring concealing her Jewish heritage. Tamar partners with Dr. Daniel Feldman, and they risk their lives to help escaping refugees. When they are forced to flee themselves, violinist Neelie Visser takes them into hiding.

Tamar’s love for Daniel flowers in hardship, but she struggles with the paradox that a loving God would allow the atrocities around her. When Tamar resists the advances of a Third Reich officer, he exacts his revenge by betraying the secrets hidden behind the walls of Neelie’s house. From a prison hospital to a Nazi celebration to a concentration camp, will the three of them survive to tell the world the secrets behind barbed wire?   https://amzn.to/2YJBkRn

 

A Song for Her Enemies