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

Jochebed, the Epitome of a Mother

 by Sherri Stewart

Most people haven’t ever heard of Jochebed, but she is one of the most amazing mothers that ever lived. She raised three early leaders of God’s chosen people. Jochebed epitomizes the significance of a great mother. Ironically, we don’t know her name until the genealogy in Exodus 6: “Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, who bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.” We find out she’s a daughter of Levi. Jochebed, whose name (Hebrew yokheved) means YHWH is glory,” is notable as the first person in the Bible to have a name with the divine element yah, a shortened form of YHWH.

Jochebed was not born at an easy time. She was born into slavery at a time when the Egyptians ruled over the Jews. They were forced into hard labor to build the cities of Ramses and Pithom. Not only that, but the pharaoh forced the midwives to kill all newborn baby boys. Thus, Jochebed lived in a world of injustice, poverty, and fear, but she lived by faith for her family. She and her husband, Amram, had three children—Aaron, Miriam, and Moses. 

She saw “perceived” that Moses was a beautiful child. Beautiful in Hebrew, can mean ‘high and noble purpose.’ So Jochebed saw her child’s destiny. In Hebrew 11:23, Moses’ parents saw that their child was ‘unusual.’ The Greek word has the connotation of not ordinary. This mother, in defiance of the Pharaoh’s order that every male Hebrew child be killed, hid her newborn son for three months and then placed him in a basket on the Nile. She would have been killed if she was caught. As in World War II, parents had to hide their children from Nazi evil, sometimes, having to put their children in danger to save their lives. 

Jochebed loved her son enough to let him go. She used what she had—pitch and tar—to make a way for her child to live. She was also strategic about where her child would end up, sending her daughter, Miriam, to keep an eye on her little brother. Don’t you think Miriam learned a lot about faith in God from watching her mother take risks and act strategically in order to save this precious child?

The pharaoh’s daughter found the child and accepted the offer of Moses’s sister, Miriam, who witnessed the rescue of her brother, to find a Hebrew woman as a wet nurse for the infant. The narrative cleverly placed Jochebed as the caregiver for her own son. Only God could orchestrate a story like this. 

Jochebed raised three great children, all of whom would give birth to a nation. Miriam would become the first prophetess. When they crossed the Red Sea, Miriam sang a song, which is recorded in Exodus 15, and she danced. Aaron was the spokesperson to Pharaoh when Moses was reluctant to do so. He later became the first chief head priest of Israel. In essence, Jochebed gave birth to Israel. 

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

Deer Eyes

Her eyes reflect fear, but looks can be deceiving.

From the moment high-school principal, Judd Trudeau, sees the fear-filled eyes of the beautiful woman in Acadia Park, he knows he must tread lightly. If he wants to get close, Judd must gain her trust. But those deer-in-the-headlights eyes remain, and his need to protect her trumps his better judgment. She’s running from something. The more he learns about Selah Brighton, the more he realizes looks can be deceiving.

Selah Brighton has reason to be wary, which is why she chose to hide in Bar Harbor, Maine. The fewer people who know her story, the less danger she’ll bring to their lives. It’s not wise to stay in any place for long, but something about Judd Trudeau makes it hard to tamp down her feelings.

 https://amzn.to/3oGaI0s