Lenten Devotional: March 24, 2026

by Rev. Elyse Nielsen

Scripture: Matthew 27:11-26 NIV

Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.

While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat,his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”

But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered. “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” 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!” All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Reflection:

Listen to your spouses.  I wonder when it was that Pilate's wife began considering Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah. Scripture gives us some insight, but only my experience tells me that the Holy Spirit was moving to prompt her, to invade her thoughts much earlier than that one dream so much that would cause her to act. Dreams are usually just your mind trying to make sense of real and one's own perception of reality while resting. The body finally allows the mind to wander, to use imagination, and for the Holy Spirit to send a message. I don't often put much energy into thinking about dreams, if I remember them, however in the Bible many people have dreams and recognize them as messages from God. Since we know that Jesus walked willingly into his arrest, trial, death, and resurrection, what purpose does this detail serve? 

Other biblical wives in such power, like Queen Esther,  were used to save a nation. When she spoke up, at great personal risk, it changed the course of history. I wonder, if Pilate's wife thought, "surely something cataclysmic is going to happen and there will be terrible consequences for my husband." Was this warning about self-preservation? I like to think that it is not. I like to believe that the inbreaking of the kingdom of God was already happening. People were being drawn to Christ and the truth already. I believe she saw history unfolding and wanted to be on the right side of it. 

Today, the people closest to us, if they are Christians, may too be the ones who will reach us. Their word of encouragement, of warning, of uncomfortable truths may be the very word that we need to hear. It may also be in the nick of time. So, listen to those who Love God and who love you. Discern the truth in prayer, in holy conversation, in reflecting if the word aligns with how God has worked in the past. Does it bring you and others good? Does it reflect God's heart? If yes, then listen to your spouses. 

Question:

Where do we see God's protection and providence?

Who is in your life who is the voice of uncomfortable truths?

Prayer:

Holy God of love, help us to discern your voice from the voice of judgement. May we discern your movements for us through those closest to us, like a husband or a wife.