Not All SHeroes Wear Capes

Matthew 27:11-26,New International Version

Jesus Before Pilate

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

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus[a] Barabbas. 17 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?” 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.

19 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.”

20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they answered.

22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

24 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!”

25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”

26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Footnotes

1. Matthew 27:16 Many manuscripts do not have Jesus; also in verse 17.

‍

What makes the wife of Pontious Pilate an unlikely shero in the text is:

1. She trusts what she hears - sometimes sheroes and heroes only have what they believe is the voice of GOD to trust -  In the Gospel of Matthew, GOD often speaks through dreams.    
2. She challenges the most powerful man in Palestine and the most powerful man in her life - The Governor who happens to be her husband.
3. She speaks the truth - even while those who should be speaking the truth are lying - She is presumably a pagan, non-Jewish gentile - seeing a truth that those who are supposed to be connected to Covenant and Scripture miss
4. Her sheroic actions are not lauded, do nothing to stop what is wrong - but she does it anyway, because for most of us who read the text - we believe she did what was right simply because it was right! And as a result - Pilate has to acknowledge the innocence of Jesus. - Sometimes sheroes and heroes have to do what is right despite being delayed and at times denied validation.