The Fifth Station: Jesus Is Judged by Pilate

Presider: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Now on the occasion of the feast the governor was accus­tomed to release to the crowd one prisoner whom they wished . . . . "Which one do you want me to release to you, [Jesus] Barabbas or Jesus called Messiah?" While he was still seated on the bench, his wife sent him a message, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much in a dream today because of him." 
When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all, but that a riot was breaking out instead, he took water and washed his hands In the sight of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood. Look to it yourselves." (Matt. 27:15, 17, 19, 24)

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PILATE'S WIFE
Pilate doesn't like It when I dabble In his affairs. "Leave pol­itics to me. You 're my wife-give your orders to the servants in the kitchen." But this time I was compelled to speak out. I had dreams about Jesus-frightening dreams, warning dreams, dreams that seemed to come from the gods. So I sent a servant to Pilate to inform him of my dreams. He scoffed at me, saying I should watch the foods I was eating. Still I could tell that he had listened. On that fateful day, as I stood by Pilate's side, I saw Jesus there, awaiting my husband's judgment. He stood there, with the dignity of a king, despite the cruel crown of thorns. I observed my husband trying to free Jesus, trying to find a way to save him till he realized that sparing Jesus might mean a revolt by the Jews. One more Jewish complaint to Caesar could have meant my hus­band's career. I wept quietly as Pilate washed his hands. Somehow I knew that my husband and I would never be the same, that we would be haunted forever by the Nazarene's innocence, his nobil­ity, his gentleness. I was at Pilate's side on that fateful day, the wile of the man who condemned him. I had haunting dreams that I felt came from God. Have you ever resisted the voice of God? 
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PRESIDER: Let us pray .
ALL: Jesus, like Pilate, we too can resist the voice of God that comes to us from so many sources, includ­ing other people, events, and even dreams. May human respect, fear of failure, or the clamor of the mob never overpower the quiet voice of our conscience, Amen. 
Were you there when she warned him of her dreams?
Were you there when she warned him of her dreams?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble!
​Were you there when she warned him of her dreams? 

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