Pontius Pilate a villain in salvation plan? There is no definite agreement regarding his birth , place and even his name, He was married to Claudia or Procula by name, She was considered to be proselyte, from high society, well educated. Always by the side of Pontius or his tours. He did value her opinions on religious matters. But when Pontius sat on Judgment seat to decide about Jesus, he ignored her suggestion and later did consult her after sentencing Jesus, She is believed to have sent a message to Pontius” have nothing to do with this righteous man” Her dream in which she suffered terribly was on a tour of ship, hovering with dark clouds and heard the Captain say that great Pam is dead. How can God die was her response. She repeatedly heard the creed in her dream’ suffered under Pontius Pilate, crucified, buried,,,,,,,,,,” and was tormented by it, Dreams in the past were believed to be revelations and were treated with respect though with reservations. The privy to that dream were the couple themselves, though the holy text mentions it . She was indeed the only one who tried to save and spoke about Jesus and save him of ignominious death . How true the suggestions that the dream was inspired by the devil, to foil, thwart and defeat the plan of salvation, resurrection and redemption of mankind by death of Christ which was foretold and had to come to pass. Was she a convert along with her husband or was she a secret Christian ? Nothing verifiable from history and authentic records available. The Coptic and Eastern churches venerate them and revere them as saints on specific days.
It appeared that the Pilate was pressurized by influential of Jewish community, for he was a threat to their supremacy., The crowds adored and followed him and Jews hierarchy were likely to lose their stronghold on the community. Hence Pilate wanted Jesus to co operate with Jewish authority. He saw Jesus as a potential rebel, who had to be neutralized He was appointed By Sejanus after Tiberius King and maintaining peace was his prime duty. Pilate was a politician and administrator, collecting taxes and maintaining law and order were his main priority .He was not looked upon favorably by Rome, to whom he tried to please. He hung worship images of Emperor by nights and had to face flak and withdraw. He was oppressive to Jews and wanted to abolish Jewish laws. In the same spirit he minted coins with pagans insignia and Caesar and again was forced to retreat for his most unpopular act. Luck was not on the side of Pilate as Sejanus his mentor was murdered. In a small uprising in Samaria basically against Pilate. He suppressed it brutally and had to face consequences, Vetellius replaced him with Marcellius and Pilate was asked to report to Rome, which he did reluctantly for fear of retribution on disobeying orders. Pilate cunningly sent Jesus to Herod, hoping he might release Jesus, thus avoid bad report on him to Rome for sentencing Jesus and thereby avoid personal responsibility and guilt. Herod referred Jesus back to Pilate citing jurisdiction. Pilate was cruel ruthless and had sentenced many to death without any fair trial and jews were secretly conspiring against him all the time. One would expect and be morally satisfied that retribution would follow by Divine for spilling the innocent blood. Sacred text do not describe or hint about his end to meet justice There are lot of speculations, nevertheless, before he could report to Rome a the king died and his inquisition about role in Judea was perhaps forgotten or delayed. Was he executed by Nero or committed suicide in prison to avoid disgraceful, shameful punishment? When he appeared in tunic before furious King for inquiry in Judea, the King melted in his anger and left him. Immediately he called him back , stripped him of the sacred tunic and was once again filled with uncontrollable rage to confined him to prison and death sentence. Another version states that he was exiled and entangled in one misfortune or other that he committed self destruction along with his wife and his demonic body had no place to rest. Did the merciful Jesus, whose creed is forgiveness and not retribution absolve him by his repentance perhaps, or because of his wife who interceded to save Jesus? Pilate was not blamed by Jews for fear of intervention and further reprisal by Rome, but took upon themselves and their children the innocent living blood of Jesus., Pilate in the famous act of washing his hands nevertheless condemned innocent Jesus without any fault for capital punishment .Pilate bowed to cries of Jews in order to save his position and for threat of unfavourable report to the Emperor. Jesus was dining with the tax collector and tried to wriggle out on tax question, by saying give to King what belongs to him and to God his due. Pilate in that sense questioned Jesus whether he was the King , because tax rebellion was a serious, sedition offence against Rome ,deserving capital punishment That question Jesus never responded directly and which Pilate furious. Pilate was thus necessary clog in the wheel of salvific plan and could derail the predictions of centuries, which had to come to pass The church is also not emphatic about condemning Pilate for his hippocratic stance of washing of his hands after committing the sentence and in order to save his chair. How amusing and distasteful that the memory of Pilate still survives centuries, in spite of being on the wrong side of justice. The Church merely hums the tune of doing wrong by symbolic washing of hands in an act of absolution, that has no place and significance in law or natural justice Pilate is a sarcastic example to be quoted for willful derailing of justice by wit and cunning even in the present days Pilate sadly lives along with Christ, much to chagrin of Christian community, who see him as a villain without spine devoted to his personal self What then is human punishment that would satify Christ followers and what exactly was the end of Pilate? Some one needs to satisfy the curiosity evading so far Nelson Lopes Chinchinim
