Claudia, Wife of Pontius Pilate

by Taylor, Diana Wallis

  Was he hearing correctly? Lucius’s laughter spilled out as he looked from one self-righteous face to another. These fools wanted him to send a detail to guard a dead man? The very idea was preposterous. What would these Jews come up with next? He regained his composure, shaking his head. Well, what harm could it do if it was a means of keeping the peace.

  “Very well, you have a watch, now leave me. Make the tomb as secure as you can.” He almost sneered at them. Puffed-up hypocrites! Turning to his tribune, he murmured, “See to it.”

  The tribune called some of the waiting soldiers over and chose ten men, directing them to follow the Jewish leaders to the tomb and stand watch through the night. Some of the men grumbled at the unusual request, but they were trained men and did as they were told.

  Lucius watched them go, and as a slight breeze ruffled his cloak, he wondered at the contrast between the darkness the day before and this day. Something troubled him, but he didn’t know what it was. His horse was led out, and dismissing the strange premonition, he mounted and rode out with his men toward the aqueduct.

  Hotep swept up pieces of broken pottery and put Claudia’s room back in order. Lucius had ordered the repairs of the water pipe in the bathing room and the cistern checked, but it would have to wait until someone was free to repair it, due to the damage in the city.

  When the first day of the Jewish week dawned, no more Passover lambs could be sacrificed and roasted. The smell of roast lamb still permeated the city from the many ovens set up at various strategic points. Because lamb was plentiful during this season, there was even lamb on their dinner table. Claudia felt strange about eating it, because of Passover and the fact that she wasn’t Jewish, but Lucius assured her that there were many lambs not used for sacrifice left over.

  It was early evening two days later when there was a soft knock on the door, and Hotep opened it to see Joanna standing with the glory of the sun shining from her eyes.

  “I had to come and tell you.”

  “What has happened?” Claudia ushered the beaming woman into the room and indicated a chair, but Joanna seemed too excited to sit.

  “My lady, the Lord has risen.”

  “Risen? What do you mean?”

  “We have seen Jesus. He came into the upper room where we were praying and stood among us.”

  “You saw his ghost?”

  “No, it was not his ghost. It was the Lord himself. He actually ate with us and showed us the nail prints in his hands and feet. He tried to tell us so many times that he would rise on the third day, but it was hidden from us. We didn’t understand. We thought him dead, but he left the tomb where he’d been laid. Peter and John went to the tomb and saw the burial garments, lying there as though he had just slipped out of them.”

  Finally Joanna sank onto the chair. “After the Lord was crucified, we were bereft. We thought he was dead. He was taken down from the cross and one of the members of the Sanhedrin who is a believer, Nicodemus, asked for his body. He and another member of the Sanhedrin, Joseph of Arimethea, took the Lord’s body to a nearby tomb. We followed, not knowing what to do. The two priests anointed the body with myrrh and aloes as is our custom and wrapped it in burial cloths. When they had finished, we waited until they had gone and then marked the place of the tomb. We wanted to return in the morning when the Sabbath was over to make sure the body of our Lord was prepared properly.”

  Claudia interrupted. “But you said the men prepared the body.”

  “Yes, my lady, but it is the women who usually do this and we needed to be sure all was done that was to be done.”

  Claudia nodded and indicated Joanna was to go on.

  “We purchased spices in the marketplace early in the morning before daylight and made our way to the tomb. There were three of us, including Mary from Magdala. Since the stone was so great, we discussed among ourselves who could roll it away for us. We had heard that your husband had authorized a watch of soldiers to guard the tomb, and we were hoping some of them were there and would move the stone for us. When we got there, the soldiers were gone. It appeared they’d left in haste, for some of their belongings were scattered on the ground. We were wondering what to do when we realized the stone had already been rolled away. We feared the worst and cautiously entered the tomb.”

  Joanna stopped and her face lit up again. “There was this wondrous being in the tomb, I’m sure it was an angel. The light from his body illuminated the entire tomb and was almost blinding. The angel said, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay, and go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead, and indeed he is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him. Behold, I have told you.’”

  “You saw an angel?” Hotep could not keep silent at Joanna’s words.

  Joanna nodded. “Yes. I believe that’s what he was.”

  Claudia’s brow wrinkled. “This was the very thing the Jews thought would happen. My husband told me they asked for a watch. They were afraid the disciples would steal the Lord’s body and claim he had risen from the dead.”

  “But he did, my lady. No one stole the body. The graveclothes were still lying on the slab as though the body had just slipped out of them, and the head cloth was folded in its place. With soldiers guarding the tomb, how could the disciples move that great stone without making noise and drawing the attention of the soldiers?”

  Claudia wanted to believe her. “That is true. Since I heard that all the disciples ran away when Jesus was arrested, it would have been a reckless move on their part. They would have been arrested by the guards.”

  Joanna went on, “And here is an even more wondrous part. I went with Susanna to tell the disciples what we’d seen, for we knew where they were hiding. Mary Magdalene stayed behind. She was so devoted to the Lord. She was weeping and wanted to remain there alone.

  “We were doing our best to convince Peter and the other disciples of what we’d seen and they would have none of it. Then, suddenly, Mary burst into the room crying, ‘I’ve seen him! I’ve seen the Lord!’ She had actually seen him in his resurrected body and he’d spoken to her. She was nearly beside herself with joy. Well, I can tell you that Peter and John, as men do, scoffed at our story and wouldn’t believe Mary either. They decided to see for themselves and ran to the tomb. Of course they found it just as we had told them. They went back to the upper room to talk to the other disciples and believers, and suddenly the Lord himself appeared in the middle of the room!”

  “Are you sure he was not a ghost?”

  “Yes. He spoke with us and actually asked for some food, and ate it in front of us. No ghost can do that.”

  Joy rose like the dawn in Claudia’s heart. The Lord was not dead after all. In spite of what her husband and the Jewish elders thought they had done to him, he had risen and was alive. She reached out and clasped Joanna’s hands in her own. “What will the believers do now?”

  “We are to wait. The Lord said to wait until we receive power from on high.”

  “Power from on high? What does that mean?”

  “I don’t know, my lady, but we will wait in the upper room until we know.”

  “The believers and the disciples will need food then.” Claudia turned to Hotep. “Tell the cook I need baskets of food prepared to send with the Lady Joanna.” She turned back to Joanna. “How many are there?”

  “Over one hundred.”

  Claudia raised her eyebrows but instructed Hotep to prepare for one hundred—bread, wine, fruit, and cheeses. She dared not send meat, for the Jews were careful not to eat the meat from the Gentile markets, lest it had been offered to an idol.

  “Would they be afraid if I went there?”

  Joanna nodded. “It is too soon. Your husband ordered his crucifixion. I believe you would be regarded as a spy in their midst. Give them a little time. There are many groups meeting in homes throughout the city. Perhaps in time, a
small group of believers . . .”

  Claudia’s face fell. “I am ordered by my husband to remain in the castle until we return to Caesarea. I can no longer go about the city.”

  Joanna patted her hand. “Then I will start a group in my quarters. Chuza has already mentioned doing that. We will have to be discreet, but you are welcome to join us when you are here in Jerusalem, and you would not have to leave the palace. No one would suspect the staff meeting with us in Herod’s very palace. I will let you know when we begin.”

  The women embraced and Joanna left. Claudia turned to Hotep, who had been listening.

  Hotep looked anxiously at her mistress. “Might I go also, Domina?”

  “Of course. We will both go.”

  “What about your son?”

  “He shall go with us. I want him to learn at an early age about our Lord. He will be ready for a tutor in a couple of years, and if there is any way to do so, I intend to make sure the man is a believer.”

  “What is a believer, Mater?”

  The women turned to see Doros standing in the doorway of his room, rubbing his eyes. How long had he been there? “Did you hear what Joanna said, Doros?”

  “Jesus is dead, but he came alive. How did he get dead, Mater?”

  “Don’t worry about that, my son. Jesus is alive. He is not dead.”

  He came over to her and climbed up on her lap. “I am glad. I like Jesus. Can I see him?”

  Claudia glanced at Hotep. “Not right now, my love. He had to go on a journey. When he gets back, perhaps you can see him.”

  “All right.” He slipped off her lap and went to play with his small wagon.

  How quickly children could be distracted, Claudia reasoned. With a sigh of relief, she watched Hotep lead Doros back to his bed, then she began to undress for bed herself.

  Sleep would not come. As she lay there, her mind turned with possibilities. Would she be able to see Jesus herself? Would he appear to her? She dismissed that thought. She was a believer, but she was not one of his close disciples, and she could not go to the upper room as the others did. Even so, she would look forward to meeting with other believers in the palace. They were scheduled to leave in a few weeks for Caesarea for the late spring and summer, and she was reluctant to leave Jerusalem with all that was happening. Perhaps she could find believers in Caesarea.

  Finally, after praying for Lucius, she stared at the ceiling. Would there be a way to share this news with her husband? And if she did, what would be his reaction? In his present emotional state, would he believe her?

  41

  Claudia sought an opportunity to speak with Lucius about Jesus, but there never seemed to be a time when he wasn’t preoccupied. At first he was depressed, expecting a summons from Tiberius to answer for the things that had happened, but it didn’t come. The weeks and months passed and the year ended. Lucius seemed more ruthless than ever, as if to prove to the Jews that he was not a weakling who could be manipulated by their leaders. Claudia lived her faith quietly, for Lucius would not allow her to talk about Jesus to him. Doros had been cautioned not to speak of Jesus around his father just yet, for she knew the incident still bothered him. If he became angry, he could take him away and find a tutor who would exorcise any of Claudia’s influence as a believer.

  Claudia enjoyed the celebration of Hanukkah and met with a group of believers. She had finally been accepted into Chuza’s group, but not without much anxiety on their part.

  When they found out who she was, their smiles had turned to anger.

  Claudia faced them calmly. “I am not responsible for the actions of my husband. I love our Lord and am grateful for his mercy in healing my son.” She beckoned to Hotep, who came hesitantly, holding the hand of Doros. “My son was born with a crippled foot. In Roman society that is a curse. Jesus had no hesitation, and he knew whose son he was. I only ask that you let me learn more of our Savior so my son will grow up to love him also.”

  After she had spoken, one of the Jewish men stood and faced the group. “If our Lord had compassion on her son, so must we also have compassion on one who seeks the truth.” He then turned to Claudia. “Welcome, in the name of the risen Lord.”

  Relief flooded her being. “Thank you.”

  Chuza cautioned them, “She comes with great risk. Let us be sure that no word leaves this room of her presence here.”

  They all nodded and faces that had been anxious now greeted her with smiles.

  One by one, members of the group spoke and told their stories. One young man sat listening and brooding at the side of the room. He didn’t speak until most were getting ready to leave. As Claudia prepared to leave with Hotep holding the now sleeping Doros, he challenged her.

  “Jesus was innocent of any crime, yet the governor sentenced him to death. What kind of a man does that?”

  Claudia sighed. “A man who, in his own mind, had no choice. He could not have another riot. He would have been recalled, and who knows what kind of man Tiberius would send in his place?”

  Joanna faced the young man. “I have traveled with Jesus. He told us several times he would be killed and would rise on the third day. We didn’t listen. We didn’t want to believe, yet all came to pass as the Lord told us. The Most High God merely used our governor to accomplish his will.”

  The young man was startled at her words. Conflicting emotions crossed his face. Finally, he shook his head and went out the door.

  Claudia had been careful to attend the meetings only when Lucius was away. She didn’t want to take a chance on his forbidding her to go or to take Doros. Lucius was short-tempered these days. He had not heard from the emperor, but messages took time to reach the outer provinces. They both knew there was turmoil in Rome as Sejanus tightened his hold on the city and paved the way for his being named co-regent with Tiberius.

  When Lucius returned, he was silent at dinner, and while the pigeons stuffed with nuts were succulent and tender, he toyed with his food.

  “Something troubles you, my husband?”

  “I am expecting a courier from Rome. There are strange rumors floating about.”

  She’d had a sense of apprehension for several days but thought it was guilt because she’d been attending the meetings without her husband’s knowledge.

  “When will the courier arrive?”

  “Any day now.”

  “And you are fearful of the news he will bring.”

  He frowned. “I’m not sure how I feel. Waiting to find out if I have been recalled is never far from my mind.”

  “Is it the death of Jesus that troubles you?”

  “He was innocent. How could I put to death the man who healed my son?”

  He finally looked up at her and she saw the ragged pain in his eyes. He had been torturing himself. Was now the time?

  She began hesitantly, “Dear husband. I have news that you may not receive or believe, but it might put your conscience to rest.”

  He put a small chunk of bread down, his eyes fixed on her face. “What news?”

  She took a deep breath and sent up a silent prayer for guidance. “When Jesus was traveling around, toward the end of his ministry, he told his disciples several times that he would be taken by the Jewish elders and killed. They didn’t want to believe him. They didn’t want anything to happen to him. Joanna told me that he also told his disciples that on the third day after his death he would rise from the dead and be alive again.”

  He shook his head. “You have been listening to foolish tales. No man rises from the dead after the death he suffered. I know about the empty tomb, Claudia. The disciples stole the body right from under the noses of the soldiers.”

  Claudia suppressed a smile, thinking of the argument Joanna had used to convince her. She would use the same argument now with her practical husband.

  “Dear Lucius. I know that you keep a finger on all that goes on in Judea and you insist on the facts when you are making a decision. Let me share what I have learned. First, there were ten sold
iers. What is the penalty for going to sleep on their watch?”

  “Death. No soldier sleeps on duty,” he growled.

  “Then the soldiers would not go to sleep. The stone was large—so large I hear it took several men just to roll it into place. Would it not have made a noise if the disciples tried to move the stone out of the way?”

  “Yes.” His eyes narrowed. “Where are you going with this, woman?”

  “Just this. The disciples ran away when Jesus was arrested in the garden. They were in hiding, fearing arrest themselves. Would they have gone to the garden and boldly moved the stone with ten soldiers nearby? Would they have unwrapped the graveclothes from the body and left them behind as they carried the Lord’s body away?”

  She had his full attention. “The graveclothes were lying in place in the tomb as if the body had just slipped out of them. The head cloth was neatly folded and lying by itself. Would the disciples take time to do this under the circumstances?”

  He rubbed his chin. “You present a good argument, beloved. Caiaphas besought me to ignore the penalty for the guards. He said they had been bewitched.” He gave her an indulgent smile. “So what then has been done with this rabbi?”

  “He is risen, Lucius, and has been seen by all of his disciples, including Joanna.” She couldn’t keep the excitement out of her voice. “Lucius, he ate with them, and showed them the nail prints in his hands and feet. He is alive. You may have ordered his death, but he ordered his life.”

  “You want to believe these stories because of what he did for our son.”

  “No, Lucius, I want to believe because in my heart I know it is true. When he walked in Judea and taught the people, he raised three people from the dead, remember? You told me about it yourself. A man named Lazarus, a widow’s son, and a little girl. He just spoke the words and life came back into their bodies. The man Lazarus was raised before dozens of witnesses. Could not a man, who called himself the Son of God, have the power to take up his life again?”