THE WIFE OF PILATE

Part I

Many years ago, there was a gathering in a certain place on a Sunday evening after church service. On that Sunday the Lord had not left Himself without testimony, under the preaching of His servant, who now rejoices before the Throne already for many years. That day it was, as it once was in the field of Boaz: the Lord let fall by handfulls by the reapers. There was much opening at that meeting; the conversation was not about ministers and churches, but about what the Lord had been pleased to give the one and the other. It was a pleasant gathering which cannot be different when the Lord grants liberty to speak with each other about the ways of the Lord, when according to Ps. 144, “That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store.” That is to God’s honor, but also to the edifying of each other.

Where can it be found now? Where are the gatherings? Alas, how many of God’s children have been gathered in, and how little has come in their place. At present it is a rarity, if after the sermon there is conversation in the consistory room about what was read or preached. Usually when the sermon is ended, then all is passed.

In 1925 when I spoke for the first time in Boezemsingel in Rotterdam, the service commenced in the morning at 10 o’clock, and in the afternoon at 5 o’clock. Then, most of the elders and deacons were already present half an hour before the service. And thus it was also after the service. In those days the morning service was ended at 12 o’clock. Then it has happened that we spoke about what was preached till 12:30; a sermon before the service, and a sermon after the service. There were more things to talk about the one time than the other, but at that time the people were not so hasty to leave. Sometimes they were pleasant moments. As a young man, I sometimes received light from those old experienced elders (as a means in God’s hand) about which I later preached.

Some explanations of texts out of God’s Word, remained with me all my life. Some of the observations from the Word of God supplied much light about God’s eternal testimony, from which we later received fruit for our own life. Especially for students and young ministers such conversations can be so profitable for the life of their soul and also for their ministration. But let us return to our topic.

At the end of that gathering (it was in Zeist) the devil also came between, if I may put it that way. What happened? Did they pull each other apart; contradict each other; reject and suspicion each other? No, nothing of all that. But we know, that the Bible speaks of the little foxes that spoil the vines. We would say, how is it possible after such a richly blessed day and fruitful evening; how could that happen?

There was someone at the gathering who still had a question before they would take leave of each other, and that man or woman who came forth with that question earnestly desired an answer. The question was about the wife of Pilate; namely: whether that woman was converted or unconverted. Whether she was in heaven or in hell. Perhaps (let us hope so) that that question was asked out of pure interest; but the devil was behind it to ruin and to destroy everything. Had those people only been wise enough, that they had said, “We will save that subject for the next time.” But alas, the question was considered. And as that unually goes, one said this about it and the other said something else. And finally it became a confusion, and that after such a blessed gathering.

Finally a young man (who later became a minister in God’s church, and who after his death still speaks) was asked what his thought was about this woman. He had been sitting in a corner of the room quietly listening and had not mixed in with the conversation. Very calmly the young man said, “My answer will be very short. With all your talking and quarreling you have changed that wife of Pilate into a bird.” And he explained that clearly. “The Lord,” (said the young man) has today and also this evening showed so much of His love and kindness, and now you have begun to speak about that wife of Pilate, and by speaking about this woman, all the seed that was sown today, has been picked away, and so we will soon go to our homes more unedified than edified.”

And this often happens, if at the gathering (if they are still held) there would be more spoken about the one thing needful out of Lord’s Day 1 and about the Lord Jesus, then it would be different, what a sad state. We should say with the prophet Jeremiah: “Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears”, Jer. 9:1. We would cry ourselves to water if we truly realized in what times we are presently living.

As a young man of about 16 or 17 years I sat in the gathering of God’s people, where they did not speak of ministers and churches, but where they spoken and sang of the ways of the Lord. Truly, I could write a book about it; how it sometimes was formerly, and how we have to live today. On my birthplace, on the island where I grew up, in Zuid-Beverland, also in the parsonage of the late Rev. Kersten of Yerseke, we often came together on Saturday evening with so many of God’s people, who spoke about what God had done for their soul. On the island Tholen, in Nieuwerkerk, Zeeland, at Bruinisse, in Terneuzen, on the island Walcheren (a few still know of it) there were evenings and gatherings which are preserved for eternity. Sometimes we were together till deep into the night.

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