What does John 18:34 mean?
Jesus has already decided to submit to the will of God (Matthew 26:42), which will include His unfair abuse and execution (Matthew 20:18–19; Luke 18:32). However, He will continue to make the situation clear, leaving His enemies no room for excuses. In this case, Christ subtly points out that Pilate has no reason to be speaking with Him. Had the Roman governor felt Jesus was a political threat, he would have arrested Jesus himself. This encounter is only happening because the religious leaders of Jerusalem are pressing to have Jesus killed (John 11:49–53). Pilate is not "saying" these things—discussing Jesus as the "king" of the Jews—as a result of his own concerns. He's responding to what others are claiming.Pilate's answer (John 18:35) continues his pattern of dismissive arrogance towards Israel (John 18:30–31). He admits that the matter clearly looks like a squabble between Jewish religious figures (Matthew 27:18; Mark 15:10). John's account here is likely a summary, but the key points are clear. Pilate will press Jesus to see if His "kingship" is an immediate threat to Roman rule, realize it is not, and seek to have Him released (John 18:38).
John 18:28–40 describes Jerusalem's religious leaders taking Jesus to the local Roman governor. While Jewish authorities are allowed punish blasphemers, Roman law will not let them administer the death penalty. Jesus is too well-liked to be assassinated, so His enemies will attempt to paint Him as a rebel against Rome. In a private interview with Pilate, Jesus claims His role as King, but also notes that His purpose is not yet to rule an earthly kingdom. Pilate attempts to appease the crowd, trying to spare a clearly innocent man, but a mob has formed to demand Jesus' death. John continues his habit of skipping details offered in other Gospels. He does not repeat the account of Jesus before the Sanhedrin (Mark 14:55–65), nor the part of Pilate's investigation where Jesus is sent briefly to Herod (Luke 23:6–12).
Jesus is secretly, quietly arrested in the garden of Gethsemane and taken to a series of sham trials before Jewish leadership. This leads to His encounter with the local Roman governor. Jesus accepts being described as "King" but denies that His current purpose is earthly rule. A mob assembled by Jesus' enemies reject Pilate's attempt to free Jesus. In the meantime, Peter fulfills Christ's prophecy about a three-fold denial.
