John 18:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

NIV: Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

NASB: Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was in their best interest for one man to die in behalf of the people.

CSB: Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be better for one man to die for the people.

NLT: Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, 'It’s better that one man should die for the people.'

KJV: Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

NKJV: Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

Earlier in this Gospel, Jesus' enemies plotted to have Him killed (John 11:53). This group is sometimes referred to by John as "the Jews," but his meaning is the religious ruling class of Jerusalem. These men justified their hostility by fear that Jesus would trigger an uprising against Rome, resulting in catastrophic backlash (John 11:47–48). Eventually, they found a traitor among the disciples and were able to capture Jesus away from a supportive crowd (John 18:1–11).

John points out that the current high priest, Caiaphas, had described Jesus' fate through an accidental prophecy (John 11:51–52). In a display of cold-blooded arrogance, he sneered at his peers' indecision and suggested a death plot. His precise comment was "that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish" (John 11:49–50). In his mind, murdering one person was a small price to pay for maintaining the status quo.

Jesus' role as Messiah, however, was meant to accomplish something very similar. Rather than allow all of mankind to suffer eternally, God arranged for just One to experience death (Romans 5:6). While Caiaphas was indifferent to Jesus' innocence, that lack of sin (Hebrews 4:15) was key to His role as Savior (Hebrews 9:11–14). That single death allowed the salvation of the entire world (John 3:16), accomplished in those who turn to Christ in faith (John 3:36).

John 18:12–14 prefaces Jesus' interrogation in front of Jewish religious leaders. Rome artificially installed high priests, despite the Old Testament calling for a lifetime appointment. Annas was a former high priest who'd been replaced by a new Roman governor. This initial interview, before Jesus is taken to Caiaphas, suggests Annas was a major figure in Jewish leadership, despite not holding an official office.

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.

John's Gospel was written well after the other three, so he frequently chooses to present different details. Chapter 17 detailed Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, just before He entered the garden of Gethsemane. This chapter describes Jesus' arrest, sham trials before Jewish leadership, and the beginning of His trial before the Roman governor. In the following chapter, Jesus will be unfairly condemned, executed, and buried.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.