John 18:32 - Printer Friendly

ESV: This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

NIV: This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.

NASB: This happened so that the word of Jesus which He said, indicating what kind of death He was going to die, would be fulfilled.

CSB: They said this so that Jesus's words might be fulfilled indicating what kind of death he was going to die.

NLT: (This fulfilled Jesus’ prediction about the way he would die. )

KJV: That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.

NKJV: that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.

"This," as referenced here, is the fact that Roman soldiers, not Jerusalem's priests, will be the ones to put Jesus to death. This is something Christ has already predicted in detail (Matthew 20:18–19; Luke 18:32). Further, crucifixion would fulfill Jesus' reference to being "lifted up" (John 3:14; 12:32). Later, John will point out by being crucified, not stoned, Christ's death did not involve breaking any of His bones, also fulfilling prophecy (Psalm 34:20) and echoing His role as the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:46; 1 Corinthians 5:7).

Legal or not, it's all but certain that Jews under Roman rule sometimes executed those deemed guilty of blasphemy (Acts 7:54–60). While technically illegal, it's unlikely Rome cared much about a few Jews killing each other over religion. This is why Jerusalem's leaders attempt to frame Jesus as a revolutionary (John 19:12–15; Luke 23:2). If the Romans kill Jesus, his enemies can direct the people's anger (John 12:17–19) towards their occupiers.

It's the suggestion that Jesus is claiming to be "king," in such a way as to defy Rome, that gives Pilate a reason to try Him in the first place (John 18:33).

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.

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 gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. 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”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.