John 18:31-32 says, “Then Pilate said to them, ‘You take him and judge him according to your law.’ Therefore the Jews said to him, ‘It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,’ that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which he spoke, signifying by what death he would die.” Under trial outside the Praetorium, Jesus heard the Jews tell Pilate he was “an evildoer” (v. 30). Because this was a Jewish offense, Pilate said, “judge him according to your law.” But Rome exclusively retained the death penalty. Jews could not “put anyone to death.” Jesus predicted his own death by crucifixion (3:14, 8:28, 12:32). He knew what was coming. Jewish executions came by stoning. God superintended every detail, not Roman or Jewish authorities. Before its invention King David predicted crucifixion 1,000 years earlier (Psalm 22:16). Let’s thank God today for his careful control over our lives.