John 13

Foot washing

1 Before the Festival of Passover, Jesus knew that his time had come to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them fully.

2 Jesus and his disciples were sharing the evening meal. The devil had already provoked Judas, Simon Iscariot's son, to betray Jesus.

3 Jesus knew the Father had given everything into his hands and that he had come from God and was returning to God.

4 So he got up from the table and took off his robes. Picking up a linen towel, he tied it around his waist.

5 Then he poured water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel he was wearing.

6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

7 Jesus replied, " You don't understand what I'm doing now, but you will understand later."

8 "No!" Peter said. "You will never wash my feet!" Jesus replied, " Unless I wash you, you won't have a place with me."

9 Simon Peter said, "Lord, not only my feet but also my hands and my head!"

10 Jesus responded, " Those who have bathed need only to have their feet washed, because they are completely clean. You disciples are clean, but not every one of you."

11 He knew who would betray him. That's why he said, " Not every one of you is clean."

12 After he washed the disciples' feet, he put on his robes and returned to his place at the table. He said to them, “Do you know what I've done for you?

13 You call me ‘Teacher' and ‘Lord,' and you speak correctly, because I am.

14 If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you too must wash each other's feet.

15 I have given you an example: Just as I have done, you also must do.

16 I assure you, servants aren't greater than their master, nor are those who are sent greater than the one who sent them.

17 Since you know these things, you will be happy if you do them.

18 I'm not speaking about all of you. I know those whom I've chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture, The one who eats my bread has turned against me.

19 " I'm telling you this now, before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I Am.

20 I assure you that whoever receives someone I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."

Announcement of the betrayal

21 After he said these things, Jesus was deeply disturbed and testified, " I assure you, one of you will betray me."

22 His disciples looked at each other, confused about which of them he was talking about.

23 One of the disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was at Jesus' side.

24 Simon Peter nodded at him to get him to ask Jesus who he was talking about.

25 Leaning back toward Jesus, this disciple asked, "Lord, who is it?"

26 Jesus answered, " It's the one to whom I will give this piece of bread once I have dipped into the bowl." Then he dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot's son.

27 After Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus told him, " What you are about to do, do quickly."

28 No one sitting at the table understood why Jesus said this to him.

29 Some thought that, since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus told him, "Go, buy what we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor.

30 So when Judas took the bread, he left immediately. And it was night.

Love commandment

31 When Judas was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Human One has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.

32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify the Human One in himself and will glorify him immediately.

33 Little children, I'm with you for a little while longer. You will look for me—but, just as I told the Jewish leaders, I also tell you now—‘Where I'm going, you can't come.'

34 " I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other.

35 This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other."

Announcement of Peter’s denial

36 Simon Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, " Where I am going, you can't follow me now, but you will follow later."

37 Peter asked, " Lord, why can't I follow you now? I'll give up my life for you."

38 Jesus replied, “Will you give up your life for me? I assure you that you will deny me three times before the rooster crows.

John 13 Commentary

Chapter 13

Christ washes the disciples' feet. (1-17) The treachery of Judas foretold. (18-30) Christ commands the disciples to love one another. (31-38)

Verses 1-17 Our Lord Jesus has a people in the world that are his own; he has purchased them, and paid dear for them, and he has set them apart for himself; they devote themselves to him as a peculiar people. Those whom Christ loves, he loves to the end. Nothing can separate a true believer from the love of Christ. We know not when our hour will come, therefore what we have to do in constant preparation for it, ought never to be undone. What way of access the devil has to men's hearts we cannot tell. But some sins are so exceedingly sinful, and there is so little temptation to them from the world and the flesh, that it is plain they are directly from Satan. Jesus washed his disciples' feet, that he might teach us to think nothing below us, wherein we may promote God's glory, and the good of our brethren. We must address ourselves to duty, and must lay aside every thing that would hinder us in what we have to do. Christ washed his disciples' feet, that he might signify to them the value of spiritual washing, and the cleansing of the soul from the pollutions of sin. Our Lord Jesus does many things of which even his own disciples do not for the present know the meaning, but they shall know afterward. We see in the end what was the kindness from events which seemed most cross. And it is not humility, but unbelief, to put away the offers of the gospel, as if too rich to be made to us, or too good news to be true. All those, and those only, who are spiritually washed by Christ, have a part in Christ. All whom Christ owns and saves, he justifies and sanctifies. Peter more than submits; he begs to be washed by Christ. How earnest he is for the purifying grace of the Lord Jesus, and the full effect of it, even upon his hands and head! Those who truly desire to be sanctified, desire to be sanctified throughout, to have the whole man, with all its parts and powers, made pure. The true believer is thus washed when he receives Christ for his salvation. See then what ought to be the daily care of those who through grace are in a justified state, and that is, to wash their feet; to cleanse themselves from daily guilt, and to watch against everything defiling. This should make us the more cautious. From yesterday's pardon, we should be strengthened against this day's temptation. And when hypocrites are discovered, it should be no surprise or cause of stumbling to us. Observe the lesson Christ here taught. Duties are mutual; we must both accept help from our brethren, and afford help to our brethren. When we see our Master serving, we cannot but see how ill it becomes us to domineer. And the same love which led Christ to ransom and reconcile his disciples when enemies, still influences him.

Verses 18-30 Our Lord had often spoken of his own sufferings and death, without such trouble of spirit as he now discovered when he spake of Judas. The sins of Christians are the grief of Christ. We are not to confine our attention to Judas. The prophecy of his treachery may apply to all who partake of God's mercies, and meet them with ingratitude. See the infidel, who only looks at the Scriptures with a desire to do away their authority and destroy their influence; the hypocrite, who professes to believe the Scriptures, but will not govern himself by them; and the apostate, who turns aside from Christ for a thing of naught. Thus mankind, supported by God's providence, after eating bread with Him, lift up the heel against Him! Judas went out as one weary of Jesus and his apostles. Those whose deeds are evil, love darkness rather than light.

Verses 31-35 Christ had been glorified in many miracles he wrought, yet he speaks of his being glorified now in his sufferings, as if that were more than all his other glories in his humbled state. Satisfaction was thereby made for the wrong done to God by the sin of man. We cannot now follow our Lord to his heavenly happiness, but if we truly believe in him, we shall follow him hereafter; meanwhile we must wait his time, and do his work. Before Christ left the disciples, he would give them a new commandment. They were to love each other for Christ's sake, and according to his example, seeking what might benefit others, and promoting the cause of the gospel, as one body, animated by one soul. But this commandment still appears new to many professors. Men in general notice any of Christ's words rather than these. By this it appears, that if the followers of Christ do not show love one to another, they give cause to suspect their sincerity.

Verses 36-38 What Christ had said concerning brotherly love, Peter overlooked, but spoke of that about which Christ kept them ignorant. It is common to be more eager to know about secret things, which belong to God only, than about things revealed, which belong to us and our children; to be more desirous to have our curiosity gratified, than our consciences directed; to know what is done in heaven, than what we may do to get thither. How soon discourse as to what is plain and edifying is dropped, while a doubtful dispute runs on into endless strife of words! We are apt to take it amiss to be told we cannot do this and the other, whereas, without Christ we can do nothing. Christ knows us better than we know ourselves, and has many ways of discovering those to themselves, whom he loves, and he will hide pride from them. May we endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, to love one another with a pure heart fervently, and to walk humbly with our God.

Footnotes

• [a]. Ps 41:9
• [b]. Or Son of Man
• [c]. Or Son of Man