John 13:12-20

The Meaning of Footwashing

12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His robe, He reclined^[a] again and said to them, "Do you know what I have done for you?

13 You call Me Teacher and Lord. This is well said, for I am.

14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

15 For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done for you.

16 "I assure you: A slave is not greater than his master, ^{[b] [c]} and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him.

17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

18 I'm not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen. ^[d] But the Scripture must be fulfilled: The one who eats My bread ^[e] has raised his heel against Me. ^[f]

19 "I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am [He]. ^[g]

20 I assure you: The one who receives whomever I send receives Me, and the one who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."

Footnotes

• [a] At important meals the custom was to recline on a mat at a low table and lean on the left elbow.
• [b] Or lord
• [c] Jn 15:20
• [d] Jn 6:70
• [e] Other mss read eats bread with Me
• [f] Ps 41:9
• [g] Jn 8:58