John 13:9-19

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

10 "One who has bathed," Jesus told him, "doesn't need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you."

11 For He knew who would betray Him. This is why He said, "You are not all clean."

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]

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