Yochanan 13

1 3 Now before the Chag (Feast) of the Pesach, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, having da’as that his sha’ah (hour, time) had come, his sha’ah when he should pass from the Olam Hazeh to HaAv, having had ahavah for his own in the Olam Hazeh, he had ahavah for them to HaKetz.

2 And seudah taking place, Hasatan already having put into the lev of Yehuda Ben Shimon from K’riot that he should betray him,

3 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach having had da’as that HaAv had given into his hands all things, and that from Hashem Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach came forth and to Hashem he is going,

4 He rises from the seudah and put aside his kaftan, and having girded himself with a towel,

5 He puts mayim (water) into the basin and began to wash the raglei hatalmidim and to wipe them with the towel with which he had been girded.

6 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach comes then to Shimon Kefa. Kefa says to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, Adoni, you wash my feet?

7 In reply, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to him, Of what I am doing you do not have da’as now, but you will receive binah after these things.

8 Kefa says to him, Never will you wash my feet l’Olam! Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach answered him, Unless I wash you, you do not have a chelek [alloted portion of inheritance] with me. [DEVARIM 12:12; YESHAYAH 53:10; VAYIKRA 5:15-16]

9 Shimon Kefa says to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, Adoni, then not my feet only but also my hands and my head.

10 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to him, The one having been bathed does not have need except his feet to wash, but is wholly tahor, and you are tehorim, though not all.

11 For Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach had da’as of the one betraying him. Therefore, he said, Not all are tehorim.

12 Therefore, when he washed their feet and resuited himself into his kaftan, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach reclined at tish again and said to them, Do you have da’as of what I have done for you?

13 You call me Rabbeinu and Adoneinu, and you say well, for Ani Hu.

14 If, therefore, I, being Rebbe and Adon, washed your feet, you ought to wash the feet of one another also.

15 For I gave you a mofet that as I did to you, you may do also.

16 Omein, omein, I say to you, an eved is not greater than his Adon, nor is a shliach (one sent) greater than his Meshalle’ach (Sender).

17 If you have da’as of these things, happy are you, if you put them into practice.

18 I do not speak about all of you—I have da’as of whom I chose—But it is to fulfill the Kitvei Hakodesh, OKHEL LAKHEMI HIGDIL ALAI AKEV (the one eating my bread he lifted up his heel against me. [TEHILLIM 41:9 (10)]

19 From now on I tell you before the occurrence that you may have emunah (faith) when it occurs, that Ani Hu. [YESHAYAH 41:4; 46:10; 43:10]

20 Omein, omein, I say to you, the one receiving whomever I may send receives me, and the one receiving me [Moshiach], receives the One having sent me [Hashem].

21 Having said these things, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was spiritually troubled and he gave solemn edut (testimony), and said, Omein, omein, I say to you, that one of you will betray me.

22 Moshiach’s talmidim were looking at one another, being uncertain about whom he speaks.

23 One of his talmidim was reclining at tish near the kheyk (bosom) of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach—the talmid haahuv.

24 Therefore Shimon Kefa nods to this one to inquire who it may be about whom Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach speaks.

25 Having leaned back, then, that one thus near the kheyk Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, says to him, Adoni, who is it?

26 He answers, That one it is to whom I will dip the [maror into the charoset] morsel and will give to him. Having dipped, therefore, he takes the [maror, charoset, matzah] morsel and gives to Yehuda Ben Shimon from K’riot.

27 And after he received the [maror, charoset, matzah] morsel, then Hasatan entered into that man; therefore, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to him, What you are bent on doing, do quickly.

28 But no one reclining at tish had da’as of why he said this to him.

29 For some were thinking vi-bahlt (since) Yehuda from K’riot had the aron otzaram (chest of treasury), that he says to him, Buy the things which we need for the Chag (Feast) or that he should give ma’ot chittim (money for wheat financial contributions) for haAniyim (the poor).

30 Therefore, having taken the morsel, that man went out immediately. And it was lailah (night).

31 When, therefore that man went out, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says, Now the Ben HaAdam [DANIEL 7:13-14] receives kavod and Hashem is given kavod in him.

32 If Hashem receives kavod in him, Hashem will also give him kavod in himself, and Hashem will give him kavod immediately.

33 Yeladim, yet a little while I am with you; you will seek me, and as I said to those of Yehudah, Where I go away, you are not able to come. Also to you I say this now.

34 A mitzvah chadasha I give to you, that you have ahavah (agape) one for the other, as I have had ahavah (agape) for you, so also you have ahavah (agape) one for the another. [VAYIKRA 19:18]

35 By this will kol Bnei Adam have da’as that my talmidim you are, if ahavah you have one for the other.

36 Shimon Kefa says to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, Adoni, where are you going? In reply, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach answered him, Where I go, you are not able now to follow me, but you will follow later.

37 Kefa says to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, Adoni, why am I not able to follow you now? I will lay down my neshamah for you.

38 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach answers, Your neshamah for me will you lay down? Omein, omein, I say to you, a tarnegol will not crow until you make hakhchashah (denial) of me [as Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach] shloshah times.

Yochanan 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.