John 13:12-30

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."

Judas' Betrayal Predicted

21 When Jesus had said this, He was troubled in His spirit and testified, "I assure you: One of you will betray Me!"

22 The disciples started looking at one another-uncertain which one He was speaking about.

23 One of His disciples, the one Jesus loved,^[h] was reclining close beside Jesus.^[i]

24 Simon Peter motioned to him to find out who it was He was talking about.

25 So he leaned back against Jesus and asked Him, "Lord, who is it?"

26 Jesus replied, "He's the one I give the piece of bread to after I have dipped it." ^[j] When He had dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot's son.^[k]

27 After [Judas ate] the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Therefore Jesus told him, "What you're doing, do quickly."

28 None of those reclining at the table knew why He told him this.

29 Since Judas kept the money-bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the festival," or that he should give something to the poor.

30 After receiving the piece of bread, he went out immediately. And it was night.

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
• [h]. Jn 19:26; 20:2; 21:7,20
• [i]. Lit reclining at Jesus' breast; that is, on His right; Jn 1:18
• [j]. Ps 41:9
• [k]. Other mss read Judas Iscariot, Simon's son