13 4 Christ rising from supper, 14 to command humility to his Apostles, washeth their feet. 21 He noteth the traitor Judas, 26 with an evident token. 34 He commendeth charity. 37, 38 He foretelleth Peter of his denial.

Now (A)[a]before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come, that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, forasmuch as he loved his [b]own which were in the world, unto the end he loved them.

And when supper was done (and that the devil had now put in the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him.)

Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his [c]hands, and that he was come forth from God, and went to God,

He [d]riseth from Supper, and layeth aside his upper garments, and took a towel, and girded himself.

After that, he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel, wherewith he was girded.

Then came he to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do, thou knowest not now: but thou shalt know it hereafter.

Peter said unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou shalt have [e]no part with me.

Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also the hands and the head.

10 Jesus said to him, He that is washed, needeth not, save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are (B)clean, but not all.

11 For he knew who should betray him: therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

12 ¶ So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

13 Ye call me Master, and Lord, and ye say well: for so am I.

14 If I then your Lord, and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do, even as I have done to you.

16 Verily, verily I say unto you, (C)The servant is not greater than his master, neither the [f]ambassador greater than he that sent him.

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

18 [g]I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but it is that the Scripture might be fulfilled, (D)He that eateth bread with me, hath lift up his heel against me.

19 From henceforth tell I you before it come, that when it is come to pass, ye might believe that I am he.

20 (E)Verily, verily I say unto you, If I send any, he that receiveth him, receiveth me, and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me.

21 When Jesus had said these things, he was troubled in the Spirit, and [h]testified, and said, Verily, verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

22 (F)Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.

23 Now there was one of his disciples, which [i]leaned on Jesus’ bosom, whom Jesus loved.

24 To him beckoned therefore Simon Peter, that he should ask who it was of whom he spake.

25 He then as he leaned on Jesus’ breast, said unto him, Lord, who is it?

26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it: and he wet a sop, and gave it to Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son.

27 And after the sop, Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

28 But none of them that were at table, knew, for what cause he spake it unto him.

29 For some of them thought because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast: or that he should give something to the poor.

30 As soon then as he had received the sop, he went immediately out, and it was night.

31 [j]When he was gone out, Jesus said, [k]Now is the son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.

32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.

33 [l]Little children, yet a little while am I with you: ye shall seek me, but as I said unto the (G)Jews, Whither I go, can ye not come: also to you say I now.

34 (H)A new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another: as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know, that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

36 [m]Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now: but thou shalt follow me afterward.

37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why can I not follow thee now? (I)I will lay down my life for thy sake.

38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou have denied me thrice.

Footnotes

  1. John 13:1 Christ no less certain of the victory, than of the combat which was at hand, using the sign of washing the feet, doth partly thereby give an example of singular modesty, and his great love toward his Apostles in this notable act, being like very shortly to depart from them: and partly witnesseth unto them, that it is he only which washeth away the filth of his people, and that by little and little, in their time and season.
  2. John 13:1 Them of his household, that is, his Saints.
  3. John 13:3 Into his power.
  4. John 13:4 In that he is said to rise, it argueth that there was a space between the ceremonies of the Passover, and this washing of feet, at what time it seemeth that the Supper was instituted.
  5. John 13:8 Unless thou suffer me to wash thee, thou shalt have no part in the kingdom of heaven.
  6. John 13:16 The word signifieth an Apostle which is anyone that is sent from another.
  7. John 13:18 The betraying of Christ was not casual, or a thing that happened by chance, but the Father so ordained the cause of our salvation, to reconcile us unto himself in his Son, and the Son did willingly and voluntarily obey the Father.
  8. John 13:21 He affirmed it openly, and sealed it.
  9. John 13:23 John’s leaning was such, that sitting down in his bed, his head was toward Jesus’ head: so that it was an easy matter for him to touch Jesus’ bosom: for it is certain that in old time men used not to sit at the table, but to lie down: on the one side.
  10. John 13:31 We have to consider the glorifying of Christ in his ignominy.
  11. John 13:31 This verse and the next following, are a most plain and evident testimony of the divinity of Christ.
  12. John 13:33 The eternal glory shall flow by little and little from the head into the members. But in the meantime, we must take good heed that we pass over the race of this life in brotherly love.
  13. John 13:36 An heavy example of rash trust and confidence.

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

13 It was just before the Passover Festival.(A) Jesus knew that the hour had come(B) for him to leave this world and go to the Father.(C) Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.(D) Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power,(E) and that he had come from God(F) and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.(G) After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet,(H) drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”(I)

“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean,(J) though not every one of you.”(K) 11 For he knew who was going to betray him,(L) and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’(M) and ‘Lord,’(N) and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.(O) 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.(P) 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master,(Q) nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.(R)

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

18 “I am not referring to all of you;(S) I know those I have chosen.(T) But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture:(U) ‘He who shared my bread(V) has turned[a](W) against me.’[b](X)

19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe(Y) that I am who I am.(Z) 20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”(AA)

21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit(AB) and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”(AC)

22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved,(AD) was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”(AE)

26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas,(AF) the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.(AG)

So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money,(AH) some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival,(AI) or to give something to the poor.(AJ) 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.(AK)

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial(AL)

31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man(AM) is glorified(AN) and God is glorified in him.(AO) 32 If God is glorified in him,[c] God will glorify the Son in himself,(AP) and will glorify him at once.

33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.(AQ)

34 “A new command(AR) I give you: Love one another.(AS) As I have loved you, so you must love one another.(AT) 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”(AU)

36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”(AV)

Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now,(AW) but you will follow later.”(AX)

37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!(AY)

Footnotes

  1. John 13:18 Greek has lifted up his heel
  2. John 13:18 Psalm 41:9
  3. John 13:32 Many early manuscripts do not have If God is glorified in him.