Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet
Study note
Knowing that his hour of departure has come, Jesus rises from the Passover supper and performs the task of the lowliest servant by washing his disciples' feet. Peter initially refuses, but Jesus insists that without this washing, Peter has no part with him. Jesus then explains that he has given them an example: if their Lord and Teacher washes feet, they should serve one another in the same way. This act redefines leadership as humble service rather than exercising authority.
1 It was just before the Passover feast. Jesus knew that his time had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had always loved his followers who were here in the world, and now he showed them the full depth of his love. Now 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, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
2 They were eating supper together. The devil had already put the idea of betrayal in the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
3 Jesus knew that the Father had placed all power in his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was about to go back to God. Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4 So he got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around his waist. He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 Then he poured water into a bowl and got down on his knees. He began washing his followers' feet and drying them with the towel. After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6 When he got to Simon Peter, Peter objected: "Lord, you are going to wash my feet?" Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus told him, "You do not understand what I am doing right now, but someday it will all make sense to you." Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter insisted, "No! You will never wash my feet!" Jesus replied, "If I do not wash you, then you do not truly belong to me." Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter blurted out, "Then do not wash my feet, Lord -- wash my hands and my head too!" Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10 Jesus said, "Someone who has already taken a bath only needs their feet rinsed off, and then they are completely clean. And you are clean -- though not every one of you." Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
11 He said "not every one of you" because he already knew which person was going to betray him. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
12 After he finished washing their feet, he put his robe back on. He sat back down at the table and asked, "Do you understand what I did?" 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 "You call me Teacher and Lord, and that is exactly right -- that is what I am." Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 "So if I, your Lord and Teacher, got down and washed your feet, you need to be willing to wash each other's feet too." If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
15 "I showed you an example so you would know how to treat one another." For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 "I am telling you the truth. A servant is not more important than the master. A messenger is not more important than the one who sent them." Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17 "Now that you understand these things, you will find real happiness when you do them." If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
Jesus Predicts His Betrayal
Study note
Jesus becomes troubled in spirit and reveals that one of the Twelve will betray him. The disciples are confused and look at each other uncertainly. The beloved disciple, leaning close to Jesus, asks who it is. Jesus identifies the betrayer by dipping bread and giving it to Judas Iscariot. After taking the bread, Satan enters Judas, and Jesus tells him to do what he is about to do quickly. The other disciples misunderstand, thinking Judas is being sent on an errand. Judas goes out, and John notes with profound symbolism, 'And it was night.'
18 "I am not talking about all of you. I know exactly who I chose. But what the Scripture says has to come true: 'The one who shared my bread turned against me.'" I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
19 "I am telling you this now, before it happens. That way, when it does happen, you will know that I am who I say I am." Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
20 "I am telling you the truth: anyone who welcomes the person I send is welcoming me. And anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the one who sent me." Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
21 After saying all this, Jesus became visibly upset. He told them plainly, "The truth is, one of you sitting here is going to betray me." When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
22 The followers looked at each other around the table. They had no idea who he was talking about. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
23 The follower that Jesus loved the most was sitting right next to him, leaning in close. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
24 Simon Peter caught his eye and motioned for him to ask Jesus who he was talking about. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
25 So that follower leaned back against Jesus and whispered, "Lord, who is it?" He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
26 Jesus answered, "Watch -- I am going to dip this piece of bread, and the person I hand it to is the one." He dipped the bread and handed it directly to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
27 The moment Judas took the bread, Satan took control of him. Jesus said to him, "Go ahead and do what you are going to do. Do it now." And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
28 Nobody else at the table understood why Jesus said this. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
29 Judas was the one who kept the money bag. So some of them thought Jesus was telling him to go buy supplies for the feast. Others thought he should give something to the poor. 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 as Judas took the bread, he walked out into the night. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
The New Commandment and Peter's Denial Predicted
Study note
With Judas gone, Jesus speaks of his imminent glorification and gives the disciples a new commandment: to love one another as he has loved them. This sacrificial love will be the distinguishing mark of his followers. When Peter boldly declares he will lay down his life for Jesus, the Lord soberly predicts that Peter will deny him three times before the rooster crows, foreshadowing the coming test of loyalty.
31 After Judas left, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is about to be shown in all his glory. And God is shown in all his glory through him." Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32 "Since God is glorified through the Son, God will also glorify the Son through himself, and he will do it very soon." If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
33 "My dear children, I am only going to be with you a little bit longer. You will look for me, and just like I told the Jewish leaders, I am telling you now: where I am headed, you cannot follow." Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: as I have loved you, that you also love one another. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
36 Simon Peter asked, "Lord, where exactly are you going?" Jesus answered, "You cannot follow me there right now, but someday you will." 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 afterwards.
37 Peter said, "Lord, why can I not come with you right now? I am ready to die for you!" Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
38 Jesus looked at him and said, "You would truly die for me? Let me tell you what is going to happen: before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will say three times that you do not even know me." 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 hast denied me thrice.