John 13:4-15

Living Bible

⁴ So he got up from the supper table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his loins,^{[a] 5} poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him.

⁶ When he came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Master, you shouldn’t be washing our feet like this!”

⁷ Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now why I am doing it; some day you will.”

⁸ “No,” Peter protested, “you shall never wash my feet!”

“But if I don’t, you can’t be my partner,” Jesus replied.

⁹ Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well—not just my feet!”

¹⁰ Jesus replied, “One who has bathed all over needs only to have his feet washed to be entirely clean. Now you are clean—but that isn’t true of everyone here.” ¹¹ For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

¹² After washing their feet he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? ¹³ You call me ‘Master’ and ‘Lord,’ and you do well to say it, for it is true. ¹⁴ And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. ¹⁵ I have given you an example to follow: do as I have done to you.