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Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

13 Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world to the Father.(A) Having loved his own who were in the world,(B) he loved them to the end.

Now when it was time for supper, the devil(C) had already put it into the heart of Judas,(D) Simon Iscariot’s son,[a] to betray(E) him. Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands,(F) that he had come from God,(G) and that he was going back to God.(H) So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing,(I) took a towel, and tied it round himself.(J) Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied round him.

He came to Simon Peter,(K) who asked him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet? ’

Jesus answered him, ‘What I’m doing you don’t realise now, but afterwards you will understand.’(L)

‘You will never wash my feet,’ Peter said.

Jesus replied, ‘If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.’

Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.’

10 ‘One who has bathed,’ Jesus told him, ‘doesn’t need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.’ 11 For he knew who would betray him. This is why he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’

The Meaning of the Foot Washing

12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord – and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.(M) 15 For I have given you an example,(N) that you also should do just as I have done for you.

16 ‘Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master,[b](O) 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.(P)

18 ‘I’m not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen.(Q) But the Scripture(R) must be fulfilled:(S) The one who eats my bread[c] has raised his heel against me.[d](T) 19 I am telling you now before it happens,(U) so that when it does happen you will believe(V) that I am he.(W) 20 Truly I tell you, whoever receives anyone I send receives me, and the one who receives(X) me receives him who sent me.’

Judas’s Betrayal Predicted

21 When(Y) Jesus had said this, he was troubled in his spirit(Z) and testified,(AA) ‘Truly I tell 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,(AB) was reclining close beside Jesus.[e] 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.’(AC) When he had dipped the bread,(AD) he gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son.[f] 27 After Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan(AE) entered him. So Jesus told him, ‘What you’re doing, do quickly.’

28 None of those reclining at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Since Judas(AF) kept the money-bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the festival,’(AG) or that he should give something to the poor. 30 After receiving the piece of bread, he immediately left. And it was night.(AH)

The New Command

31 When(AI) he had left, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man(AJ) is glorified, and God is glorified(AK) in him.(AL) 32 If God is glorified in him,[g] God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33 Little children, I am with you a little while longer.(AM) You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so now I tell you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.”(AN)

34 ‘I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love(AO) one another.’

Peter’s Denials Predicted

36 ‘Lord,’ Simon Peter said to him, ‘where are you going? ’

Jesus answered, ‘Where I am going(AP) you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later.’

37 ‘Lord,’ Peter asked, ‘why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life(AQ) for you.’(AR)

38 Jesus replied, ‘Will you lay down your life for me? Truly I tell you, a cock will not crow until you have denied me three times.

Footnotes

  1. 13:2 Or Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son
  2. 13:16 Or lord
  3. 13:18 Other mss read eats bread with me
  4. 13:18 Ps 41:9
  5. 13:23 Lit reclining at Jesus’s breast; that is, on his right; Jn 1:18
  6. 13:26 Or Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son
  7. 13:32 Other mss omit If God is glorified in him

Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

13 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table,[a] took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’ 10 Jesus said to him, ‘One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet,[b] but is entirely clean. And you[c] are clean, though not all of you.’ 11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’

12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what 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 set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Very truly, I tell you, servants[d] are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfil the scripture, “The one who ate my bread[e] has lifted his heel against me.” 19 I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he.[f] 20 Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.’

Jesus Foretells His Betrayal

21 After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, ‘Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23 One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ 26 Jesus answered, ‘It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.’[g] So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.[h] 27 After he received the piece of bread,[i] Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, ‘Do quickly what you are going to do.’ 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the festival’; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

The New Commandment

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him,[j] God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’

Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial

36 Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus answered, ‘Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterwards.’ 37 Peter said to him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’ 38 Jesus answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.

Footnotes

  1. John 13:4 Gk from supper
  2. John 13:10 Other ancient authorities lack except for the feet
  3. John 13:10 The Greek word for you here is plural
  4. John 13:16 Gk slaves
  5. John 13:18 Other ancient authorities read ate bread with me
  6. John 13:19 Gk I am
  7. John 13:26 Gk dipped it
  8. John 13:26 Other ancient authorities read Judas Iscariot son of Simon; others, Judas son of Simon from Karyot (Kerioth)
  9. John 13:27 Gk After the piece of bread
  10. John 13:32 Other ancient authorities lack If God has been glorified in him