John 13-17

Holman Christian Standard Bible

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.^[a]

² Now by the time of supper, the Devil^(C) had already put it into the heart of Judas,^(D) Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray^(E) Him. ³ 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) 4} So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe,^(I) took a towel, and tied it around Himself.^{(J) 5} Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.

⁶ He came to Simon Peter,^(K) who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”

⁷ Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t understand now, but afterward you will know.”^(L)

⁸ “You will never wash my feet—ever!” Peter said.

Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with Me.”

⁹ 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, “You are not all clean.”

The Meaning of Footwashing

¹² When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His robe, He reclined^[b] 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.^{(M) 15} For I have given you an example^(N) that you also should do just as I have done for you.

¹⁶ “I assure you: A slave is not greater than his master,^[c](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^[d] has raised his heel against Me.^(T)[e]

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} I assure 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) “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,^(AB) was reclining close beside Jesus.^{[f] 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.^{[g] 27} After Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan^(AE) 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^(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 went out immediately. And it was night.^(AH)

The New Command

³¹ When^(AI) he had gone out, 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,^[h] God will also glorify Him in Himself and will glorify Him at once.

³³ “Children, I am with you a little while longer.^(AM) You will look for Me, and just as I told the Jews, ‘Where I am going you cannot come,’^(AN) so now I tell you.

³⁴ “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love^(AO) for 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? I assure you: A rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.

The Way to the Father

14 “Your heart must not be troubled.^(AS) Believe^[i] in God;^(AT) believe also in Me. ² In My Father’s house are many dwelling places;^[j] if not, I would have told you. I am going away^(AU) to prepare a place for you. ³ If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back^(AV) and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.^{(AW) 4} You know the way to where I am going.”^[k](AX)

⁵ “Lord,” Thomas^(AY) said, “we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way?”

⁶ Jesus told him, “I am^(AZ) the way,^(BA) the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Jesus Reveals the Father

⁷ “If you know Me, you will also know^[l] My Father.^(BB) From now on you do know Him^(BC) and have seen Him.”

⁸ “Lord,” said Philip,^(BD) “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.”

⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father.^(BE) How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me?^(BF) The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own.^(BG) The Father who lives in Me does His works.^{(BH) 11} Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Otherwise, believe^[m] because of the works themselves.^(BI)

Praying in Jesus’ Name

¹² “I assure you: The one who believes in Me^(BJ) will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these,^(BK) because I am going to the Father.^{(BL) 13} Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified^(BM) in the Son.^{(BN) 14} If you ask Me^[n] anything in My name,^(BO) I will do it.^[o](BP)

Another Counselor Promised

¹⁵ “If you love Me, you will keep^[p] My commands.^{(BQ) 16} And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor^(BR) to be with you forever. ¹⁷ He is the Spirit^(BS) of truth.^(BT) The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be^[q] in you.^{(BU) 18} I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

¹⁹ “In a little while the world will see Me no longer,^(BV) but you will see Me.^(BW) Because I live, you will live^(BX) too. ²⁰ In that day you will know that I am in My Father,^(BY) you are in Me, and I am in you. ²¹ The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me.^(BZ) And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father.^(CA) I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him.”

²² Judas^(CB) (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it You’re going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?”^(CC)

²³ Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.^{(CD) 24} The one who doesn’t love Me will not keep My words. The word that you hear is not Mine but is from the Father who sent Me.^(CE)

²⁵ “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. ²⁶ But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit^(CF)—the Father will send^(CG) Him in My name—will teach you all things^(CH) and remind you of everything I have told you.^(CI)

Jesus’ Gift of Peace

²⁷ “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.^{(CJ) 28} You have heard Me tell you, ‘I am going away^(CK) and I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced that I am going to the Father,^(CL) because the Father is greater than I.^{(CM) 29} I have told you now before it happens^(CN) so that when it does happen you may believe. ³⁰ I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world^(CO) is coming. He has no power over Me.^{[r](CP) 31} On the contrary, I am going away^[s] so that the world may know that I love the Father. Just as the Father commanded Me, so I do.

“Get up; let’s leave this place.

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am^(CQ) the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. ² Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes,^(CR) and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. ³ You are already clean^(CS) because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.^(CT)

⁵ “I am the vine;^(CU) you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit,^(CV) because you can do nothing without Me. ⁶ If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside^(CW) like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire,^(CX) and they are burned.^{(CY) 7} If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.^{(CZ) 8} My Father is glorified^(DA) by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be^[t] My disciples.

Christlike Love

⁹ “As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My love.^{(DB) 10} If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love.^(DC)

¹¹ “I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.^{(DD) 12} This is My command: Love one another as I have loved^(DE) you. ¹³ No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life^(DF) for his friends. ¹⁴ You are My friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn’t know what his master^[u](DG) is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father. ¹⁶ You did not choose Me, but I chose you.^(DH) I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask^(DI) the Father in My name,^(DJ) He will give you.^{(DK) 17} This is what I command you: Love one another.

Persecutions Predicted

¹⁸ “If the world hates^(DL) you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen^(DM) you out of it, the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’^(DN) If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word,^(DO) they will also keep yours. ²¹ But they will do all these things to you on account of My name,^(DP) because they don’t know^(DQ) the One who sent Me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin.^[v](DR) Now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ The one who hates Me also hates My Father.^{(DS) 24} If I had not done the works^(DT) among them that no one else has done,^(DU) they would not have sin.^(DV) Now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father. ²⁵ But this happened so that the statement written in their scripture might be fulfilled:^(DW) They hated Me for no reason.^(DX)[w]

Coming Testimony and Rejection

²⁶ “When the Counselor^(DY) comes, the One I will send to you from the Father^(DZ)—the Spirit of truth^(EA) who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me. ²⁷ You also will testify,^(EB) because you have been with Me from the beginning.

16 “I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. ² They will ban you from the synagogues.^(EC) In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service^(ED) to God. ³ They will do these things because they haven’t known^(EE) the Father or Me. ⁴ But I have told you these things so that when their time^[x] comes you may remember^(EF) I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.

The Counselor’s Ministry

⁵ “But now I am going away^(EG) to Him who sent Me, and not one of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’^{(EH) 6} Yet, because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. ⁷ Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth.^(EI) It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send Him to you.^{(EJ) 8} When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: ⁹ About sin, because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰ about righteousness, because I am going to the Father^(EK) and you will no longer see Me; ¹¹ and about judgment,^(EL) because the ruler of this world^(EM) has been judged.^(EN)

¹² “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now.^{(EO) 13} When the Spirit of truth^(EP) comes, He will guide you into all the truth.^(EQ) For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ Everything the Father^(ER) has is Mine.^(ES) This is why I told you that He takes from what is Mine and will declare it to you.^(ET)

Sorrow Turned to Joy

¹⁶ “A little while^(EU) and you will no longer see Me;^(EV) again a little while and you will see Me.”^[y]

¹⁷ Therefore some of His disciples said to one another, “What is this He tells us: ‘A little while and you will not see Me; again a little while and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’^(EW)?” ¹⁸ They said, “What is this He is saying,^[z] ‘A little while’? We don’t know what He’s talking about!”

¹⁹ Jesus knew they wanted to question Him, so He said to them, “Are you asking one another about what I said, ‘A little while and you will not see Me; again a little while and you will see Me’?

²⁰ “I assure you: You will weep and wail,^(EX) but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful,^(EY) but your sorrow will turn to joy. ²¹ When a woman is in labor she has pain^(EZ) because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child,^(FA) she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world. ²² So you also have sorrow^[aa] now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice,^(FB) and no one will rob you of your joy.^{(FC) 23} In that day you will not ask Me anything.

“I assure you: Anything you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.^{(FD) 24} Until now you have asked for nothing in My name.^(FE) Ask and you will receive,^(FF) so that your joy may be complete.^(FG)

Jesus the Victor

²⁵ “I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. A time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. ²⁶ In that day you will ask^(FH) in My name.^(FI) I am not telling you that I will make requests to the Father on your behalf. ²⁷ For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved^(FJ) Me and have believed that I came from God.^{[ab](FK) 28} I came from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”^(FL)

²⁹ “Ah!” His disciples said. “Now You’re speaking plainly and not using any figurative language. ³⁰ Now we know that You know everything^(FM) and don’t need anyone to question You. By this we believe that You came from God.”^(FN)

³¹ Jesus responded to them, “Do you now believe? ³² Look: An hour is coming, and has come,^(FO) when each of you will be scattered to his own home, and you will leave Me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.^{(FP) 33} I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

Jesus Prays for Himself

17 Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said:

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

Jesus Prays for All Believers