John 13
Modern English Version
Washing the Disciples’ Feet
13 Now before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
2 Now supper being concluded, the devil had put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him. 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands and that He came from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper, laid aside His garments, and took a towel and wrapped Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was wrapped.
6 Then He came to Simon Peter, and Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”
7 Jesus answered him, “You do not understand what I am doing now. But later you will understand.”
8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”
10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him. Therefore He said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 So when He had washed their feet, and put on His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord. You speak accurately, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
18 “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen, but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’[a]
19 “Now I tell you before it happens, that when it does happen, you may believe that I am He. 20 Truly, truly I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me. And he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
Jesus Foretells His Betrayal(A)
21 When Jesus had said this, He was troubled in spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.”
22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom He spoke. 23 Now there was leaning against Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples whom Jesus loved. 24 Therefore Simon Peter motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.
25 Leaning back against Jesus’ bosom, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” When He had dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 After receiving the piece of bread, Satan entered him.
Then Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the table knew why He said this to him. 29 Since Judas had the moneybox, some thought that Jesus said to him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 Having received the piece of bread, he then left immediately. And it was night.
The New Commandment
31 When he had gone out, Jesus then said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and in Him God is glorified. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself and will immediately glorify Him.
33 “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek Me. And as I said to the Jews, so now I tell you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’
34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Peter’s Denial Foretold(B)
36 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”
Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now. But you shall follow Me afterward.”
37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”
38 Jesus answered Him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Truly, truly I say to you, the rooster shall not crow until you have denied Me three times.”
Footnotes
John 13
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.
Footnotes
- John 13:1 = completely or always
- John 13:12 At important meals the custom was to recline on a mat at a low table and lean on the left elbow.
- John 13:16 Or lord
- John 13:18 Other mss read eats bread with Me
- John 13:18 Ps 41:9
- John 13:23 Lit reclining at Jesus’ breast; that is, on His right; Jn 1:18
- John 13:26 Other mss read Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son
- John 13:32 Other mss omit If God is glorified in Him
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
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