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 around himself.(J) Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around 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 realize now, but afterward 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 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 rooster 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 His Disciples’ Feet

13 Now before the feast of Passover, Jesus, knowing that his hour had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, and[a] having loved his[b] own in the world, loved them to the end. And as[c] a dinner was taking place, when[d] the devil had already put into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot that he should betray him, because he[e] knew that the Father had given him all things into his[f] hands, and that he had come forth from God and was going away to God, he got up from the dinner and took off his[g] outer clothing, and taking a towel, tied it[h] around himself. Then he poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them[i] dry with the towel which he had tied around himself.[j]

Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will understand after these things.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet forever!”[k] Jesus replied to him, “Unless I wash you, you do not have a share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my[l] hands and my[m] head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed only needs[n] to wash his[o] feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 (For he knew the one who would betray him; because of this he said, “Not all of you are clean.”)

12 So when he had washed their feet and taken his outer clothing and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you speak correctly, for I am. 14 If then I—your[p] Lord and Teacher—wash your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that just as I have done for you, you also do. 16 Truly, truly I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you understand these things, you are blessed if you do them.

18 “I am not speaking about all of you. I know whom I have chosen, but in order that the scripture would be fulfilled, ‘The one who eats my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’[q] 19 From now on I am telling you before it happens, in order that when it happens you may believe that I am he.[r] 20 Truly, truly I say to you, the one who receives anyone I send receives me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me.”

Jesus Predicts Judas’ Betrayal

21 When he[s] had said these things, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified and said, “Truly, truly I say to you that one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples began looking[t] at one another, uncertain about whom he was speaking. 23 One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining close beside[u] Jesus. 24 So Simon Peter gestured for this one to inquire who it was about whom he was speaking. 25 He leaned back[v] accordingly against Jesus’ chest and[w] said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus replied, “It is he to whom I dip the piece of bread and give it[x] to him.” Then after[y] dipping the piece of bread, he gave it[z][aa] to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. 27 And after the piece of bread, then Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you are doing, do quickly!” 28 (Now no one of those reclining at table knew for what reason he said this to him. 29 For some were thinking because Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him, “Purchase what we need[ab] for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.) 30 So after he[ac] had taken the piece of bread, he went out immediately. And it was night.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

31 Then, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and will glorify him immediately. 33 Children, yet a little time I am with you. You will seek me and just as I said to the Jews, “Where I am going you cannot come,” now I say also to you.

34 “A new commandment I give to you: that you love one another—just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another.”

36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied,[ad] “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why am I not able to follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly I say to you, the rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times!

Footnotes

  1. John 13:1 Here “and” is supplied in keeping with English style
  2. John 13:1 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  3. John 13:2 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was taking place”)
  4. John 13:2 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“put”)
  5. John 13:3 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“knew”) which is understood as causal
  6. John 13:3 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  7. John 13:4 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  8. John 13:4 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  9. John 13:5 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  10. John 13:5 Literally “with which he was girded”
  11. John 13:8 Literally “for the age”
  12. John 13:9 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  13. John 13:9 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  14. John 13:10 Literally “does not have need except”
  15. John 13:10 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  16. John 13:14 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  17. John 13:18 A quotation from Ps 41:9
  18. John 13:19 *Here the predicate nominative (“he”) is understood, but must be supplied in the translation
  19. John 13:21 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had said”) which is understood as temporal
  20. John 13:22 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began looking”)
  21. John 13:23 Literally “in the bosom of” (a position dictated by ancient banqueting practice)
  22. John 13:25 Some manuscripts have “Then he leaned back”
  23. John 13:25 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“leaned back”) has been translated as a finite verb
  24. John 13:26 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  25. John 13:26 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“dipping”) which is understood as temporal
  26. John 13:26 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  27. John 13:26 Some manuscripts have “after dipping the piece of bread, he took it and gave it
  28. John 13:29 Literally “of which we have need”
  29. John 13:30 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had taken”) which is understood as temporal
  30. John 13:36 Some manuscripts have “replied to him”