John 13
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.
2 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. 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 outer clothing,(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 realize now, but afterward you will understand.”(L)
8 “You will never wash my feet,” 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, “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.
John 13
Contemporary English Version
Jesus Washes the Feet of His Disciples
13 It was before Passover, and Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and to return to the Father. He had always loved his followers in this world, and he loved them to the very end.
2 Even before the evening meal started, the devil had made Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot,[a] decide to betray Jesus.
3 Jesus knew he had come from God and would go back to God. He also knew that the Father had given him complete power. 4 So during the meal Jesus got up, removed his outer garment, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 He put some water into a large bowl. Then he began washing his disciples' feet and drying them with the towel he was wearing.
6 But when he came to Simon Peter, this disciple asked, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus answered, “You don't really know what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “You will never wash my feet!” Peter replied.
“If I don't wash you,” Jesus told him, “you don't really belong to me.”
9 Peter said, “Lord, don't wash just my feet. Wash my hands and my head.”
10 Jesus answered, “People who have bathed and are clean all over need to wash just their feet. And you, my disciples, are clean, except for one of you.” 11 Jesus knew who would betray him. That is why he said, “except for one of you.”
12 (A) After Jesus had washed his disciples' feet and had put his outer garment back on, he sat down again.[b] Then he said:
Do you understand what I have done? 13 You call me your teacher and Lord, and you should, because that is who I am. 14 And if your Lord and teacher has washed your feet, you should do the same for each other. 15 I have set the example, and you should do for each other exactly what I have done for you. 16 (B) I tell you for certain that servants are not greater than their master, and messengers are not greater than the one who sent them. 17 You know these things, and God will bless you, if you do them.
18 (C) I am not talking about all of you. I know the ones I have chosen. But what the Scriptures say must come true. And they say, “The man who ate with me has turned against me!” 19 I am telling you this before it all happens. Then when it does happen, you will believe who I am.[c] 20 (D) I tell you for certain that anyone who welcomes my messengers also welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
Jesus Tells What Will Happen to Him
(Matthew 26.20-25; Mark 14.17-21; Luke 22.21-23)
21 After Jesus had said these things, he was deeply troubled and told his disciples, “I tell you for certain that one of you will betray me.” 22 They were confused about what he meant. And they just stared at each other.
23 Jesus' favorite disciple was sitting next to him at the meal, 24 and Simon motioned for this disciple to find out which one Jesus meant. 25 So the disciple leaned toward Jesus and asked, “Lord, which one of us are you talking about?”
26 Jesus answered, “I will dip this piece of bread in the sauce and give it to the one I was talking about.”
Then Jesus dipped the bread and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.[d] 27 Right then Satan took control of Judas.
Jesus said, “Judas, go quickly and do what you have to do.” 28 No one at the meal understood what Jesus meant. 29 But because Judas was in charge of the money, some of them thought that Jesus had told him to buy something they needed for the festival. Others thought that Jesus had told him to give some money to the poor. 30 Judas took the piece of bread and went out.
It was already night.
The New Command
31 After Judas had gone, Jesus said:
Now the Son of Man will be given glory, and he will bring glory to God. 32 Then, after God is given glory because of him, God will bring glory to him, and God will do it very soon.
33 (E) My children, I will be with you for only a little while longer. Then you will look for me, but you won't find me. I tell you just as I told the people, “You cannot go where I am going.” 34 (F) But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. 35 If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.
Peter's Promise
(Matthew 26.31-35; Mark 14.27-31; Luke 22.31-34)
36 Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus answered, “You can't go with me now, but later on you will.”
37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can't I go with you now? I would die for you!”
38 “Would you really die for me?” Jesus asked. “I tell you for certain before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't even know me.”
Footnotes
- 13.2 Iscariot: See the note at 6.71.
- 13.12 sat down again: On special occasions the Jewish people followed the Greek and Roman custom of lying down on their left side and leaning on their left elbow, while eating with their right hand.
- 13.19 I am: See the note at 8.24.
- 13.26 Iscariot: See the note at 6.71.
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