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No Greater Love—in Service

13 Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved those who were his own in the world, he loved them to the end.[a]

By the time the supper took place, the Devil had already put the idea into the heart of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

Jesus knew that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God. He got up from the supper and laid aside his outer garment. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus answered him, “You do not understand what I am doing now, but later you will understand.”

Peter told him, “You will never, ever, wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.”

“Lord, not just my feet,” Simon Peter replied, “but also my hands and my head!”

10 Jesus told him, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet, but his body is completely clean. And you[b] are clean, but not all of you.” 11 Indeed, he knew who was going to betray him. That is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 After Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer garment, he reclined at the table again. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me Teacher and Lord. You are right, because I am. 14 Now if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 Yes, I have given you an example so that you also would do just as I have done for you. 16 Amen, Amen, I tell you: A servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

18 “I am not talking about all of you. I know those I have chosen. But this is so that the Scripture may be fulfilled: ‘One who eats bread with me has raised his heel against me.’[c] 19 I am telling you this right now before it happens, so that when it does happen, you may believe that I am he.

20 “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Whoever receives anyone I send, receives me. And whoever receives me, receives the one who sent me.”

Who Is the Betrayer?

21 After saying this, Jesus was troubled in his spirit and testified, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: One of you will betray me.”

22 The disciples were looking at each other, uncertain which of them he meant.

23 One of his disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. 24 So Simon Peter motioned to him to find out which one he was talking about.

25 So leaning back against Jesus’ side, he asked, “Lord, who is it?”

26 Jesus replied, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread, after I have dipped it in the dish.” Then he dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do more quickly.”

28 None of those reclining at the table understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Because Judas kept the money box, some thought that Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the Festival,” or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

31 After Judas left, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him.[d] 32 If God is glorified in him,[e] God will also glorify the Son in himself and will glorify him at once.”

Jesus Warns Peter

33 “Dear children, I am going to be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

34 “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also you are to 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 answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”

37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!”

38 Jesus replied, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Amen, Amen, I tell you: The rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times.”

Footnotes

  1. John 13:1 Or to the fullest extent
  2. John 13:10 You is plural.
  3. John 13:18 Psalm 41:9
  4. John 13:31 Or Now the Son of Man was glorified, and God was glorified in him.
  5. John 13:32 Some witnesses to the text omit If God is glorified in him.

Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

13 Now (A)before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that (B)His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He (C)loved them to the end.

And [a]supper being ended, (D)the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing (E)that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He (F)had come from God and (G)was going to God, (H)rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 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 girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, (I)“Lord, are You washing my feet?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you (J)do not understand now, (K)but you will know after this.”

Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”

Jesus answered him, (L)“If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

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; and (M)you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For (N)He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”

12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you [b]know what I have done to you? 13 (O)You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 (P)If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, (Q)you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For (R)I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 (S)Most assuredly, 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 (T)If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Jesus Identifies His Betrayer(U)

18 “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the (V)Scripture may be fulfilled, (W)‘He who eats [c]bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ 19 (X)Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. 20 (Y)Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

21 (Z)When Jesus had said these things, (AA)He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, (AB)one of you will betray Me.” 22 Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.

23 Now (AC)there was [d]leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.

25 Then, leaning [e]back on Jesus’ breast, 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. And having dipped the bread, He gave it to (AD)Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 (AE)Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. 29 For some thought, because (AF)Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.

30 Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.

The New Commandment

31 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, (AG)“Now the Son of Man is glorified, and (AH)God is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and (AI)glorify Him immediately. 33 Little children, I shall be with you a (AJ)little while longer. You will seek Me; (AK)and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. 34 (AL)A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 (AM)By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

36 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”

Jesus answered him, “Where I (AN)am going you cannot follow Me now, but (AO)you shall follow Me afterward.”

37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will (AP)lay down my life for Your sake.”

38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not (AQ)crow till you have denied Me three times.

Footnotes

  1. John 13:2 NU during supper
  2. John 13:12 understand
  3. John 13:18 NU My bread has
  4. John 13:23 reclining
  5. John 13:25 NU, M add thus

Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet

13 Now (A)before (B)the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that (C)his hour had come (D)to depart out of this world to the Father, (E)having loved (F)his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when (G)the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing (H)that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that (I)he had come from God and (J)was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, (K)tied it around his waist. Then he (L)poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” (M)Jesus answered him, “What I am doing (N)you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” (O)Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, (P)“If I do not 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, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, (Q)except for his feet,[a] but is completely clean. And (R)you[b] are clean, (S)but not every one of you.” 11 (T)For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 When he had washed their feet and (U)put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, (V)“Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 (W)You call me (X)Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, (Y)you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, (Z)that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, (AA)a servant[c] is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, (AB)blessed are you if you do them. 18 (AC)I am not speaking of all of you; I know (AD)whom I have chosen. But (AE)the Scripture will be fulfilled,[d] (AF)‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 (AG)I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, (AH)whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

One of You Will Betray Me

21 After saying these things, (AI)Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, (AJ)“Truly, truly, I say to you, (AK)one of you will betray me.” 22 (AL)The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 (AM)One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table (AN)at Jesus' side,[e] 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus[f] of whom he was speaking. 25 (AO)So that disciple, (AP)leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, (AQ)“It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread (AR)when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, (AS)he gave it to Judas, (AT)the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, (AU)Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, (AV)“What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, (AW)because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need (AX)for the feast,” or that he should (AY)give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. (AZ)And it was night.

A New Commandment

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, (BA)“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and (BB)God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, (BC)God will also glorify him in himself, and (BD)glorify him at once. 33 Little children, (BE)yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just (BF)as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 (BG)A new commandment (BH)I give to you, (BI)that you love one another: (BJ)just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 (BK)By this all people 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?” (BL)Jesus answered him, “Where I am going (BM)you cannot follow me now, (BN)but you will follow afterward.” 37 (BO)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? Truly, truly, I say to you, (BP)the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

Footnotes

  1. John 13:10 Some manuscripts omit except for his feet
  2. John 13:10 The Greek words for you in this verse are plural
  3. John 13:16 Or bondservant, or slave (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)
  4. John 13:18 Greek But in order that the Scripture may be fulfilled
  5. John 13:23 Greek in the bosom of Jesus
  6. John 13:24 Greek lacks Jesus