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III. The Book of Glory[a]

Chapter 13

The Washing of the Disciples’ Feet.[b] Before the feast of Passover,[c] Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.(A) The devil had already induced[d] Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper,(B) fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God,(C) he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. [e]Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet(D) and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, 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 later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.”(E) Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed[f] has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.”(F) 11 For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”(G)

12 So when he had washed their feet [and] put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? 13 You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am.(H) 14 If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.(I) 16 Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger[g] greater than the one who sent him.(J) 17 If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it. 18 I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But so that the scripture might be fulfilled, ‘The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.’(K) 19 From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM. 20 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”(L)

Announcement of Judas’s Betrayal.(M) 21 When he had said this, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. 23 One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved,[h] was reclining at Jesus’ side.(N) 24 So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. 25 He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, “Master, who is it?”(O) 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel[i] after I have dipped it.” So he dipped the morsel and [took it and] handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. 27 After he took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”(P) 28 [Now] none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor.(Q) 30 So he took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.

The New Commandment. 31 [j]When he had left, Jesus said,[k] “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 [If God is glorified in him,] God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once.(R) 33 My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.(S) 34 I give you a new commandment:[l] love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.(T) 35 This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Peter’s Denial Predicted. 36 Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered [him], “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.”(U) 37 Peter said to him, “Master, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”(V)

Footnotes

  1. 13:1–19:42 The Book of Glory. There is a major break here; the word “sign” is used again only in Jn 20:30. In this phase of Jesus’ return to the Father, the discourses (Jn 13–17) precede the traditional narrative of the passion (Jn 18–20) to interpret them for the Christian reader. This is the only extended example of esoteric teaching of disciples in John.
  2. 13:1–20 Washing of the disciples’ feet. This episode occurs in John at the place of the narration of the institution of the Eucharist in the synoptics. It may be a dramatization of Lk 22:27—“I am your servant.” It is presented as a “model” (“pattern”) of the crucifixion. It symbolizes cleansing from sin by sacrificial death.
  3. 13:1 Before the feast of Passover: this would be Thursday evening, before the day of preparation; in the synoptics, the Last Supper is a Passover meal taking place, in John’s chronology, on Friday evening. To the end: or, “completely.”
  4. 13:2 Induced: literally, “The devil put into the heart that Judas should hand him over.”
  5. 13:5 The act of washing another’s feet was one that could not be required of the lowliest Jewish slave. It is an allusion to the humiliating death of the crucifixion.
  6. 13:10 Bathed: many have suggested that this passage is a symbolic reference to baptism. The Greek root involved is used in baptismal contexts in 1 Cor 6:11; Eph 5:26; Ti 3:5; Hb 10:22.
  7. 13:16 Messenger: the Greek has apostolos, the only occurrence of the term in John. It is not used in the technical sense here.
  8. 13:23 The one whom Jesus loved: also mentioned in Jn 19:26; 20:2; 21:7. A disciple, called “another disciple” or “the other disciple,” is mentioned in Jn 18:15 and Jn 20:2; in the latter reference he is identified with the disciple whom Jesus loved. There is also an unnamed disciple in Jn 1:35–40; see note on Jn 1:37.
  9. 13:26 Morsel: probably the bitter herb dipped in salt water.
  10. 13:31–17:26 Two farewell discourses and a prayer. These seem to be Johannine compositions, including sayings of Jesus at the Last Supper and on other occasions, modeled on similar farewell discourses in Greek literature and the Old Testament (of Moses, Joshua, David).
  11. 13:31–38 Introduction: departure and return. Terms of coming and going predominate. These verses form an introduction to the last discourse of Jesus, which extends through Jn 14–17. In it John has collected Jesus’ words to his own (Jn 13:1). There are indications that several speeches have been fused together, e.g., in Jn 14:31 and Jn 17:1.
  12. 13:34 I give you a new commandment: this puts Jesus on a par with Yahweh. The commandment itself is not new; cf. Lv 19:18 and the note there.

The Lord’s Supper

13 Now before the Feast of (A)the Passover, Jesus, knowing that (B)His hour had come that He would depart from this world (C)to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them [a]to the end. And during supper, (D)the devil having already put into the heart of (E)Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, Jesus, (F)knowing that the Father had handed all things over to Him, and that (G)He had come forth from God and was going back to God, *got up from supper and *laid His outer garments aside; and He took a towel and (H)tied it around Himself.

Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

Then He *poured water into the basin, and began (I)washing the disciples’ feet and wiping them with the towel which He had tied around Himself. So He *came to Simon Peter. He *said to Him, “Lord, You are washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not realize right now, but you will understand (J)later.” Peter *said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, (K)If I do not wash you, (L)you have no [b]place with Me.” Simon Peter *said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus *said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet; otherwise he is completely clean. And (M)you are clean—but [c]not all of you.” 11 For (N)He knew the one who was betraying Him; it was for this reason that He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 Then, when He had washed their feet, and (O)taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call Me (P)‘Teacher’ and (Q)‘Lord’; and [d]you are correct, for so I am. 14 So if I, (R)the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I gave you (S)an example, so that you also would do just as I did for you. 16 Truly, truly I say to you, (T)a slave is not greater than his master, nor is [e](U)one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are (V)blessed if you do them. 18 (W)I am not speaking about all of you. I know the ones whom I have (X)chosen; but this is happening (Y)so that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘(Z)He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ 19 From now on (AA)I am telling you before it happens, so that when it does happen, you may believe that (AB)I am He. 20 Truly, truly I say to you, (AC)the one who [f]receives anyone I send, [g]receives Me; and the one who [h]receives Me [i]receives Him who sent Me.”

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

21 When Jesus had said these things, He (AD)became troubled in spirit, and [j]testified and said, “Truly, truly I say to you that (AE)one of you will [k]betray Me.” 22 The disciples began looking at one another, (AF)at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. 23 Lying back on (AG)Jesus’ chest was one of His disciples, (AH)whom Jesus loved. 24 So Simon Peter *nodded to this disciple and *said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.” 25 He then simply (AI)leaned back on Jesus’ chest and *said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus then *answered, “That man is the one for whom I shall dip the piece of bread and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the piece of bread, He *took and *gave it to Judas, (AJ)the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 After [l]this, (AK)Satan then (AL)entered him. Therefore Jesus *said to him, “What you are doing, do it quickly.” 28 Now none of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. 29 For some were assuming, since Judas (AM)kept the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we need (AN)for the feast”; or else, that he was to [m](AO)give something to the poor. 30 So after receiving the piece of bread, he left immediately; and (AP)it was night.

31 Therefore when he had left, Jesus *said, “Now [n]is (AQ)the Son of Man (AR)glorified, and (AS)God [o]is glorified in Him; 32 [p]if God is glorified in Him, (AT)God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. 33 (AU)Little children, I am still with you (AV)a little longer. (AW)You will look for Me; and just as I said to the [q]Jews, now I also say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 I am giving you a (AX)new commandment, (AY)that you love one another; (AZ)just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 (BA)By this all people 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, (BB)Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now; but (BC)you will follow later.” 37 Peter *said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? (BD)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, (BE)a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.

Footnotes

  1. John 13:1 Or to the uttermost; or eternally
  2. John 13:8 Or part
  3. John 13:10 I.e., not each one
  4. John 13:13 Lit you say well
  5. John 13:16 Gr apostolos used in a non-apostolic sense
  6. John 13:20 Or accepts
  7. John 13:20 Or accepts
  8. John 13:20 Or accepts
  9. John 13:20 Or accepts
  10. John 13:21 I.e., made a solemn assertion
  11. John 13:21 Or hand Me over
  12. John 13:27 Lit the piece
  13. John 13:29 Considered especially fitting at Passover
  14. John 13:31 Or was
  15. John 13:31 Or was
  16. John 13:32 Most early mss do not contain this phrase
  17. John 13:33 I.e., Jesus’ Jewish enemies

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”