John 13
Living Bible
13 1-3 Jesus knew on the evening of Passover Day that it would be his last night on earth before returning to his Father. During supper the devil had already suggested to Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that this was the night to carry out his plan to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. And how he loved his disciples! 4 So he got up from the supper table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his loins,[a] 5 poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him.
6 When he came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Master, you shouldn’t be washing our feet like this!”
7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now why I am doing it; some day you will.”
8 “No,” Peter protested, “you shall never wash my feet!”
“But if I don’t, you can’t be my partner,” Jesus replied.
9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well—not just my feet!”
10 Jesus replied, “One who has bathed all over needs only to have his feet washed to be entirely clean. Now you are clean—but that isn’t true of everyone here.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 After washing their feet he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Master’ and ‘Lord,’ and you do well to say it, for it is true. 14 And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow: do as I have done to you. 16 How true it is that a servant is not greater than his master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends him. 17 You know these things—now do them! That is the path of blessing.
18 “I am not saying these things to all of you; I know so well each one of you I chose. The Scripture declares, ‘One who eats supper with me will betray me,’ and this will soon come true. 19 I tell you this now so that when it happens, you will believe on me.
20 “Truly, anyone welcoming my messenger is welcoming me. And to welcome me is to welcome the Father who sent me.”
21 Now Jesus was in great anguish of spirit and exclaimed, “Yes, it is true—one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. 23 Since I[b] was sitting next to Jesus at the table, being his closest friend, 24 Simon Peter motioned to me to ask him who it was who would do this terrible deed.
25 So I turned and[c] asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 He told me, “It is the one I honor by giving the bread dipped in the sauce.”[d]
And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.
27 As soon as Judas had eaten it, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry—do it now.”
28 None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. 29 Some thought that since Judas was their treasurer, Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. 30 Judas left at once, going out into the night.
31 As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “My time has come; the glory of God will soon surround me—and God shall receive great praise because of all that happens to me. 32 And God shall give me his own glory, and this so very soon. 33 Dear, dear children, how brief are these moments before I must go away and leave you! Then, though you search for me, you cannot come to me—just as I told the Jewish leaders.
34 “And so I am giving a new commandment to you now—love each other just as much as I love you. 35 Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
36 Simon Peter said, “Master, where are you going?”
And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now; but you will follow me later.”
37 “But why can’t I come now?” he asked, “for I am ready to die for you.”
38 Jesus answered, “Die for me? No—three times before the cock crows tomorrow morning, you will deny that you even know me!
Footnotes
- John 13:4 wrapped a towel around his loins, as the lowliest slave would dress.
- John 13:23 Since I, literally, “There was one at the table.” All commentators believe him to be John, the writer of this book. was sitting next to Jesus, literally, “was reclining on Jesus’ bosom.” The custom of the period was to recline around the table, leaning on the left elbow. John, next to Jesus, was at his side.
- John 13:25 So I turned and, literally, “He, leaning back against Jesus’ chest,” to whisper his inquiry.
- John 13:26 the bread dipped in the sauce, literally, “dip the sop.” The honored guest was thus singled out in the custom of that time.
John 13
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet
13 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.(A) 2 The devil had already decided[a] that Judas son of Simon Iscariot would betray Jesus. And during supper(B) 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going to God,(C) 4 got up from supper, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.(D) 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.”(E) 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet,[b] but is entirely clean. And you[c] are clean, though not all of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”(F)
12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had reclined again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for that is what I am.(G) 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.(H) 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.(I) 16 Very truly, I tell you, slaves are not greater than their master, nor are messengers[d] greater than the one who sent them.(J) 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who ate my bread[e] has lifted his heel against me.’(K) 19 I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur you may believe that I am he.[f](L) 20 Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.”(M)
Jesus Foretells His Betrayal
21 After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.”(N) 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23 One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining close to his heart;[g](O) 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”(P) 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.”[h] So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.[i](Q) 27 After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.”(R) 28 Now no one knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
The New Commandment
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.(S) 32 If God has been glorified in him,[j] God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’(T) 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.(U) 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”(V)
Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial
36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.”(W) 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”(X) 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.
Footnotes
- 13.2 Gk put it into his heart
- 13.10 Other ancient authorities lack except for the feet
- 13.10 The Greek word for you here is plural
- 13.16 Or apostles
- 13.18 Other ancient authorities read ate bread with me
- 13.19 Gk I am
- 13.23 Gk bosom
- 13.26 Gk dipped it
- 13.26 Other ancient authorities read Judas Iscariot son of Simon or Judas son of Simon from Karyot (Kerioth)
- 13.32 Other ancient authorities lack If God has been glorified in him
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.