John 13
The Voice
13 Before the Passover festival began, Jesus was keenly aware that His hour had come to depart from this world and to return to the Father. From beginning to end, Jesus’ days were marked by His love for His people. 2 Before Jesus and His disciples gathered for dinner, the adversary filled Judas Iscariot’s heart with plans of deceit and betrayal. 3 Jesus, knowing that He had come from God and was going away to God, 4 stood up from dinner and removed His outer garments. He then wrapped Himself in a towel, 5 poured water in a basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with His towel.
Simon Peter (as Jesus approaches): 6 Lord, are You going to wash my feet?
Jesus: 7 Peter, you don’t realize what I am doing, but you will understand later.
Peter: 8 You will not wash my feet, now or ever!
Jesus: If I don’t wash you, you will have nothing to do with Me.
Peter: 9 Then wash me but don’t stop with my feet. Cleanse my hands and head as well.
Jesus: 10 Listen, anyone who has bathed is clean all over except for the feet. But I tell you this, not all of you are clean.
Within pain and filth, there is an opportunity to extend God’s kingdom through an expression of love, humility, and service. This simple act of washing feet is a metaphor for how the world looks through the lens of Jesus’ grace. He sees the people—the world He created—which He loves. He also sees the filthy corruption in the world that torments everyone. His mission is to cleanse those whom He loves from those horrors. This is His redemptive work with feet, families, disease, famine, and hearts.
When Jesus sees disease, He sees the opportunity to heal. When He sees sin, He sees a chance to forgive and redeem. When He sees dirty feet, He sees a chance to wash them.
11 He knew the one with plans of betraying Him, which is why He said, “not all of you are clean.” 12 After washing their feet and picking up His garments, He reclined at the table again.
Jesus: Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and truly, that is who I am. 14 So if your Lord and Teacher washes your feet, then you should wash one another’s feet. 15 I am your example; keep doing what I do. 16 I tell you the truth: a servant is not greater than the master. Those who are sent are not greater than the one who sends them.[a] 17 If you know these things, and if you put them into practice, you will find happiness. 18 I am not speaking about all of you. I know whom I have chosen, but let the Hebrew Scripture be fulfilled that says, “The very same man who eats My bread with Me will stab Me in the back.” 19 Assuredly, I tell you these truths before they happen so that when it all transpires, you will believe that I am. 20 I tell you the truth: anyone who accepts the ones I send accepts Me. In turn, the ones who accept Me also accept the One who sent Me.
21 Jesus was becoming visibly distressed.
Jesus: I tell you the truth: one of you will betray Me.
22 The disciples began to stare at one another, wondering who was the unfaithful disciple. 23 One disciple in particular, who was loved by Jesus, reclined next to Him at the table. 24 Peter motioned to the disciple at Jesus’ side.
Peter (to the beloved disciple): Find out who the betrayer is.
Beloved Disciple (leaning in to Jesus): 25 Lord, who is it?
Jesus: 26 I will dip a piece of bread in My cup and give it to the one who will betray Me.
He dipped one piece in the cup and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 After this occurred, Satan entered into Judas.
Jesus (to Judas): Make haste, and do what you are going to do.
28 No one understood Jesus’ instructions to Judas. 29 Because Judas carried the money, some thought he was being instructed to buy the necessary items for the feast or give some money to the poor. 30 So Judas took his piece of bread and departed into the night.
31 Upon Judas’s departure, Jesus spoke:
Jesus: Now the Son of Man will be glorified as God is glorified in Him. 32 If God’s glory is in Him, His glory is also in God. The moment of this astounding glory is imminent. 33 My children, My time here is brief. You will be searching for Me; and as I told the Jews, “You cannot go where I am going.” 34 So I give you a new command: Love each other deeply and fully. Remember the ways that I have loved you, and demonstrate your love for others in those same ways. 35 Everyone will know you as My followers if you demonstrate your love to others.
Simon Peter: 36 Lord, where are You going?
Jesus: Peter, you cannot come with Me now, but later you will join Me.
Peter: 37 Why can’t I go now? I’ll give my life for You!
Jesus: 38 Will you really give your life for Me? I tell you the truth: you will deny Me three times before the rooster crows.
Footnotes
- 13:16 Literally, apostle
John 13
Wycliffe Bible
13 But before the feast day of pask Jesus witting, that his hour is come, that he pass from this world to the Father [Jesus witting, for his hour cometh, that he pass over this world to the Father], when he had loved his that were in the world, into the end he loved them.
2 And when the supper was made, when the devil had put then into the heart, that Judas of Simon Iscariot should betray him, [And the supper made, when the devil had sent now into the heart of Judas, of Simon Iscariot, that he should betray him,]
3 he witting that the Father gave all things to him into his hands, and that he went out from God, and goeth to God,
4 he riseth from the supper, and doeth off his clothes; and when he had taken a linen cloth, he girded him(self).
5 And afterward he put water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe with the linen cloth, with which he was girded.
6 And so he came to Simon Peter, and Peter saith to him, Lord, washest thou my feet?
7 Jesus answered, and said to him, What I do, thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know afterward.
8 Peter saith to him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered to him, If I shall not wash thee, thou shalt not have part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith to him, Lord, not only my feet, but both the hands and the head [but and mine hands and the head].
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed, hath no need but that he wash the feet, but he is all clean [but he is clean all]; and ye be clean, but not all.
11 For he knew, who it was that should betray him [Forsooth he knew, who should betray him]; therefore he said, Ye be not all clean.
12 And so after that he had washed their feet, he took his clothes; and when he was set to meat again, again he said to them, Ye know what I have done to you. [Therefore after that he had washed the feet of them, he took his clothes; and when he had rested again, again he said to them, Know ye what I have done to you(?)]
13 Ye call me master and Lord, and ye say well; for I am.
14 Therefore if I, Lord and master, have washed your feet, and ye shall wash one another's feet [and ye owe to wash another the tother's feet];
15 for I have given to you ensample, that as I have done to you, so do ye. [for I have given example to you, that as I have done to you, so and ye do.]
16 Truly, truly, I say to you, the servant is not greater than his lord, neither an apostle is greater than he that sent him.
17 If ye know these things, ye shall be blessed, if ye do them.
18 I say not of you all, I know which I have chosen [I know whom I have chosen]; but that the scripture be fulfilled, He that eateth my bread, shall raise his heel against me.
19 Truly, I say to you before it be done, that when it is done, ye believe that I am.
20 Truly, truly, I say to you, he that taketh whomever I shall send, receiveth me; and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me.
21 When Jesus had said these things, he was troubled in spirit, and witnessed, and said, Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you shall betray me.
22 Therefore the disciples looked together, doubting of whom he said.
23 And so one of his disciples was resting in the bosom of Jesus, whom Jesus loved.
24 Therefore Simon Peter beckoned to him, and said to him, Who is it, of whom he saith?
25 And so when he had rested again on the breast of Jesus, he saith to him, Lord, who is it?
26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall areach a sop of bread. And when he had wet bread, he gave to Judas of Simon Iscariot. [Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall dress bread dipped in. And when he had dipped in bread, he gave to Judas of Simon Iscariot.]
27 And after the morsel, then Satan entered into him. And Jesus saith to him, That thing that thou doest, do thou swiftly.
28 And none of them that sat at the meat knew, whereto he said to him. [Forsooth no man sitting at the meat knew this thing, to what thing he said to him.]
29 For some guessed, for Judas had purses, that Jesus had said to him, Buy thou those things, that be needful to us to the feast day [that be needful to us at the feast day], or that he should give something to needy men.
30 Therefore when he had taken the morsel, he went out at once [he went out anon]; and it was night.
31 Therefore when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now man's Son is clarified, and God is clarified in him.
32 If God is clarified in him, and God shall clarify him in himself, and at once [and anon] he shall clarify him.
33 Little sons, yet a little I am with you; ye shall seek me, and, as I said to the Jews, Whither I go, ye be not able to come [Whither I go, ye may not come]; and to you I say now.
34 I give to you a new commandment, that ye love together, as I have loved you, and that ye love together [that ye love together, as I loved you, that and ye love together].
35 In this thing all men shall know, that ye be my disciples, if ye have love together.
36 Simon Peter saith to him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered, Whither I go, thou mayest not follow me now, but thou shalt follow me afterward.
37 Peter saith to him, Why may I not follow thee now? I shall put my life for thee.
38 Jesus answered, Thou shalt put thy life for me? Truly, truly, I say to thee, the cock shall not crow, till thou shalt deny me thrice.
39 And he saith to his disciples,
John 13
New King James Version
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.
2 And [a]supper being ended, (D)the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 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, 4 (H)rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 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. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, (I)“Lord, are You washing my feet?”
7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you (J)do not understand now, (K)but you will know after this.”
8 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.”
9 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
- John 13:2 NU during supper
- John 13:12 understand
- John 13:18 NU My bread has
- John 13:23 reclining
- John 13:25 NU, M add thus
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
