John13

Before the Passover, Jesus humbly washes his disciples' feet, setting an example of service and love. He then reveals that one of them will betray him, identifying Judas Iscariot, who promptly departs. Jesus gives his disciples a new commandment to love one another. Finally, he foretells Peter's denial.
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Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet

1
It was now just before the Passover Feast, and Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end. ​
2
The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. ​
3
Jesus knew that the Father had delivered all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God. ​
4
So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist.
5
After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him. ​
6
He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”
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Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” ​
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“Never shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.” ​
9
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!”
10
Jesus told him, “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” ​
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For He knew who would betray Him. That is why He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

The Meaning of the Example

12
When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His outer garments, He reclined with them again and asked, “Do you know what I have done for you?
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You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am.
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So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ​
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I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.
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Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ​
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If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
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I am not speaking about all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the Scripture: ‘The one who shares My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ ​
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I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you will believe that I am He.
20
Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever receives the one I send receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me.”

Jesus Predicts His Betrayer

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After Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.” ​
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The disciples looked at one another, perplexed as to which of them He meant.
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One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side. ​
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So Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus which one He was talking about.
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Leaning back against Jesus, he asked, “Lord, who is it?”
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Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this morsel after I have dipped it.” Then He dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. ​
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And when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” ​
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But no one at the table knew why Jesus had said this to him.
29
Since Judas kept the money bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.
30
As soon as he had received the morsel, Judas went out into the night. ​

The New Commandment of Love

31
When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. ​
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If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify the Son in Himself—and will glorify Him at once.
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Little children, I am with you only a little while 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.’
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A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. ​
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By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” ​

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial

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“Lord, where are You going?” Simon Peter asked. Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.” ​
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“Lord,” said Peter, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You.” ​
38
“Will you lay down your life for Me?” Jesus replied. “Truly, truly, I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times. ​

Study Notes for John 13

Verse 1

Contextualizes the event within the Passover week. Jesus’ awareness of his impending death ('his hour was come') sets the stage for this ultimate act of humble love and service ('unto the end').

Verse 2

The presence of the devil emphasizes the spiritual warfare surrounding the events. Judas’s action is presented as a choice influenced by evil, despite his proximity to Christ.

Verse 3

The height of Jesus’ divine authority and power ('given all things into his hands') makes the subsequent act of humility (foot washing) even more profound and intentional.

Verse 5

Foot washing was normally performed by the lowest household slave. By taking on this role, Jesus radically reverses the master/servant hierarchy, demonstrating true leadership.

Verse 7

Jesus introduces the theme of delayed understanding; the full significance of his actions, especially his sacrificial death, could only be grasped by the disciples after the resurrection.

Verse 8

Peter initially rejects the act, but Jesus clarifies that accepting his cleansing is essential for fellowship ('have no part with me'), linking the physical act to spiritual submission and purification.

Verse 10

Jesus distinguishes between being 'washed' (fully clean, referring to initial spiritual cleansing/salvation) and needing only to wash the feet (daily cleansing from sins encountered in the world). The exception 'not all' refers to Judas.

Verse 14

This verse is the explicit command derived from the example: the disciples must practice mutual, humble servanthood, making Jesus' action a model for Christian community life.

Verse 16

A proverbial saying emphasizing that disciples must not seek status or privilege above Christ, but must imitate his self-sacrificing pattern of service.

Verse 18

Jesus quotes Psalm 41:9, confirming that the betrayal, however painful, was foreknown and occurred in fulfillment of Scripture, reinforcing God’s sovereign plan.

Verse 21

Jesus was 'troubled in spirit,' demonstrating his genuine human emotion and profound sorrow over the imminent betrayal by one of his close companions.

Verse 23

'The disciple whom Jesus loved' is John’s self-designation, emphasizing the intimacy of his relationship with Christ and serving as a model for discipleship.

Verse 26

Giving the 'sop' (a dipped piece of bread) was a gesture of respect or intimacy among guests. Giving this honor to Judas right before naming him heightens the dramatic irony of the betrayal.

Verse 27

The entry of Satan signifies the final decision point: Judas fully yields to the devil’s influence, marking the spiritual completion of his mission to betray Jesus.

Verse 30

The observation 'it was night' functions both as a literal time marker and a powerful symbolic statement about the spiritual darkness and evil into which Judas departed.

Verse 31

Paradoxically, Jesus views the betrayal and his impending crucifixion not as defeat, but as the moment of 'glorification,' where God's power and love are fully revealed through sacrifice.

Verse 34

The commandment is 'new' because the standard is new: disciples must love one another 'as I have loved you'—a sacrificial, Christ-like love demonstrated in the foot washing and the cross.

Verse 35

Sacrificial, mutual love is established as the primary, visible mark (or ‘badge’) of discipleship, enabling the world to recognize Christ’s followers.

Verse 36

Peter’s focus on physically following Jesus shows he still misunderstands the spiritual nature of Jesus’ departure (the path to the cross and eventual return to the Father).

Verse 37

Peter, ever impulsive and self-confident, vows loyalty, unaware that his human strength is insufficient for the trials immediately ahead.

Verse 38

This sobering prediction serves as a warning against spiritual pride and highlights the immediate failure of the disciples before the Holy Spirit empowers them.

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