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.

Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet

It was just before the festival of Pesach, and Yeshua knew that the time had come for him to pass from this world to the Father. Having loved his own people in the world, he loved them to the end.

They were at supper, and the Adversary had already put the desire to betray him into the heart of Y’hudah Ben-Shim‘on from K’riot.

Yeshua was aware that the Father had put everything in his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God.

So he rose from the table, removed his outer garments and wrapped a towel around his waist.

Then he poured some water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the talmidim and wipe them off with the towel wrapped around him.

He came to Shim‘on Kefa, who said to him, “Lord! You are washing my feet?”

Yeshua answered him, “You don’t understand yet what I am doing, but in time you will understand.”

“No!” said Kefa, “You will never wash my feet!” Yeshua answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no share with me.”

“Lord,” Shim‘on Kefa replied, “not only my feet, but my hands and head too!”

Yeshua said to him, “A man who has had a bath doesn’t need to wash, except his feet — his body is already clean. And you people are clean, but not all of you.”

(He knew who was betraying him; this is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”)

The Meaning of the Example

After he had washed their feet, taken back his clothes and returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?

You call me ‘Rabbi’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because I am.

Now if I, the Lord and Rabbi, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other’s feet.

For I have set you an example, so that you may do as I have done to you.

Yes, indeed! I tell you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is an emissary greater than the one who sent him.

If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

“I’m not talking to all of you — I know which ones I have chosen. But the words of the Tanakh must be fulfilled that say, ‘The one eating my bread has turned against me.’

I’m telling you now, before it happens; so that when it does happen, you may believe that I AM [who I say I am].

Yes, indeed! I tell you that a person who receives someone I send receives me, and that anyone who receives me receives the One who sent me.”

Jesus Predicts His Betrayer

After saying this, Yeshua, in deep anguish of spirit, declared, “Yes, indeed! I tell you that one of you will betray me.”

The talmidim stared at one another, totally mystified — whom could he mean?

One of his talmidim, the one Yeshua particularly loved, was reclining close beside him.

So Shim‘on Kefa motioned to him and said, “Ask which one he’s talking about.”

Leaning against Yeshua’s chest, he asked Yeshua, “Lord, who is it?”

Yeshua answered, “It’s the one to whom I give this piece of matzah after I dip it in the dish.” So he dipped the piece of matzah and gave it to Y’hudah Ben-Shim‘on from K’riot.

As soon as Y’hudah took the piece of matzah, the Adversary went into him. “What you are doing, do quickly!” Yeshua said to him.

But no one at the table understood why he had said this to him.

Some thought that since Y’hudah was in charge of the common purse, Yeshua was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or telling him to give something to the poor.

As soon as he had taken the piece of matzah, Y’hudah went out, and it was night.

The New Commandment of Love

After Y’hudah had left, Yeshua said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.

If the Son has glorified God, God will himself glorify the Son, and will do so without delay.

Little children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and, as I said to the Judeans, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ now I say it to you as well.

“I am giving you a new command: that you keep on loving each other. In the same way that I have loved you, you are also to keep on loving each other.

Everyone will know that you are my talmidim by the fact that you have love for each other.”

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial

Shim‘on Kefa said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Yeshua answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow later.”

“Lord,” Kefa said to him, “why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!”

Yeshua answered, “You will lay down your life for me? Yes, indeed! I tell you, before the rooster crows you will disown 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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John13

Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet

The Meaning of the Example

Jesus Predicts His Betrayer

The New Commandment of Love

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial

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